Renzo Piano-Designed Centro Botín Opens in Spain

Centro Botín—Spain’s newest art center, and the first building for the country designed by Renzo Piano—opened in Santander on June 23, offering the capital city of Cantabria something spectacular. Located on the waterfront in a landmark site, the art center spans approximately 33,743 square feet and includes 8,202 square feet of exhibition galleries, a 300-seat auditorium, classrooms, work spaces, a shop, a rooftop terrace, and El Muelle—a restaurant created by two Michelin star chef Jesús Sánchez. Under the direction of by Fátima Sánchez, Centro Botín will also continue its mentoring workshop program, and educational activities created in collaboration with Yale University.

Centro Botín opened with three exhibitions: a selection of works from Fundación Botín’s permanent contemporary art collection and by recipients of the foundation’s visual arts grants; 80 drawings from Museo del Prado’s collection of work by Francisco de Goya, curated by José Manuel Matilla and Manuela Mena; and German artist Carsten Höller’s first show in Spain, showing both new and past pieces. Also debuting is an inaugural permanent public sculpture by Cristina Iglesias has been placed on site.

Said Iñigo Sáenz de Miera, Director General of the Fundación Botín, “Building on our work in the community over the last fifty years, our vision for Centro Botín is to be one of Spain’s leading arts centers; a lively welcoming place for people to enjoy themselves, learn and become inspired, and an engine for generating economic, social, and cultural wealth for the region of Cantabria and northern Spain.”

This fall, Centro Botin is set to present a survey of works by Julie Mehretu, curated by Vincent Todolí and Suzanne Cotter.