L'Àgora (Valencian: [ˈlaɣoɾa], Spanish: El Ágora [el ˈaɣoɾa]; anglicised "The Agora") is a multifunctional covered space designed by Santiago Calatrava located in the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences) complex, Valencia, Spain.[2]
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| Location | Valencia, Spain |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 6,075 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2009[1] |
| Construction cost | € 90 million |
| Architect | Santiago Calatrava |
| Tenants | |
| Valencia Open 500 (2009–2015) | |
Design and construction
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The building has a height of 70 m (230 ft) and occupies 5,000 m2 of space with an open ground plan resembling a pointed ellipse about 88 m (289 ft) long and 66 m (217 ft) wide. Depending on the configuration of the space, a maximum seating capacity for 6,075 people can be reached.[3]
The building is a diaphanous large arena, with a glass roof along its spine and a movable structure to control the overhead natural light. The tall white steel rib-cage arches give the interior space an organic element, whereas the exterior is geometric and abstract, in day or when illuminated at night.[2][4]
L'Àgora was officially inaugurated in November 2009 to host the Valencia Open 500 ATP tournament, although the construction works were not completely finished.[5][4] The Valencia Open 500 continued for six years and ended in 2015.
CaixaForum Valencia
editIn early 2018, the Catalan architect Enric Ruiz-Geli was announced to be the winner of a private architecture competition to build the new CaixaForum Valencia inside L'Àgora. CaixaForum Valencia will adapt 6,500 square meters to house two exhibition halls, an auditorium with 300 seats, two multipurpose rooms, a bar-restaurant, a bookstore, and family and educational space on a second level. The space will offer art exhibitions, conferences, concerts and shows, social events, educational and family workshops and activities for the elderly. An investment of around 18 million euros is needed to renovate L'Àgora to house CaixaForum Valencia. In addition, about 5 million euros may be allocated annually for the maintenance, programming and operation of the center. It is expected to open in early 2021.[6]
References
edit- ^ Mallorca, Diario de (9 August 2009). "¿El arquitecto que no sabía diseñar velódromos? - Diario de Mallorca". www.diariodemallorca.es. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ a b "AGORA - CIUDAD DE LAS ARTES Y LAS CIENCIAS". calatrava.com. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ S.L., Unidad Editorial Internet. "Así será el Ágora de Valencia | elmundo.es". www.elmundo.es. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Valencia Open 500 & The New Agora by Calatrava". holavalencia.net. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ http://www.lavanguardia.es/free/edicionimpresa/res/20091106/53818490214.html?urlback=http://www.lavanguardia.es/premium/edicionimpresa/20091106/53818490214.html [dead link]
- ^ Camacho, Noelia (30 March 2019). "El CaixaForum Valencia se aplaza a 2021" [The Valencia CaixaForum postponed to 2021]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2020.
External links
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39°27′13″N 0°21′0″W / 39.45361°N 0.35000°W
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