The geometry monument of multifunctional center Llotja

The March 23, 2010 in Lleida was inaugurated Llotja The multifunctional center. In 2005 the Dutch study Mecanoo, in collaboration with Labb Arquitectura in Barcelona, won the international competition organized by the municipality of the city of Lleida and after 5 years the project has become reality.

The Llotja de Lleida, multi-purpose conference center, is one of the most prestigious projects present in Catalonia. The potential of this structure surely will bring major changes in the city of Lleida, which is situated between the mountains Seu Vella and the Segre river, has always relied, work on the contribution that a certain type of tourism, one related to food and wine, beautiful scenery and historic monuments can create. With Llotja but the city will also become a cultural destination. The theatrical season opened with the “Trovatore” and the conference rooms have a rich and interesting program.

The project in its formal composition, was specifically inspired by the genius loci and has made ​​the most of the color range of typical around the city. The designers have brought forward the decision to place emphasis on different shades of the landscape and are used for this project, a coating of warmshades stone and iron. The Llotja thus gives the distinct impression to emerge directly from caliente Spanish land. Lleida is the second city of Catalonia, after Barcelona and is historically famous for its cathedral La Seu Vella, one of the most beautiful churches of Europe. A monumental style in which Arabic is expertly blended the Gothic style, even overlapping the language already present Cistercian Romanic architecture. The new architecture of La Llotja has almost minimalist linguistic instead of essentiality.

The property is spread over six floors, several joints, with their composition that offer users three different interpretations. The building on a regional scale, represents the link between the Segre river on whose banks it was just built and the main rock formation eroded by the wind on which the citadel was built surrounding the Seu Vella. At the city level, the Llotja and the river instead of creating a balanced composition.

Chromatic nuances emerge but the skyline does not change. While at street level, the large overhang that characterizes the conference center acquires a completely different value. Acts as the liaison with the city and protects users from the center of rainfall and sunlight in different seasons. The design decision to prefer the horizontal development of the building has also enabled the construction of a roof garden. A terrace, a viewpoint, which offers very different point of view. This solution has demonstrated.
The organization of the spaces of representation, from a functional point of view, for an adequate response to the fees now required of new sustainable architectures. Below the overhang on the ground floor, a square has been designed for summer events, with a large grandstand featuring the building of offices.

The parking provided of 9.500 square meters, is underground and is directly connected to the central foyer, while the area used for loading and unloading trucks is to functional requirements, on the ground floor at the same level of the stage, changing rooms and kitchen.
The restaurant and thus guarantees an immediate arrangement of materials with less waste of resources to go around. The Llotja has an area of 37.500 square meters. It has two conference halls respectively 1000 and 400 people who also serves as a theater. The larger one is accompanied by a very complex stage machinery and the space that contains it is designed.

In the courtyard of the building designed in the center stands a ladder that leads from street level to the multi-purpose room on the first floor and the foyer of the second, where a panoramic window overlooking the city and offers on the river. The press office, the VIP lounges and conference center are located on the side of the building overlooking the city and is accessed by an interior corridor. The restaurants and bars, are on the side facing the river and the square. The building is monolithic in reality consists of several parts linked together from the large foyer of the ground floor, subject matter with sound absorbing material to ensure the multi-purpose building. All materials used are actively involved in the differentiation of spaces and internal orientation. While the exterior is stone, the interior is characterized mainly white plastered walls and floors in wood or marble.

For the atrium and the multipurpose room was thought a marble floor, while the foyer a wooden floor made ​​up of various essences. The main hall, the theater, with its bright trees carved into the walls of dark wood, it gives the suggestion of an orchard. The range of colors associated with fruit is a recurring theme, albeit in small details. This is a reference to the rich orchards in the area, traditional cultivation in the region of Lleida.