Arquitectura Viva 197 On The Waterfront - Mangado in Palma, Levete in Lisbon, Piano in Santander

Palma, Lisboa, Santander. Places where land ends and sea starts are ambiguous, but this ambiguity is what makes them alluring. Port docks and piers give way to civic and cultural centers that, besides promoting enjoyment of sites that used to turn their backs on cities, are inspiring architectural solutions that make a point of addressing the ever changing and difficult relationship with the vast looking-glass that the ocean is. Each of the three examples featured, has its own strategy for colonizing the coast. They are the Congress Center and Hotel in Palma de Mallorca by Francisco Mangado, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology in Lisbon by Amanda Levete, and the Botín Centre in Santander by Renzo Piano.