La Llotja de Lleida Theatre and Congress Centre

La Llotja de Lleida, Lerida, Spain (2010)

Just outside the centre of the city of Lleida on the banks of
the Segre River is La Llotja, a large theatre and conference
centre. Mecanoo regarded Lleida’s landscape (Catalan for
Lerida) an extraordinary backdrop for the horizontal
building. The mise-en-scene has been elaborated on three
levels of scale: as a link between river and mountain
landscape, balanced composition between river and city,
and with its cantilevers, as shelter from sun and rain.

The large stone building of over 37,000 square metres
appears to have sprung from out of the Spanish earth. The
building’s horizontal form provides a large garden on the
roof, while under the cantilevers begins a square for events,
with the stairs of the adjacent building serving as a tribune.
Materials ensure distinction and orientation in the interior.
The exterior is of stone. The interior is mostly of white
stucco. The region of Lleida is famous for fruit production.
The theatre has the semblance of an orchard with walls of
dark wood, within which, cut out trees of light. The colour
palette of fruit is a theme throughout the building and is
repeated in small details.

Programme: Theatre and congress centre of 37,500 m²
with a theatre hall (1,000 seats), also functioning as a
congress hall, 2 congress halls with 400 and 200 seats, a
multifunctional space, 2 foyers, 9,500 m2 of parking,
lounge, terraces, a public square of 15,325 m2, Mercolleida
office and retail of 2,591 m2, 1st prize competition
Client: Centre de Negocis i de Convencions S.A., Lleida,
Spain (project)
Design: 2005-2006
Execution: 2006-2010
Building costs: €35 million