Just as we have suspected, Neatoramanauts! Cats are taking over the world. Here's proof: a giant cat's claw building rising up in Oviedo, Spain.
Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the building defies description — better just to look at the pictures. Construction started in 2003, but was paused due to the financial crisis. Right now, it’s on track to be fully completed in February 2011. In honor of one of Oviedo’s most famous children, the palace will be inaugurated officially as the Palacio de Congresos Princesa Letizia.
The two side wings of the horseshoe shaped complex will hold ministry offices. A hotel is going into the back building and in the center, under that audacious roof, will be the area for expositions and congresses. Below ground is a shopping mall, with the goofy name of Modoo, already open for business. In all, the size of the palace is over 15,000 square meters. [...]
By the way, we love the Palacio. From afar, it dominates the cityscape a little too much, but seen from close up, it’s awfully impressive.
Link - Thanks Juergen!
It is not so impressive as it seems, the front "peineta" is dirty and rusty.
the mall inside is a dark creepy maze, we got not much sun in Asturias, it makes the mall more oppresive and uncomfortable.
the building, dont mix with the surrounding 70´s Franco´s era, cheap buildings.
http://www.niemeyercenter.org/
http://www.museojurasico.com/
http://www.loscubosdelamemoria.net/
what do you make of them ?