Reconstruction and extension of the Liceo theatre

Barcelona, Barcelona, Cataluña.
Medal/Award in the category Conservation / Conservation and adaptive reuse in the year 2000.

Dating of the building: 1847.

Applicant: Gran Teatre del Liceu Foundation.

Reason for the award :

The international jury appreciated the delicate and meticulous reconstruction of the Liceo, as well as the accuracy of the restoration and the modern technology incorporated, to regain its prominence within the rich European musical heritage.

  • © Fundació Gran Teatre del Liceu
  • 4 N

The architect responsible for the restoration of the Liceo, Ignasi de Solà-Morales, died soon after the works were finished. Their Majesties The King and The Queen presented the award to his widow.

The fire of January 31, 1994, which destroyed the stalls and stage of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, deeply shocked Barcelona and Catalan society. In order to rebuild, improve and expand this emblematic building, the Gran Teatre del Liceu Foundation was set up, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu Society ceded ownership to the Gran Teatre del Liceu Consortium, made up exclusively of public administrations. The project consisted of the reconstruction of the theatre, faithful to the original, and its extension thanks to the expropriation of the neighboring sites of La Rambla, Sant Pau street, and Unió street. Overcoming a series of difficulties, such as a massive bag of water in the subsoil of the site that housed the theatre, the new auditorium reopened its doors on October 7, 1999. In addition to its refurbishing, equipped with a very advanced infrastructure system and acoustic register, a new stage was built, and improvements were made in the access and public areas.

Others awards in Cataluña: