27. Auditorium of León

The Auditorium of León is divided into two separate buildings in response to the environmental conditions of the emplacement: The main volume houses the concert hall, and the second body accommodates the exhibition rooms. The auditorium, with a capacity varying from 600 up to 1,200 spectators, is conceived as a bifocal hall. Due to its adaptable acoustic qualities, this space can host different activities, such as concerts, conferences, operas, theater, dance performances, etc. The facade is constructed as a stack of windows with two different orders, the perimeter of the hollow and the hollow of each window, as a response to the needs of the spaces inside.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The complex is organized into two buildings: the main volume, continuing the layout of the city, houses the auditorium and extends its section to transform it into a façade. A second volume houses the exhibition halls and rotates its face to adapt its geometry and height to that of the Hostal de San Marcos, defining a large urban hall where the city meets the river.

The auditorium, with a seating capacity ranging from 600 to 1200 spectators, is designed as a bifocal space, enabling the audience to both see and be seen in an Ortega-inspired way. This space, with variable acoustics, can accommodate a variety of activities, including concerts, conferences, opera, theater, dance, etc. The interior of the auditorium is constructed using a single material, dark curved wooden rings, creating a continuous space shaped by the precise technical definition of the surfaces for optimal acoustics, rather than evoking the memory of Jonah inside the whale, from which it only takes the apparent darkness.

Access is directly from the entry level via an expansive lobby that opens onto a tree-lined courtyard. A small elongated building houses the administration area, forming a small threshold or quiet zone that separates the entrances from the nearby road traffic. On the basement level, at the stage height, are the dressing rooms and backstage areas, lit by a courtyard, above which the cafeteria also overlooks, without any cross-views.

The auditorium structure is made of white concrete, and the façades are clad with large travertine marble slabs, echoing the Roman origin of the city of León.