The Palma Convention Center awarded the Spanish Architecture Prize 2017

The Palma Convention Center and the adjoining Meliá Palma Bay hotel, both made by the architect Patxi Mangado, have been awarded with the Spanish Architecture Prize 2017, granted by the High Council of the Spanish College of Architects.

This prize, which is awarded every two years, was created in 1993 to recognize projects for their architectural singularity, their innovative contribution and their exemplary and remarkable quality.

The Convention Center has become an icon of Palma’s maritime facade, and it stands as an extension of the Baluarte, the wall that once surrounded the city. Mangado has used a unique combination of materials and forms to give life to this masterpiece, efficiently designed, occupying a total surface of 56,000m2, along with the adjoining hotel of 268 rooms.

The anthracite granite covers the floors of the entire building, the local stone of “mares” covers the facade, and the tropical wood of Gabon dyes the walls with orange and reddish colors. The exterior material, Aluminum “alusion”, is produced by injecting air into molten aluminium, it beautifies the building while serving as thermal and acoustic insulation.

According to the architect, “we have used timeless materials which are extraordinarily young and great”, but in this exceptional composition, light is the key element. “Someone said once that light is the cheapest material and the most important one for making architecture – said Mangado – and we must take advantage of the wonderful Mediterranean natural light available here”.

The convention center evokes a hive whose interior houses two modern auditoriums with capacities for 1,978 and 462 people respectively, and its exhibition area is defined as a cave open to the sea, which lets in light through the large windows. For greater versatility, the building also has several meeting rooms, as well as a 600 m2 terrace with incomparable views over the Bay of Palma.

The opening of the convention center has become a turning point for congress tourism in Mallorca. From the moment when it was opened in May 2017, it exceeded all the expectations managing more than 170 events. There is no doubt that foreign markets are considering Palma de Mallorca as an all-important destination for celebrating international meetings and conferences.