L'Hemisfèric
Santiago Calatrava · Valencia, Spain · 1998
L'Hemisfèric was the first major attraction to open within Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences in 1998. Santiago Calatrava arranged a cinema and projection venue inside a form whose curved envelope and surrounding reflection pool suggest an eye. The relationship between the enclosed auditorium and its outer shell gives the building a clear architectural identity within the larger ensemble. Its terraces and water edge allow the form to be studied from several distances. A screening provides access to the interior programme, while the exterior can be considered alongside the nearby science museum and landscaped riverbed. Visiting: Screenings require tickets. The exterior reflecting pools are visible from public routes.