Herzog & De Meuron, David Chipperfield, Toyo Ito... Which star architect will design the Liceu Mar?

BarcelonaA constellation of architectural stars has arrived in Barcelona: the competition for the construction of the Liceu Mar has attracted numerous renowned architects from around the world. According to the Liceu, 55 firms participated in the first phase of the competition, including Herzog & De Meuron, Zaha Hadid Architects, Toyo Ito, Kengo Kuma, David Chipperfield, Shiger Ban, Bjarke Ingels Group, Bofill Arquitectura, SOM, Christian de Portzamparc, and SANAA. Many of these firms are participating in partnership with other studios, such as Diller Scofidio + Renfro, who are competing with Benedetta Tagliabue. The list includes prominent Catalan studios from different generations, such as those of Carme Pinós, Fermín Vázquez, Garcés, De Seta, Bonet Arquitectos, Alonso Balaguer, Pich Aguilera, Josep Llinàs, Batlle i Roig, Flexo, Jordi Badia, and the trio of studios Mestres Wage Arquitectes and Mendoza. "The significance of this project is unique, as it combines the construction of a new cultural building with the urban transformation of its surroundings in Port Vell, creating an emblematic space of centrality and harmony in Barcelona," stated the Liceu.

One of the studios that has built the most auditoriums is Herzog & De Meuron, responsible for the Hamburg Philharmonic. Kengo Kuma recently won the competition to convert a department store in Pristina into an auditorium, and Shigeru Ban Architects designed the auditorium on the Île Seguin in Paris, where the RCR is developing a cultural center. Also participating are Zaha Hadid Architects, who designed the Guangzhou Opera House in China; and Bjarke Ingels Group, based in Barcelona, who won the competition to renovate the Palau del Vestit at the Fira de Barcelona.

The first phase of the competition aims to present and select teams based on their completed projects. The jury will evaluate their track records, and only five candidates will advance to the proposal development phase. The second phase, which will be anonymous and based on a theme, is scheduled to begin in February. The finalists will have to present an architectural proposal using five DIN-A1 panels and a 1:500 scale model. The team that receives the highest score in this phase will be commissioned to draft the preliminary design, the basic design of the building and the surrounding urban development and civil works, as well as the special plan, with the possibility of expanding it in subsequent phases, such as the detailed design and construction management. The other four teams will each receive €25,000 in compensation.

The competition jury is chaired by urban planner Martha Thorne, and the members are civil engineer David Pino Roca, director of Port Vell at the Port of Barcelona; Xavier Sagrera, engineer and technical director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu Foundation; Miguel Ángel Pindado, engineer and director of external connection projects and infrastructure at the Port Authority of Barcelona; Elsa Ibar, architect and deputy director general of works and services in the Department of Culture of the Government of Catalonia; architect and communications specialist Núria Moliner; and three architects nominated by the College of Architects of Catalonia: Concepción Balcells, Gustau Gili i Galifeti, and Lluís Dilmé i Romagós.

Until construction begins, the Port of Barcelona approved on Wednesday granting a concession to the company AC House Barcelona to convert the old Imax cinema in a space for immersive exhibitions for four years. It will open at the end of 2026 with an installation dedicated to footballer Andrés Iniesta. The concession will replace the America's Cup Experience.