Exhibition Hall at the Avda. del Generalísimo - Madrid

Abstract

The Huarte Building houses an 800 square metre section devoted to meetings, lectures and exhibitions. This extends over three storeys, namely ground floor, first and second basements. The first basement level is a single large room, meant primarily for meetings and exhibitions. It has a large table in the centre, folding seats round the sides, two small discussion Corners and a bar. Illumination is provided through stiff plastic trays hanging from the ceiling, which serve to diffuse the fluorescent lighting. They also distribute the conditioned air, which emerges from the joints between the trays. The second basement is also an exhibition room, but is meant to function as a permanent installation. There is a central platform, and it can serve as a small discussion and lecture hall. As the ceiling is very low, the lighting comes from the perimeter, and point lights are also fitted. The floors, walls and columns are painted in brilliant white: this aids the lighting and tends to offset the sensation of being in a confined space, below street level. Building materials include Balsain pinewood, steel and lather fittings: the wood and leather are left in their natural colour, and steel has been painted red. The sheer yellow of the timber and orange red of the steel, as well as the yellow green of the carpet are part of an important colour pattern that, together with indoor vegetation give this hall its essential ambiental quality.