The Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, or Centro Niemeyer is a cultural centre complex designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and an international project. The centre is located on the estuary of Avilés, Asturias, in northwest Spain. It was inaugurated on 26 March 2011.
Its imposing size and its white, red and yellow exterior make it a highly visible landmark on the town’s landscape.
The Niemeyer Centre is formed by five main elements that complement each other:[4]
The open square is a large open outdoor space for cultural activities that reflects Niemeyer’s idea of a place open to humankind.
The auditorium contains approximately 1000 seats for concerts, theatre, and conferences. It is unusual in that its seating does not distinguish between social classes. It includes the Club, a small space for concerts, and an exhibition room in the foyer.
The dome is the exhibition building.
The tower is for sight-seeing and includes a restaurant and cocktail lounge.
The multi-purpose building contains the film centre, meeting-rooms, cafe, shop, and information kiosk.
Apart from its cultural purposes, the Centre has an important environmental element. It is the center of a large scale urban regeneration process that will change the town’s whole waterfront. It is located on an island created in the Avilés estuary, not far from the industrial area. This has helped in the regeneration process of the area.
The authorities are now planning many changes there, such as eliminating heavy traffic from the port area (where the center is located) and creating sporting and recreation areas. Also new building projects are being planned – a reflection of the Niemeyer Centre effect. This area is now called La Isla de la Innovación (The Island of the Innovation).
