Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre

The Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre (Spanish: Centro Cultural Internacional Oscar Niemeyer, is a cultural centre located in the city of Avilés, in Spain. It takes its name from its architect and designer, Brazilian Oscar Niemeyer.

Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre
Centro Cultural Internacional Oscar Niemeyer (Spanish)
Tower and auditorium.
General information
Architectural style	Modernist
Address	Avenida del Zinc
Town or city	Avilés
Country	Spain
Coordinates	43°33′25″N 5°54′59″W / 43.556884°N 5.916288°W / 43.556884; -5.916288
Groundbreaking	2008
Inaugurated	26 March 2011
Cost	30 million euro^[1]
Owner	Principality of Asturias
Height	26 metres (85 ft)
Technical details
Material	Concrete
Grounds	45.783 square metres (492.80 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Oscar Niemeyer
Website
centroniemeyer.es

Built next to the Avilés estuary, its predominantly white, modernist curvy lines contrast with the traditionally industrial landscape of the area. The Centre is one of the few works of Niemeyer in Europe and the only one in Spain.^[2] The site comprises several buildings including an auditorium, an observatory tower, an exhibition hall, a cinema, and a restaurant.^[3]

Conceived by Niemeyer in 2006 as part of the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the (then Prince) Princess of Asturias Awards, construction works started in 2008.^[2] It was inaugurated on 26 March 2011.^[4]

History

Origins and conception

Oscar Niemeyer, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one of the most influential modernist architects in the world,^[5] was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Art in 1989. This was the beginning of the relationship between Niemeyer and the Principality region of Asturias. Years later, as a present for the 25th anniversary of the Awards, Niemeyer donated a project to the principality. His design has become a project meant to be an international reference in the cultural field. It is dedicated to education, culture and peace.^[6] The centre is the first work by Niemeyer in Spain, and he had said he believes it is his most important in Europe,^[7] which is the reason for its name — Centro Niemeyer.

The first stone was laid in April 2008. The museum building structure was built in about an hour as a result of the use of a pioneering building techniques.^[8] This allowed the whole structure to be set up in about an hour. Then the multipurpose building and the Auditorium were constructed. The materials used were mainly concrete and glass. Also during this time the base of the Tower was started, but it was not until the structures of other buildings were almost finished that the work on the Tower was visible. An underground car park was added. The Open Square was covered in white concrete. The sides of the Auditorium were painted yellow, creating a contrast with the dominant white colour on the rest of the buildings. On one of the sides of the auditorium, a ceramic art work, designed by Niemeyer, represents the outline of a woman resting. The stage door was painted red. This door can be open to the square, so that shows can take part inside or outside the building.^{[citation needed]}

The inauguration ceremony took place in March 2011 with a video speech by Niemeyer and a jazz concert with Woody Allen in front of an audience of more than 10,000 people.^[9]

'Niemeyer effect': impact in the post-industrial town

Apart from its cultural purposes, the centre has an important environmental element. It is the center of a large scale urban regeneration process that will change the town's whole waterfront. It is located on an island created in the Avilés estuary, not far from the industrial area. This has helped in the regeneration process of the area.

The authorities are now planning many changes there, such as eliminating heavy traffic from the port area (where the center is located) and creating sporting and recreation areas. Also new building projects are being planned - a reflection of the Niemeyer Centre effect. This area is now called La Isla de la Innovación^[10] (The Island of the Innovation).^[11]

It is being developed by the Government of the Principality of Asturias and the Government of Spain. It will provide for the economic and urban regeneration of a degraded area as part of a process of industrial transformation: the Avilés estuary, situated in Asturias, northern Spain.

Thanks to the architecture and the cultural project, a number of artists became interested in the centre.^[12] Brad Pitt, a follower of Oscar Niemeyer's work visited the town to see the works^[13] and increased the publicity of the Asturian cultural complex. Other Hollywood stars such as Kevin Spacey, visited the town several times in collaboration with the center (premieres, conferences, and theatre plays).^[14] The collaboration between different world personalities (artists, Nobel Prize winners, United Nations meetings, etc.) made Centro Niemeyer the "Spanish cultural institution with more presence in national and international media" in 2011.^[15]

A year later, the area around the Centre prepared for the arrival of the first commercial cruise in Avilés' history. An Oriental Garden next to the estuary receives the arriving visitors. There are plans to create a bigger recreation port to increase tourism.^[16]

The centre has also inspired several sweets, such as: Niemeyitas, Cúpulas de Avimeyer (Avimeyer domes), etc.^[17] The short film Keres by Alfonso S. Suarez was recorded at the centre.^[18] Several car companies have also used the buildings to promote their latest cars.^[19] Also a fashion magazine used it as background for a photographic session in 2011.^[20]

Spaces and design

The main feature in Niemeyer's work are the building's curves. The building's colours — mainly white, red, yellow and blue — reflect the influence of Neoplasticism on his work.^[21] The Niemeyer Centre comprises four buildings set in around an open plaza:^[22]

Auditorium

 

Auditorium.

The largest building by area of the complex, also the highest with 26 m tall. Its interior capacity fits just under 1000 people, and features a large foyer used as an exhibition space throughout the year. The main hall, with renowned acoustics, includes a 400 m2 stage where theatre and dance representations, conferences and concerts take place. The Auditorium can open a large red gate and open the stage to the square, enabling open-air events.^[23]

On one of its sides there is a mural of a woman drawn by Niemeyer, a common subject of the architect's sketches. It's called Vectorial Woman.^[24]

Dome

An open space of approximately 4,000 m2 for exhibitions and other events. It features a round shaped lamp and an imposing spiral staircase, both designed by Niemeyer.

Tower

 

Tower.

The observation tower overlooks the estuary and city of Avilés, as well as the whole complex. At 20 m high, the disc-shaped top floor houses a restaurant.

Multi-purpose building

A long, curved building that contains the film centre, meeting-rooms, cafeteria, shop, and the visitor's information centre.

Activities and events

G8 of culture

In December 2007, the Foundation organized the First Worldwide Forum of International Cultural Centres in Avilés, Asturias (also known as the G8 of Culture) with eight international cultural centers: Lincoln Center of New York (USA), Barbican Centre of London(UK), Sydney Opera House, Centre Georges Pompidou of Paris (France), Library of Alexandria, Tokyo International Forum(Japan) and Hong Kong Cultural Center (China) and the Cultural Centre Óscar Niemeyer of Asturias (Spain).^[25]

Production

The exhibition Luz by Carlos Saura was a production by Centro Niemeyer. The center co-produced Utopía by María Pagés, and, in association with other institutions, co-commissioned and produced Richard III by Sam Mendes with Kevin Spacey in the main role. This play was part of the Bridge Project between the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Old Vic Theatre in London, and the British producer Neal Street.^[26] Asturias was one of the few places in the world where it was presented, adding Aviles to a list of names such as London, Naples, Istanbul, Athens, San Francisco, and New York.^[27]

Education

The centre has organised different educational activities such as those in collaboration with the Kevin Spacey Foundation, or María Pagés. Students of different ages had the opportunity to use the meeting place for learning and activities such as performing in Broadway play.^[28] It was also one of the stops of the Ruta Quetzal in 2011^[29]

Film Centre

One of the permanent activities of the Niemeyer Centre will be the Film Centre. Woody Allen proposed the idea to the Principality of Asturias' Government following several visits to Asturias.^{[citation needed]} He has publicly supported the Avilés' Centre, visiting the town and including bits of it in his first film shot in Spain (Vicky Cristina Barcelona'' 2008). In October 2008, the European Film Academy (EFA) announced that it will collaborate with the Niemeyer Centre's Film for a permanent cinema in the Multipurpose Building.^[30] Seat number seven in the fifth row bears Woody Allen's name. He inaugurated the cinema in 2011.^[31] There is a second seat dedicated to Volker Schlöndorff.^[32] The Film Centre works on films on themes, such as the United Nations, etc., but also shows premieres, and short-films.

Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre Foundation

The Fundación Centro Cultural Internacional Oscar Niemeyer Principado de Asturias was created in 2007 to manage the Niemeyer Centre's buildings and cultural projects. The Foundation develops international projects and works to set up a collaborative network. The work of the Foundation is based on three aims: education, culture and peace.^{[citation needed]} It is hoped^{[according to whom?]} the centre will be a magnet for talent, knowledge and creativity, as well as promoting local content. It has a strong focus on collaboration with international cultural centres.

Oscar Niemeyer is an honorary member of the Foundation.^{[citation needed]}

Awards

The architectural project received the following awards:

• Best National Project at Barcelona Meeting Point (2010)^[33]
• Best Urban Development Project at Éxito Empresarial en Asturias Awards(2010)^[34]
• Icono de la Asturias de hoy (chosen by the readers of El Comercio newspaper(2011)^[35]
• II Premio en la categoría placa de yeso laminado en el VIII Saint-Gobain Gypsum International Trophy Awards. (June 2012) 2012^[36]

It also received an award for its cultural contribution:

• Premio del Público del Festival de Jeréz 2012 (Jerez Festival Audience Prize) to UTOPÍA de María Pagés (coproduced by Centro Niemeyer)^[37]

Gallery

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
  Multipurpose building

See also

• List of Oscar Niemeyer works

And:

• Centre Pompidou, París
• Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid
• Tate Modern London
• Guggenheim Bilbao
• Museo de Arte Abstracto Español de Cuenca
• Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León (MUSAC)
• Museo de Escultura al Aire Libre de Alcalá de Henares

References

1. "La construcción del Centro Niemeyer costó 30 millones". Europa Press. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
2. "Historia". Centro Niemeyer. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
3. "Niemeyer Centre". Tourism of Spain. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
4. "El Centro Niemeyer cumple diez años". Centro Niemeyer. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
5. Influential modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer dies aged 104. The Independent, 6 December 2012
6. Information^{[dead link]}
7. "Note in "El Mundo"". Elmundo.es.
8. Yolanda De Luis. "Article in "El Comercio Digital"". Avilés: Elcomerciodigital.com.
9. El clarinete de Woody Allen apadrina el Niemeyer Elmundo.es, 26 March 2011
10. Paul Richardson (1 July 2011). "'A great white hope in Avilés, Asturias". The Guardian. London.
11. . Xihalife.com. 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
12. Brad Pitt visita por sorpresa Avilés ABC, 31 August 2009
13. La Opinión de A Coruña (31 August 2009). "Brat Pitt's surprise visitita". Laopinioncoruna.es.
14. Kevin Spacey convierte a Ricardo III en un dictador del siglo XX. Cultura, El País, 29 September 2011
15. Y. De Luis (11 October 2011). "La Voz de Avilés". Elcomercio.es.
16. "The Island of Innovation". Aviles.es. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
17. . Comarca Avilés. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
18. KERES94 personen vinden dit leuk (18 September 2012). "Keres Facebook page" – via Facebook.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
19. Nissan lleva su guerra de las galaxias al Niemeyer y al Calatrava La voz e Avilés, 2 September 2013
20. Una 'top model' en el Niemeyer La voz de Avilés, 24 May 2011
21. "Entrevista: Niemeyer la poética de la curva" 1 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine (Spanish) in http://noticias.arq.com.mx
22. Murphy, Douglas (8 June 2011). "Centro Niemeyer by Oscar Niemeyer". iconeye.com. ICON. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
23. "Centro Cultural, Avilés". Arquitectura Viva. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
24. "Mujer Vectorial". Cerámica la Guia. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
25. Hermoso, Borja (6 December 2007). "El País.com, 22/2/2008". El País.
26. . Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
27. "EFM World Tour with The Bridge Project – Richard III" 8 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, EFM, 26 June 2012
28. La Nueva España (28 March 2012). "De Gijón a Broadway La Nueva España, 28th March 2012". Lne.es.
29. "Ruta Quetzal video". 14 July 2011 – via YouTube.
30. "informador.com.mx". Informador.com.mx. 25 March 2011.
31. "informador.com.mx". Informador.com.mx. 25 March 2011.
32. Volker Schlöndorff's visit 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
33. . Rtpa.es. 17 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
34. La Nueva España (17 October 2010). "Article in La Nueva España newspaper". Lne.es.
35. E.C.D. (13 April 2011). "El Comercio, April 2011". Gijón: Elcomercio.es.
36. 2nd Prize- VIII Saint-Gobain Gypsum International Trophy Awards 28 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
37. Diario de Jeréz

43°33′25″N 5°54′59″W / 43.556884°N 5.916288°W / 43.556884; -5.916288

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Centro Niemeyer.

• Niemeyer Centre Official website
• The Island of the Innovation (Spanish)