Badajoz convention centre, Spain

Palacio de Congresos, a 15,000 m2 convention centre in the Spanish city of Badajoz, is ringed by a giant façade constructed of translucent GRP profiles that provide both visibility and transparency for the cylindrical main building.

In daytime, the façade serves as a screen that moderates the strong sunlight to a pleasant diffused light. At night it creates a soft illuminated rotunda in the landscape.

Built on the 17th century defensive wall that used to surround the city, the convention centre is integrated elegantly into the existing cityscape by means of the unique GRP façade.

Willow fence pattern

The façade is constructed of elliptical GRP profiles interwoven in a traditional willow fence pattern. 

The circular façade is 75 m in diameter and 14 m high and contains more than 12 km of composite profiles developed and produced in Denmark by Fiberline. The profiles are fastened to slender galvanised steel columns spaced at 8 m intervals.

The Spanish consulting engineers, Pedelta, who are specialists in innovative structures, bridges and buildings, assisted in the structural design for the façade. In addition to strength, durability and light weight, the architects wanted a translucent material – and they found it at Fiberline.

The structural design was quite complex on account of the cylindrical shape demanded by the profiles to produce the effect the architect wanted. The profiles were manufactured in equal lengths and bent backwards in a deformation that would be difficult to replicate with conventional materials.

The structure is designed to withstand strong local wind stresses and thermal loads.

New York Museum of Modern Art

Designed by the architects Lucia Cano and José Selgas from selgascano, Palacio de Congresos is described as an architectural landmark and a fine example of a public building integrated into an established urban structure.

The project has evoked international attention and has already been displayed at the New York Museum of Modern Art.