City of Arts and Sciences

Click on the thumbnails for enlargment and more info.

Santiago Calatrava , Nederland

The "City of Arts and Sciences" was built in a rundown quarter halfway between the centre of Valencia and the coast. Apart from a Museum of Science it is comprised of a Planetarium, a Palace of the Arts and a Promenade with underground parking areas.

The Planetarium and Museum of Science are located within a shallow basin of water, which is a reminder of the former river. All buildings stand out for their striking, sculpturally formed concrete construction.

The Planetarium is structurally supported on only two sides. Its special feature is its glass facade, which can be opened or closed across its total width. Through its mirror image in the water it appears as a complete eye with its open and closed eyelid. The hemispherical interior houses an IMAX-cinema.

The bowl shaped structure of the "Palace of the Arts", including the Opera House, the Auditorium and the Music Shell, will complete the whole complex in the near future.

• Client: State Government of Valencia
• Planetarium: 1991 - 1998
• Museum of Science: 1991-2000
• Palace of the Arts: 1995-2004 ate Government of Valencia
• Planetarium: 1991 - 1998