Francisco Mangado has recently completed the Municipal Auditorium of Teulada.

Teulada-Moraira is an unusual urban center. Though it is divided into two separate physical units, they belong to a single administrative entity. Located in Alicante, in a valley that descends from the mountains into the sea, the city takes full advantage of the two realities, earth and sea, which define its environment and perform as visual references for one another.

Municipal Auditorium of Teulada, image courtesy Francisco Mangado | Photo by Juan Rodriguez

Municipal Auditorium of Teulada, image courtesy Francisco Mangado | Photo by Juan Rodriguez

As part of a new urban development, the Municipal Auditorium goes up in the first nucleus, Teulada, which is located in the higher area of the city. From this point, and over the valley sprinkled with small white buildings, one can see the town of Moraira by the sea. Such a singular location will allow the building to perform as a link between the two urban centers which are physically separated, but which share territory, landscape and of course culture. This significant presence of the new building in the city and the landscape underlies all the essential decisions regarding spatial configuration and formal definition of the proposal. Awareness of the topographical features and the unevenness of the plot have provided the remaining references.

Municipal Auditorium of Teulada, image courtesy Francisco Mangado | Photo by Juan Rodriguez

Municipal Auditorium of Teulada, image courtesy Francisco Mangado | Photo by Juan Rodriguez

The auditoria are designed to adapt to the natural topography of the plot, which descends towards the southwest and frees the main access areas on its northeast and southeast perimeter. These accesses are organized and oriented to afford the best views of Moraira and the sea, so underscoring the "articulating" role of the building. The halls flanking the main auditorium are particularly important, becoming large viewpoints onto the sea. Their configuration and construction follow the guidelines of a large space-façade, deep, geometric and carefully sculpted as if it were a diamond, always bearing in mind the position of the Mediterranean sun, which in this orientation would glare down relentlessly. This side façade formally combines all the project guidelines. As carefully carved pieces, it contains the cafeteria and restaurant and an exhibition area at a lower level, all of them with views onto the Mediterranean. As the ceiling, the floor of this "large opening" folds to evoke the seashore rocks, which from afar seems to blend with the water. At night this façade will act as a backdrop, a lighthouse that will shine over the paths that join Teulada and Moraira.

Municipal Auditorium of Teulada, image courtesy Francisco Mangado | Photo by Juan Rodriguez

Municipal Auditorium of Teulada, image courtesy Francisco Mangado | Photo by Juan Rodriguez

Municipal Auditorium of Teulada - Level 0 floor plan, drawing courtesy Francisco Mangado

+ Project facts

Situation: Teulada.-Moraira, Alicante, Spain
Total area: 5.100 m2
Budget: 11.000.000 €
Competition date: 2004. 1st Prize Project Competition
Project date: 2004
Construction date: 2011
Client: Teulada TownHall. Generalitat de Valencia.
Architect: Francisco Mangado
Work direction: Francisco Mangado
Photographer: Juan Rodriguez

+ Collaborators

Architecture: Jose Gastaldo, Idoia Alonso, Birte Lattermann, Borja Fernández, Edurne Pradera. Jaime Sepulcre.
Structural engineers: NB 35 SL (Jesús Jiménez Cañas / Alberto López) Ingenieros.
Mechanical systems: Iturralde y Sagüés ingenieros.
Acoustic engineer: Higini Arau Estudi Acustic.
Lighting consultant: ALS Lighting arquitectos consultores de iluminación (Antón Amann).
Quantity surveyors: PA Aparejadores (Luis Pahissa / Fernando Pahissa).
General contractor: Constructora San José SA.

+ All images courtesy Francisco Mangado | Photo by Juan Rodriguez

+ More projects by Francisco Mangado on +MOOD

Avila Congress and Exhibitions Municipal Centre | Francisco Mangado

Archeology Museum of Vitoria| Francisco Mangado