architect: RCR Arquitectes
location: Girona, Spain
year: 2011
The demolition of La Lira Theater left an urban void in the historic district of Ripoll, a town in the province of Girona, overlooking the Ter River. With recollections of the scale and spirit of the former theater, and also understanding the importance of town squares, RCR Arquitectes - Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem e Ramon Vilalta - laureates of the Pritzker Prize 2017, have created a unique covered square, suitable for many types of activities and an outdoor space to be enjoyed informally by residents.
Beneath this, there is an underground multi-purpose room. The new Lira structure frames the view across the river toward the newer part of the town and the mountains beyond. When approaching by the new weathering steel footbridge across the river, it forms a gateway to the old part of town.
The rough surface of the metal dialogues with the aged facades of the surrouding buildings, while the diversity of its treatments evokes the metallurgical tradition of the town. The most pertinent tradition recovered by the new “La Lira” is that of nineteenth-century markets and railway stations which have managed to remain somewhere between the closed building and the open space.
architects: RCR Aranda Pigem Vilalta Arquitectes SLP | Joan Puigcorbé
developer: Ajuntament de Ripoll
location: Ripoll, Spagna
surface: 599 sqm
cost: 761.219 euro
design: 2004
construction: 2005
completion: 2012
