Kursaal Congress Centre
Rafael Moneo · San Sebastián, Spain · 1999
Rafael Moneo conceived the Kursaal as two abstract volumes beside the mouth of the Urumea River. Completed in 1999, their translucent envelopes soften the distinction between large performance halls and the coastal atmosphere around them. The pair sits on a shared platform that establishes public routes and terraces between the city, beach and river. Their slightly irregular positioning avoids a conventional symmetrical monument. During the day, the glass surfaces register changing weather; after dark, the buildings become luminous containers. Study the public ground plane as carefully as the two familiar auditorium volumes. Visiting: The exterior terraces can be experienced without a ticket. Performances and some visits are ticketed.