Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía
Santiago Calatrava · Valencia, Spain · 2005
The Palau de les Arts occupies the northwestern end of Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences. Santiago Calatrava enclosed its performance spaces within a large, curving shell, creating an opera house with a pronounced sculptural presence. Opened in 2005, the complex combines substantial technical requirements with terraces, circulation spaces and views across the surrounding water. Its architecture changes markedly as one walks around it: projecting edges, openings and structural supports produce different readings from each side. The contrast between the monumental exterior and the more controlled acoustic environment of the auditoria is central to the project. Visiting: Interior access is by performance ticket or an authorized guided visit.