Fairway, Congress on the Camino de Santiago, will open this fall in one of the new architectural references of Santiago de Compostela: the City of Culture. One group of buildings called to renew the Compostela’s architectural proposal, a capital defined by a monument.

The Cidade da Cultura drinks of referents in Galician traditional constructions and its most recognizable symbols. Both the main building and the side, except Hedjuk towers appear embedded at ground level. This is due to two reasons: no building in the city of Santiago de Compostela can exceed in height to the Cathedral. Taking advantage of this, the New York architect Peter Eisenman was inspired by the megalithic constructions of the first settlers of Galicia still retain: the dolmens.

The dolmens, erected as burial chambers that were reused by the following migratory waves that settled in Galicia, represent the stony spirit of this country that was collected in Compostela and which Eisenman talks on its impressive architectural complex. He used light shades stones facing east, which glisten at dawn and ocher tones acquire half dying day.

The typology with which it was conceived complex is closely linked to Compostela: mimics a scallop shell, the mystical symbol of pilgrims to Compostela and, somehow, also the way that has the monumental area of the capital of Galicia if you see a bird's eye view. In fact, joint space between the building mimics the type of "Zona Vella", with irregular paths, arcades where you can enjoy the rain and wind (for something in Santiago rain is art) and leading to a large square organized by the resort, including Praza do Obradoiro is goal and meaning of Santiago de Compostela.

In this environment, Hejduk Torres deserves special mention. They were designed in 1992 by architect John Hejduk (New York, 1929-2000) as botanical towers for compostelano Belvis Park, but not gotten to realize. After the death of Hejduk, Peter Eisenman decided to recover the project of his friend and partner in The New York Five.

The Cidade da Cultura complete with Library and Archives of Galicia, the Center for Cultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center for Creative

This scenario is where attendees receive Fairway: a space to discuss what unites us, the same road that leads to Compostela.

Buen Camino!

Imagen vía Wikimeda Commons. Autor Xosema.