Spanish-Portuguese Cultural Centre in Zamora, Spain

The centre was erected on the site of a medieval monastery, the ruins of which were integrated into the new development. The L-shape complex encloses the area of the former nave of the church, which has now been laid out as a public garden. The southern leg of the centre follows the line of one side of the old cloisters and contains a hall, a cafeteria, guest rooms, conference rooms, offices and exhibition spaces. Overlooking the garden in the northern tract is a two-storey library, the glazed façades of which allow a maximum ingress of daylight. Their northern and eastern aspects mean that no sunscreening is necessary. The façade materials – corten steel, and glass supported by slender steel sections – form a bold contrast with the sandstone ruins.