It is a plaza open to the world , as one of its slogans states, located on the right bank of the Avilés Estuary. It is the first and main component of Innovation Island, a broader project to regenerate a city that was deeply industrialized in the 20th century and aspires to an aesthetic and post-industrial transformation in the 21st.
Even before its inauguration in March 2011, the center acted as a powerful magnet , attracting talent, and all sorts of personalities and celebrities began to frequent Avilés: Woody Allen, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Wim Wenders, Carlos Saura, Paulo Coelho, Wole Soyinka, Vinton Cerf, and many more . And so, little by little, an enthusiastic and active community was built, identified with the Centro Niemeyer brand.
Óscar Niemeyer's Spanish work
On December 15, 2010, the Avilés complex, still under construction, opened its doors for the first time to mark the 103rd birthday of Oscar Niemeyer , the prestigious Brazilian architect who gives his name to the cultural center and who years ago agreed to give Avilés this project as a thank you for the awarding of the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in 1989.
It is his only work in our country and considered the most important of those carried out in Europe by this follower of Le Corbusier and father of Brasilia . Its magnitude began with the very land on which it stands, because it was reclaimed from the sea, and to lay the foundations, piles had to be driven more than 20 meters deep in search of bedrock. The resulting buildings are also taller towards the bottom than they are upwards, and for this reason, highly innovative construction technologies were used.
The Auditorium, the Dome, the Observation Tower, the Multipurpose Building, and the Open Plaza are the five spaces that make up the Center . The Auditorium is not only the tallest but also the most challenging to construct, given the complexity of its forms. It surprises us with its vibrant yellow color and the large, delicate brushstrokes depicting a woman resting peacefully, seemingly welcoming us.
The indoor auditorium has nearly 1000 seats; the lobby has been designed to host exhibitions, and beneath the stage area is a chamber music hall for smaller performances. Another of its features is its large stage, integrated into the building but open to the Plaza, designed for major events such as open-air concerts and with a capacity of 10.000 people.
The Dome, or hemisphere, is a 2.000-square-meter open-plan exhibition space. Its interior, with its sinuous forms that achieve an unprecedented balance, houses a lamp designed by the architect himself and a highly praised spiral staircase.
The 20-meter-high observation tower , with its harmonious spiral staircase, offers a panoramic view of the building's position overlooking the estuary. It was designed as a gastronomic space. The Niemeyer Center elevates gastronomy to a cultural status comparable to that of any other art form. Inside, visitors can watch and sample menus created by guest chefs.
The Multipurpose Building houses the Cinema, with a capacity of one hundred people. This space is the only one in the Principality that permanently screens films in their original language. Its president and advisor on content is Woody Allen. Other multipurpose rooms are also noteworthy, especially those dominated by two beautiful murals designed by Niemeyer himself.
Finally, the Open Plaza is a large space where recreational and cultural activities take place and which, in a way, represents a link between the Center and the city, since the historic center is located just 500 meters away.
The final result is a place of great beauty that will leave very few indifferent. The esplanade on which the buildings stand is a space imbued with magic and harmony, where the white cement, resembling immaculate fabric, has relegated the polluting industrial chimneys to the background. It is said that Niemeyer himself once remarked that "if something is beautiful, it is useful," and this vision is also evident in various aspects of the Center, such as the walkway that connects the Dome and the Auditorium, whose sole purpose is to guide our gaze among the cluster of buildings.
Facing this entire artistic display is a floating walkway that connects it to the city and serves as a viewpoint overlooking the new architectural space. It's a promenade that the residents of Avilés and their visitors frequent with enthusiasm.
Óscar Niemeyer Center opening hours
Plaza opening from Mondays to Sundays
· From 09:00 to 24:00.
Reception and box office
· From January 2 to June 21 (from Monday to Sunday).
· De 10:30 a 14:30 y de 15:30 a 19:30 h.
· From June 22 to September 13 (Monday to Sunday).
· De 10:00 a 14:30 y de 15:30 a 20:30 h.
· From September 14 to December 31 (from Monday to Sunday).
· De 10:30 a 14:30 y de 15:30 a 19:30 h.
Regular exhibition hours
· From Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00.
· See each exhibition for more information.
· Closed days
The Niemeyer Center will close on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1.
Information:
Tel. +34 984 835 031
Approximate visit duration: 45 minutes. The Niemeyer Center is five minutes from the historic center of Avilés. It can be accessed via the footbridge in the old Fish Market Square, on Llano Ponte Street, and also via the pedestrian bridge located at the end of the river promenade, on Conde de Guadalhorce Avenue.
The Center has 300 underground parking spaces.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
