Teatro Municiapl Núria Espert

Sant Andreu de la Barca (es) — Just outside of Barcelona, in the town of Sant Andreu de la Barca, a new theatre has been built, the Teatro Municipal Núria Espert. The complex has given a huge cultural and social impulse to the suburban town, which is mostly populated by people employed in local industry and commuters who work in Barcelona. In addition to a stage for performances, the theatre offers a meeting point for the town’s rich variety of clubs and associations, from the football supporters’ club to the flamenco society (where the many workers from Andalusia keeptheir traditions alive). In the design by B01 Arquitectes from Barcelona, the large atrium on the square is one of the most eye-catching elements. This atrium, made from the CW 50 system, incorporates photovoltaic cells, allowing the building to supply a large part of its own energy needs.

Teatro Municipal Núria Espert Architect: B01 Arquitectes Engineer photovoltaic shed: Efener Enginyeria, SLL Promoter: Diputació de Barcelona Fabricator: Vialpen 2000, Sant Cugat de Sesgarrigues Reynaers systems: CW 50, BS 100

The theatre is a public and open place where Sant Andreu de la Barca people relate in a public performance and a cultural act, where both adults and children spend their time, where people show off socially.

The new building is placed creating the new Garcia Lorca Square, widening the existing one. In this way, an open area which relates with the market and the surrounding streets is born. The most permeable functions of the theatre such as exhibition hall-foyer, ticket office and cafe look into this square.

The role of urban kneecap is also practised by the building, marking the arrival to this new Sant Andreu centre. The visible and articulated volume deals with the modified topography because of the train cover, responding to the green axis from the Central Park and the interior garden to the outdoors theatre.

The accesibility understood in a total way will make the building be a unifying agent and cultural catalytic. The interior structure, already perceived from the hall, is a continued space where the ramps lead the visitant across the exhibitions hall-foyer to the multifunctional hall and the viewpoint above the square. Like that, the theatre opens to people and, once they have came in, invites to their interaction.

The main hall, which has a capacity of 423 people, can be used in two different ways: without the most inclined part of the amphitheatre, a reduced area can be created for 250 people maintaining the acoustic quality thank to the panels and the reflecting ceiling which guarantee the perception in an involving way. The scenic tower, essential part in complex performances, is the light which will lead the public to the meeting point in the acting nights.

The multifunctional hall is located behind the main hall, but not to far to the access as the fluent foyer connects with the space making it visible across the patio. Those will be the place for daily performances, rehearsals and collective meetings. Therefore, a truly multifunctional building is provided.