A music hall that sat unfinished for nearly two decades has been transformed into a modern cultural facility with a striking bright pink interior. COR Architecture Design has completed the Sax Music Hall in Sax, Spain, bringing new life to a cultural complex that was abandoned during the country's economic crisis.
The ambitious cultural project originally began construction in 2008, designed to span more than 3,000 square meters across four levels. The complex was planned to house multiple facilities including a library, auditorium, chamber music rooms, a music school, and conference hall. However, construction came to an abrupt halt during Spain's economic downturn, leaving the structure enclosed but completely unfinished.
For nearly twenty years, the building remained in limbo, with only limited adaptations allowing occasional use of certain portions. The incomplete project became a reminder of stalled development until 2025, when funding from the Alicante Provincial Council finally enabled the completion of the auditorium portion of the complex.
COR Architecture Design approached the challenging restoration with a clear mission to transform the long-abandoned structure into a fully functional cultural facility for the local community. The architects focused on restoring operational purpose to the building while recognizing its significant role in the town's collective memory and history.
The newly completed auditorium has been designed as a highly flexible performance space with carefully calibrated acoustics to support diverse programming needs. The venue can accommodate symphonic music performances, smaller ensemble shows, theatrical productions, and spoken word events. A key feature is an adjustable acoustic shell that allows the interior environment to adapt to varying sound requirements, making it truly multipurpose within the broader cultural complex.
The spatial design positions the hall as a central civic gathering place that can support rehearsals, educational training sessions, community meetings, and various cultural programming initiatives. Accessibility and inclusivity were major priorities in the design process to ensure the space can accommodate users with diverse needs and a wide range of activities.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the renovation is the bold use of a bright pink interior finish throughout the auditorium. This distinctive color choice serves a dual purpose – it visually redefines the previously unfinished building while establishing a contemporary identity for the entire complex. The vibrant pink reinforces the facility's role as an active, welcoming public space rather than a reminder of halted construction and economic hardship.
The completed Sax Music Hall now functions as a crucial piece of local infrastructure for the community. It contributes significantly to cultural activities, educational initiatives, and community engagement within the town. The project demonstrates how architectural intervention can breathe new life into abandoned structures, transforming them from symbols of economic struggle into vibrant centers of cultural life.
