Rafael Moneo's two translucent glass cubes stranded on the Zurriola beach like beached whales. Auditorium, congress center, and the architectural icon of modern San Sebastian. Controversial when completed in 1999, now beloved.
Location
Gros, San Sebastian
Map
Insider Intel
Walk around the exterior first — the cubes change appearance depending on light and angle. The translucent glass panels glow at night. If there is a concert or event, attend — the acoustics in the main hall are exceptional. The building houses two auditoriums, exhibition space, and a restaurant. The plaza between the cubes and Zurriola beach is a public gathering space.
Evening when the cubes are illuminated from within. Check the performance schedule for concerts, film screenings (San Sebastian Film Festival), or conferences. The exterior is always accessible for photography.
Designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo and completed in 1999 after significant debate. The two glass cubes are meant to evoke rocks washed ashore — they certainly read as geological forms. The building hosts the San Sebastian International Film Festival every September, classical concerts, and conferences. Moneo won the Pritzker Prize in 1996, just before completing this. The Kursaal marked the revitalization of Gros and the shift from old town to river mouth. One of Spain's most distinctive late-20th-century buildings.