miguel bretones + julia gonzález restore historic huéscar theater in spain
photography by fernando alda
dating back to the 1500s, the vast project in huéscar, granada has seen a historic church and convent being restored and re-appropriated as a cultural complex for events, music, dance and theater. completed by architects miguel bretones (SSW arquitectos) and julia gonzález, there is a blend in old and new with many existing elements were refurbished. the original stone walls have been kept, reinforced and the new concrete volumes working side-by-side to establish an overall, sensitively designed complex.
staying true to the local architecture, the modern volumes are clad in a copper-toned paneling that reflects the terracotta tiling of the roofs in the area. a meaningful dialog has been established between past and present internally. keeping the refurbishments simple, the interventions are sympathetic and subtle, keeping to the white, copper color and materials.
a singular concrete opening protrudes from the copper volume
external courtyards and gardens have been landscaped
a copper tower is one of the new additions to the restoration scheme
the region is known for its sandstone buildings
the new volumes merge with the shell of the original structure
a distinctive part of the scheme is the chapel with a now restored detailed timber-beamed ceiling. a place of serenity and ideal for acoustics, the once abandoned space has been recovered, with a stage added to complement its theatrical use or theater, film, dance and recitals.
the dramatic height of the ceiling with the historic timber ceiling still intact
the entrance
the copper toned has been continued into the interiors
the original timber ceiling can be seen against the contemporary materials
the vaulting in the interior
