A conference center in Plasencia,
design: SelgasCano
In 2005, the authorities of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura announced a competition to design a conference center. The winner was the Spanish studio SelgasCano, founded by José Selgas and Lucía Cano. This office is distinguished by designs that feature intense colors and organic forms that harmonize with the surroundings. The development in Plasencia took 12 years to complete, and the building was completed in 2017. Just two years later, the project reached the finals of the Mies van der Rohe Prize competition.
Plasencia conference center - the space between the shell with the interior of the building
Photo by Ivan Baan © selgascano
nature of the city account: choice of location
The conference center was built on the outskirts of Plasencia, a Spanish city located in the Extremadura region. The facility is situated on a hill overlooking the city's buildings and a nearby canyon. The site, located on the border between man-made space and the natural landscape, posed a design challenge from the start. The architects mention that already at the competition stage it became obvious that designing in this location required making a choice: the building had to either be integrated into the city structure, reflecting its contemporary character, or relate the design to the natural rhythm of the landscape, developed over centuries. Combining both approaches into a coherent whole proved unfeasible.
Plasencia conference center - an orange ramp leads inside the building
Photo by Ivan Baan © selgascano
Below ground and above ground: spatial concept of the center
In the end, the decision was made to integrate with nature, which influenced the unusual setting of the building. The significant difference in height between the city and the surrounding terrain necessitated placing most of the structure below street level. To achieve this, a 17-meter-high artificial embankment was created to cover the original landform, leaving it hidden under layers of earth.
Plasencia conference center - axonometry
© selgascano
The facility is located on the border between the city and the surrounding nature, on the outskirts of Plasencia - at the meeting point of the space shaped by man and that shaped by the climate for millennia, the
- mention the architects.
Only the stage and the main conference hall are visible on the surface, while other functions - the lobby, a second hall for 300 people (which can be divided into three smaller spaces), exhibition space and a restaurant - are located underground. The entrance to the building is led by an orange ramp, which starts at street level and goes down, overcoming the difference in height.
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light and lightness: solid in the details
The lump of the center is distinguished by a light, almost ethereal structure, reminiscent of a meteorite. The facade is made of semi-transparent ETFE panels, which provide light transmission and expose the building's internal structure after dark. As a result, the building changes depending on the time of day and lighting. From the perspective of the road, it resembles a luminous object that seems to float above the landscape.
Plasencia conference center - the building like a meteorite spills out among the rocky landscape
Photo by Ivan Baan © selgascano
colors in depth: interiors full of contrast
The conference center's interiors are distinguished by intense colors that contrast with the white, translucent exterior facade. They are dominated by shades of orange and red, bringing energy and warmth to the usable spaces. These vivid colors, characteristic of the Selgascano style, are visible in both the lobby and meeting rooms, creating a cohesive visual narrative. The colors not only enliven the underground spaces, but also emphasize the organic nature of the design, linking them to the orange ramp leading into the center.
Plasencia conference center
Photo by Ivan Baan © selgascano
a bridge between nature and the future
Selgascano architects emphasize that their goal was to create a center that not only fits into the existing context, but also sets the stage for future development. The building was to preserve a piece of the natural landscape, acting as a kind of enclave in the anticipated urban expansion. "
We wanted it to serve as a reference point for future constructions, which, like our design, will harmonize with this unique area
- explain the designers.
The architects compare it to settlements being built on the shores of a vast sea, where the ocean is the landscape of Extremadura.
Plasencia conference center - cross section
© selgascano
from literature to architecture: a philosophy of form
In describing their approach, Selgas and Cano refer to correspondence between Sand and Gustave Flaubert. In it, the writer advised not to focus excessively on form, but to let ideas and emotions give shape to the design. The architects took this thought as inspiration, moving away from rigid urban frameworks and architectural conventions. The shape of the building results directly from the topography of the site and the surrounding landscape, rather than from preconceived ideas imposed from above. The result is a form that seems to emerge organically, balancing between materiality and transience.
Plasencia conference center
Photo by Ivan Baan © selgascano
practicality in harmony
The center was designed with the users in mind. The division of the space into aboveground and underground parts allows for efficient use of the site, while minimizing interference with the landscape. The ramp leading to the entrance is not only a functional element, but also a visual link between levels, facilitating orientation in the space. Inside, the facility offers flexible solutions - the second hall can be adapted to different needs, increasing its usability.
Plasencia conference center - drawing of the building's facade (without shell)
© selgascano
impact and significance of the project
The Plasencia Conference Center and Auditorium is an example of architecture that draws on the local context while offering a new perspective on the relationship between the building and its surroundings. Through the use of innovative materials and an unusual approach to form, Selgascano's project contributes to the discussion of sustainability and the integration of architecture with nature. The building does not dominate the landscape, but becomes part of it, offering users a functional and inspiring space.
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This is not the first time we have looked at the work of this office. We've previously written about Selgascano's other projects, such as a co-working complex that combines flexible workspaces with unusual aesthetics, and an urban exhibition pavilion in Beijing, known for now only from visuals. Each of these projects confirms the studio's distinctive approach to combining functionality with organic design and site context.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of SelgasCano studio.
