ARCHITECT'S

Designed by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira between 1988 and 1993, the CGAC is located in one of the most sensitive and evocative monument areas of Santiago de Compostela, within the boundaries of the historical centre, very close to the convent and church of San Domingos de Bonaval. The building, which is defined by its dialogue with the history of the city, reflects the admiration that the architect had for rationalist principles and the Modern Movement. Its lines, the light and volumes combine and give way to a stark and sober architecture that connects with the Galician tradition by making use of its building material par excellence: granite stone, used both in the exterior walls as in the building's roof. As a matter of fact, Álvaro Siza chose to present the centre's blind facade as a high granite wall that delimits the grounds of the convent, thus enclosing the corner of Caramoniña Street, a beautiful and ancient road that rises uphill and that today has fallen into disuse.The two main bodies of the church complex, the church and cloister, form a right angle with their respective main façades that face the public space: the front of the CGAC decidedly encloses these premises, creating a kind of square where the main entrances to the three buildings are located. (© CGAC Cenrto Galego de Arte Contemporanea)

COLLECTION

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