> TH I S WAS ONLY
THE S TA R T .
Valencia’s architectural renaissance has been a magnet
for such eminent global names as Norman Foster, who
was personally recruited by Rita Barberá. He designed the
city’s main conference centre, the Palacio de Congresos.
The building, with its leaf-shaped photovoltaic roof, was
finished in 1998. Now Lord Foster – celebrated for such
projects as The Gherkin in London, the Millau Bridge in
France and the restoration of the Reichstag in Berlin – is
designing a twin extension to the Palacio.
Then, in 2007, the award-winning Veles e Vent
(
Sails and Wind) building, by British architect David
Chipperfield, captured the imagination of the world’s
sailing community. The city was hosting the America’s
Cup - the world’s most prestigious yacht race – that year
and the structure in the port area had been commissioned
to commemorate that fact. Resembling a section of a
superyacht, the playful four story, stacked pavilion, in
concrete, painted steel and glass, became the meeting
place for the teams.
“
Chipperfield, who is a great architect, has only
recently been recognised in Britain,” says Kucharek, “so
it’s good that Valencia had the confidence to commission
him.” Now it is used for events, as well as housing a
restaurant and bar. Nearby is the Luna Rossa team’s base
for the Cup, partly made of recycled Kevlar sails and
designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, famous for
London’s recently opened Shard building.
The link between sport and cutting-edge architecture
doesn’t stop there. As well as a Formula 1 street circuit,
designed by Hermann Tilke and scene of this year’s
European Grand Prix, the 75,100-seat Nou Mestalla
football stadium in the north-east of the city, makes
another forceful statement. Designed by Reid Fenwick
Asociados and estimated to cost up to €300m, it’s faced
in adjustable, curved aluminium segments that provide
PHOTOS
ANTONI BOFILL, GETTY, NIGEL YOUNG
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