If you’re planning on travelling you Spain any time soon, take some time to visit Spain’s revolutionary new contemporary art center in Santander.
The center, called Centro Botin, has been designed as a permanent center for the art, cultural and educational programs of the philanthropic organisation ‘The Fundación Marcelino Botín’ which was founded in 1964.
As they explain on their website:
The Fundación Marcelino Botín was created in 1964 by Marcelino Botín Sanz de Sautuola and his wife, Carmen Yllera, to promote social development in Cantabria. Fifty years later, having kept its primary focus on the region, the Fundación Botín now operates all over Spain and Latin America, contributing to the overall development of society by exploring new ways to uncover and support creative talent, in order to create cultural, social and economic wealth.
The Fundación organises programmes in the realms of the arts and culture, education, science and rural development, and supports social institutions in Cantabria so as to reach those who need it the most. It also offers a space for reflection and action to detect and develop new talent.
The building itself was designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Renzo Piano, and is a stunning architectural feat. It’s location, in a privileged part of Santander, and the building integrates the city centre and the historic Pereda Gardens with the waterfront.
The raised structure of Centro Botin is roughly 20 meters above sea level and is compromised of two rounded blocks.
The east section is for educational and cultural activities, with an auditorium for concerts, lectures and conferences. The north part has spaces for classes, art workshops, music lessons, dance lessons and cookery workshops for children, teens, families and adults.
The public spaces around the building are just as important as the building itself, the amphitheater is in the west square, and is an open-air space used for cultural activities. Thanks to the huge screen on the building’s facade, the amphitheater also serves as an open-air cinema, and from here, even the activities taking place within the center can be watched.
Research, training and dissemination are the three main missions of the Centro Botín, which are developed through their various Fine Arts training programs.
