The conference center is situated on the outskirts of Plasencia, positioned at the border between urban development and the natural countryside. It acts like a sickle, separating the dense cityscape from the surrounding rural landscape. This location posed an unusual challenge: due to economic factors, a 15-meter high retaining wall had to be constructed.
From the start of the competition, we understood that the design had to commit to one of two contrasting environments: embracing the urban character meant adopting the architectural identity of our generation, while choosing the rural setting implied a slower pace of development. It was impossible to combine both urban and rural traits in the conference center.
Ultimately, we chose the rural setting due to the significant elevation difference between the urban and rural zones. The BIM training buildings needed to be positioned below street level, separated from the road by a 17-meter-high retaining wall. The countryside lies beneath this wall.
To address this dramatic height difference, our design respects the natural terrain as much as possible, aiming to minimize excavation and filling of the land.
We developed a specialized foundation treatment to preserve the original land for potential future expansions, treating the building as a small island in a vast ocean where additional structures could eventually become part of the whole.
The conference center subtly reflects the theme of the ocean, inspired by the unique characteristics of the Extremadura countryside (BIM).
“Don’t forget me”—we cherish this flower and its meaning. Silver Avenue, part of the Salamanca Expressway, runs along the west side of the conference center, offering stunning views of the Gata Mountain Range.
From a distance to the west, the entire building is clearly visible, including to drivers on the nearby north-south highway. We designed the conference center as a luminous landmark, serving as a visual and psychological symbol for visitors, guiding them towards progress and movement, day or night.
“Don’t forget me…” The final design evokes George Sand’s words to Flaubert: “Don’t define a form, don’t disturb…” Our building expresses this philosophy by minimizing the footprint on the ground, serving as the stage and stepped seating area in the main hall.
The main hall forms the core of our design concept. Above it, the space continues with the entrance hall, exhibition hall, restaurant, and a secondary hall that accommodates 300 people, divided into three sections seating 100 each.
The conference center’s entrance is located on a street near the city, about 17 meters above the building’s lowest point. An orange staircase descends 12 meters into a vertical canyon, offering breathtaking views of the countryside and the Gata Mountains.
Here, interior and exterior spaces blend seamlessly. Visitors can explore outside the concrete exterior walls or wander along ramps and spiral staircases to enjoy the scenery. To adapt to the climate while integrating indoor and outdoor areas, we use glass partitions, which also help reduce costs associated with temperature differences.
Drawings
Sectional View
Coffee Shop Floor Plan
Exhibition Hall Floor Plan
Hall Floor Plan
Main Exhibition Hall Floor Plan
Roof Plan
Sectional View
Master Plan
Sectional View
Sectional View
Sectional View
Ramp East Section Map
Ramp West Section Map
East Elevation
North Elevation
South Elevation
West Facade
Plan
Structural Facade
Detail Drawing
Detail Drawing
Facade Details
Skylight Facade
Sectional View
Project Information
Architect: Selgas Cano
Location: Cartagena, Murcia, Spain
Category: Cultural Architecture
Lead Architects: Jose Selgas, Lucia Cano
Design Team: José de Villar, Carlos Chacón, Julio Cano, Lara Resco, Lorena del Río, Manuel Cifuentes, Beatriz Quintana, Jeongwoo Choi, Laura Culiañez, Bárbara Bardin, Johannes Riekert, Cristina Gutierrez
Area: 7,500 m²
Project Year: 2017
Photographer: Iwan Baan
Manufacturers: AIR-board, EGE, Fiberline, Walker, Nowofol, Plexiglas
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