Santiago Calatrava AUDITORIO DE TENERIFE it ofthe debate shout Santiagn Caltrans new opera house Santa Crude Tenerife has focused om is imagery ad form, it a glant eye, opening a lepy Ud ora wave ‘rashing aginst the shores that enormous carving le iment bending over the concrete shel ofthe performing spaces protective wing, a ens leaor a hrestening pike? Sich aks nde. Standable considering the buildings larger than-ife, sculprral swagger Butte sacces oir depends ony partly one roles an achitectral object. The tae wet ofthis $75 million projet wl bits impact onan ‘ven grander scheme: the transformation of Teese industilizd Waterfont into a 2ist-century cuurl dst, The gst f the seven Canary Iands—voleanie outposts of Spanish rule of the cost of “Morocto—Tenerife as flourished mol as place for European tourists tobakc on beaches and partyin dso The opers oase—ofly called the Auditoio de Tenerf—aims to ure somteof these vacationers away from the resorts and into town Bu onland that had prevouly been acupi by an oil rin «rs the Aulitorio helps resect Santa Cruz (the largest city on “Tenerife to its old harbor andthe great blue expanse ofthe Aantic (cen, Calatrava 1995 convention sete, with its 890-Foo long ses ach and ring of concrete buttetes, stands nearby, as does the Presidency Bulling the ragged handsome government set designed by the talented local mn AMP Argitcts[ntcon, March 2001, page 1) Using this caster of civic strutues asthe foundation of acuta hub the sand has hired Herzog & de Meuron to design the Museo Oscar Dominguer and develop a masterplan for the harbor dst known as Cabo Unnes, The ides to cette vibrant nned-ienephorbood that can accommodate the resident love of music and the arts and give tourists something other han the tanto apeecae Residents of Tenerife ad talked sou Buin & concert hall Pree rio de Tee Sonic as Gale gneral mage rad Tif Cary as Spain Cala (hana flr de Tense Conan Gare (Tene Ten Coe) (aot) Ajo Gara Melon Naresh anarleontrctr: ie Autre Cade de Canaria gmemmentofthe de Tenerife (Nem Erecnaes ont ands) arin Mens, Cubes Drags re Audiora de enerfe——Caniacons), PROLECTS.2. Pas 4 Harbor seman since the mid-197D5, and the ian’ government had se asd funds for the project stating in T988. Ae intl thinking small nd quick, the authorities died to expand the scope ofthe project and hirea sar atchi- ‘ecto crete wor lass pes ose n 192, Calatrava got the jb, Over ‘he course ofthe next four yer the project confined to grow nie and ambition, with theadton of chamber music hal to go along withthe ‘main concer hall In 19%, the government moved the project a ager ste loser othe western ter sanstracon gan n 1987 the program kept evolving, with the inclusion ofa 280-ar parking structure forthe Asitoro, rehearsal an support faites fr the Tenerife yrmphony (Orchestra, anda 173,00-squarefot public pla around the bulding. nal in eptember 2008, the project opened with an inaugural concert attended by Crown Pine Felipe of Spin, The building display eel of achitctural showmanship that rakes ome people uncomfortable A number of Spanish architects and rites have rice Calatrava for crating a building where dramatic festural elements sem unmoored fom the diipine of Faction [sce David Cohn cay “Excess and Enthusisn” at worwarcitetral secon conietheenseofreitecire, Observer scutmed tothe pare geometries dominating much of way’ Spanish architecture indi ifi- ful purr toacep the Auitoro' monumental eantleverd ach, hich serves asthe projet visual centerpiece bu plays no structural role in supportng the all self The Auditri cral potion on an emer ing waterfront and its ole as wan cata, though, demand an ionic form that commands anton —enuch asthe Spey Opera House and Calatrava’ own addition othe Mibsaukee Art Mascum do, And certain mount showin ser appropriate fora opera hose ‘Although trained as bth an engineer and architect n fstdious ‘witesland, Calatrava share celine ad atl concerns with Baroque masters such as Borromin: a love of mathematics and 3 belie the trnacndentl power of complex geometries The Autorlongated oval plan and plastic approach to form recall the Baroque ‘pita doce Caltrans delight in using the static elements of rchitec- ture to create a sense of movement While crits want opin down the bing’ imagery Calatrava says he is happy with ts “miplcy of ioterpetations” Expining the sige sy," The shape ofthe bulding suggestive of man things jst as music nogesve of many things” Part of the reson the Adiorio crs so slippery in meaning is that doesn ely have a font of rear ‘cade. Intends what Clavata callsa"peneable sculpture siting on sshiplikebase and approached from 3 plaza that wraps sound it Inspired by the isan’ geology the architect gathered the pro= fects two main spacer 1600seat symphonic hall and a «26st Chamber musichll—under sloping concrete volcan and tucked support tet for the ores a wel as parking below the pasa. The baldings double yer ofconcete casings o sls whch sand 98 fe high ensures acoustic lation forthe concert halls The Auitoratraderark*Wwing a ste- rae structure bitin pices in Seve then ited ino placeby gant ‘anes arches over the two lls and eat three pots on the concele sul Weighing 3.500 tons, the tapered and curved wings anchored a its ‘out erring eat 200 fet nd extern 320 fet rom bse op. To Mba eaten: satin the pla op reduce costs, Calatrava used asimple plete of exterior material concrete ship tthe wate hy, ng AHEM ad broken ceramic tes own as roca Neaely the samen color but aedetyinormethe the pking structure “erent in teste, the two materials payoff ich other in facinating way Rama ws blow Te pas on ‘ways opel the ight changes during the dy. (op ht) and occpiee nets the marine “The Canary landsenjoy afar constant.emperatecimat,so Ws grand pbtiepata perk toe soutrest (Calatrava crete sere of outdoor and protected paces hat tun OuL19 (above) Glas parle ofthe projet,eas dynamic asthe now-famous wing. Pom the plaza, a grand Might of iron the north side ofthe bilging and twin on the south ake vs itreto an upper terrace beer between the wing overhead and the concert hall structure to the west. From het, vitrs can lok in these Aietione—to the cy the mountains, and (through a arched openingin thease ofthe wing) the sea—while siping wine procured from astrate- aly oat rant ir A second upper trace on the city (we) sie of the building offers open views to the sky. Even the 13,00-squre-foot lobby shared by tetwo music alls can el practaly outdoor when the curving las-and-woodenty wal atthe end of the space swing up 19 {ocr anopies After haying thei tickets, concertgoers ny another sp tial ueat—ascending the lighted, curving tone sats set between the bling wo concrete shell “The chamber music hal, which can be use for a variety of show and evens hts a lek Moderne fein with anaconda cl ing inst with lg porthole ight. es semictcular stage covers 1700 Square fet witha maim width of 0 fet. ‘Mf all the raale-daae onthe outside, the symphony hall needed tobe spectacular piece of architecture. Clateaa delivers witha grand room that sweeps skyward in a sere of conver sound reflectors, faleinating ina starburst sight The patil elect eal Bowron ‘remarkable interior of Sanvo ala Sapienza in Rome, With asta thats 50 fect ide, 45 fet deep, and more than 32 fet high, the hall en ‘ccommodate opera as wells philharmonic performances. A remarkable “curtain” designed by Calatrava and made ofa curving ray of plaster covered akuminm satis to forma canopy ove the orchesrpit ‘With 150,00 inhabitants, Sana Cruz de Tenerife equals the population of Florence inthe Mie Ages, notes Calatrava. Forking ‘ade; he se envisioned the Auitoro as cathedral rising above the city. Times may have change and Filippo Branelschi may not be around to argue, bat Calatrava has picked up the mantle of architect. ‘engineer and rated a memorable landmark for a ty inthe proces of| remaking scl Teneadi(ookencerame te): Carpentry, wood paneling Hoong: Py Cerio Teves Frapoet Bosal sone pongo plaza Concert hal and music al eete: For nae norman on ths rt, Escno daigndy Calaava B90 Projects at