iñigo bujedo-aguirre photographs renzo piano's centro botín art museum

earlier this year, centro botín — a major new art center in northern spain — opened its doors for the first time. designed by italian architect renzo piano, the building sits on a landmark waterfront site in santander and serves as a permanent home for artistic, cultural, and educational programs. three major shows are currently on view: the country’s first exhibition dedicated to carsten höller, a series of drawings by francisco goya, and the first presentation of the institution’s permanent collection.

the centro botín art center opened in june 2017
image © iñigo bujedo-aguirre (also main image)

now that centro botín has been open for nearly two months, spanish photographer iñigo bujedo-aguirre has documented the building in new images. the photos illustrate the layout of the structure, which is elevated above the ground on supporting columns. ‘the center is organized into two parts, a west and an east wing, joined by an elevated walkway that culminates in a platform cantilevered out over the sea,’ says renzo piano’s firm.

the structure is elevated above the ground on supporting columns
image © iñigo bujedo-aguirre

reclaiming an area of land formerly used as a parking lot, the 10,285 square meter structure is covered with 270,000 reflective ceramic discs. ‘the exterior is clad with small off-white ceramic tiles that easily adapt to the shape of the building and that also have a shimmering, mother-of-pearl finish, which strengthens the building’s luminosity under santander’s often grey sky,’ explain the architects.

the exterior is clad with small off-white ceramic tiles
image © iñigo bujedo-aguirre

the building includes 2,500 square meters of galleries, a 300-seat auditorium, classrooms, work spaces, a restaurant, a shop, and a rooftop terrace overlooking both the city and the bay. the art center is set in santander’s pereda gardens, which, as part of the development, has been completely overhauled. extended by landscape designer fernando caruncho, the restored gardens have been doubled in size, connecting the city center with the waterfront.

in total, the design features 270,000 reflective ceramic discs
image © iñigo bujedo-aguirre