We designed a sloping green roofed auditorium for Elche, Spain. The building has an indoor concert hall and an open air auditorium on the terrace. Made for the neighbourhood of Carrus, this innovatively designed auditorium called “Ciutat d’Elx” is a real beauty.

The interesting looking green roof also serves a very important purpose; it cools the building and adds to the beauty of the milieu as well. This auditorium is almost triangular in shape and has a leafy facade that faces the street. It has a sloping green rooftop, which comes across as its most interesting feature. The sides are made of glass to let the sunlight come in. We have talked about the cooling features of this building, but there are provisions for the cooler months as well. That time the sunlight entering through the windows will heat the concrete thermal mass inside, and enable passive heating.

In the hotter months, blinds will be drawn over the windows. Another interesting feature here is that the auditorium is below the street level, thereby reducing the cooling demand and helping with acoustics at the same time. The plants that cover the roof are low maintenance and are watered by the rainwater that is collected and stored in reservoirs at the roof itself.

Architects:

Juan Ramón Maciá

Daniel Arribas Cisneros

Luis Alberto Henández Calvarro

Jordi Serramia Ruiz