Public Competition 1st Position
Architect: Fernando Menis
Client: Town Hall La Guancha
Location: La Guancha, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Design: 2018
Construction: 2019 - 2021
Budget: 4.600.000 €

Context
La Guancha is a town in the north of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, noted for its privileged location, between El Teide volcano and the coast, and with a history that dates back to the sixteenth century. One of its valuable cultural legacies is the Casino de la Guancha, which was built in 1978, and which today houses the Unión y Fraternidad Cultural Center, a true social heart of the town. The location of this important building is not casual: it is located at the intersection of the historic streets of El Sol and Alhóndiga and in front of the Church del Dulce Nombre de Jesús, almost as old as La Guancha itself.

Concept
Menis's intervention boths rehabilitates the pre-existence and expands it with a complementary program from a dialogical approach between what exists in the place and what is added to it. The new elements aim to enhance and complete the old Casino and the resulting set will be a valuable contribution to the public spaces network of the town, as a large open and permeable plaza that is offered to La Guancha's inhabitants.

The current space will be increased by over 2400 m2 and the main new services will complement the existing cultural offer with a ibrary and study rooms, new rehearsal rooms and a multipurpose hall connected to the existing one.

Given the requirement of independent operation of both buildings and the orography of the area, with steep slopes, the building improves the connection of the historic center with the Plaza by creating an internal circulation that connects the highest part ( Calle Nueva street and the rear garden of the Unión y Fraternidad Cultural Center) and lower part (Sol street, next to the Church and the Plaza). This new connection defines the geometry of the building, placing it as a hinge between the new and the old building and producing the required independence between the buildings while articulating the connections between them.

One of the most important aspects, given the size of La Guancha, is to create a very flexible building, as this will guarantee its functionality over time to the highest possible performance. The space will adapt to different events and different public capacities, capable of holding even several independent acts simultaneously. The use of both spaces simultaneously produces a space of up to 440 m2, which allows to host large events, such as Congresses or the Carnival party. The new building with a central nucleus for vertical communication and toilets, around which the building program is distributed allows flexibility when distributing the rest of the spaces, so that each of the floors can be adapted to future needs. The continuity of the pavement and the placement of the compartmentalization on it, will facilitate future changes.

The multifunctionality of the space requires the use of a variable acoustics system that allows to host different types of events with different acoustic needs. To this end, a wooden slat roof with absorption in its rear part allows opening and closing gaps to increasing the absorbent surface according to the needs of the moment. The mobile partitions system, with an absorbent and a reflecting face will help control the acoustic effect of the enclosure for each event.

Accessibility
Accessibility is key in the proposed design: the access stairs to the original cultural center are removed and replaced by a delicate ramp that allows to overcome the unevenness; a new vertical connection core is incorporated, with elevators that allow access to any area of the building. The new building, in addition to solving all the issues related to accessibility in its design, incorporates a staircase that improves the connectivity between the level of the Plaza de la Iglesia and Calle Nueva. This new connection is also made through the new nucleus of elevators, which at the same time organizes the new cultural center and gives La Guancha's inhabitants and visitors the possibility to reach the roof and enjoy the views.

Program

_Rehabilitated building:
• ground floor (+ 107.80m): Access lobby, Boardroom
• first floor (+ 111.40m): Theater, Cafeteria, Toilets
• second floor (+ 114,75m): Dressing rooms, Toilets

_New building:
• underground floor (+ 100,80m): Parking, Warehouse
• ground floor (+ 103,80m): Entrance, toilets, lockers and information desk, library/ study room
• first floor (+ 107,80m): Music school, Archive, Administration, Board room, Toilets
• second floor (+ 111.40m): Multifunctional space, rehearsal rooms, multipurpose room and stage, audiovisual room, toilets and changing rooms

Materiality
The new building is annexed to the old cultural center and in front of the Church Jesus, two of the most important heritage assets of the town. The addition aims to highlight the architectural and historical value of the original building. The neutral character of the concrete finish, acts as a backdrop that makes the Cultural Center stand out. Framed in this volume, a ceramic box houses the concert hall, the most important part of the new building; its materiality is taken from the church's roof, mimicking it.

In the accesses, both in the main entrance, and in the interior corridor that separates the two volumes, the same stony pavement of the street is used, creating the sensation that the urban space enters the building to guide the pedestrians inside. Indoor, concrete and ceramic gain protagonism, on the interior partitions, pavements and slabs. Its use is complemented by the incorporation of wood details such as the false ceiling of slats, some flooring, carpentry and furniture.