Twelve years ago, the implementation of Eisenman's major project, Cities of Galicia, began in Spain. At the same time, it was hoped that most of it would be built by 2012, but now it is clear that this will not happen. The construction was delayed: an extensive project, high costs … In the "City", which, according to Eisenman's main idea, is growing out of the ground, there are only six objects. The National Archives and the Galician Library have just opened. Plans include a Heritage Study Center, a Museum of Galician History and a theater for 2,000 spectators.
The financial issue is one of the key issues in this story. The construction of the museum will be postponed for another three years. The sixth object was supposed to be the International Center for the Arts, but according to the latest assumptions, the building will most likely function as an office building: the authorities of Galicia cannot afford to equip the center for the arts.
The cost of the project, which has grown in scale compared to the original version, has already exceeded expectations by four times, and this despite the fact that only a third part of the "City" is ready.
On the financial and economic grounds, the "City of Culture of Galicia" became the cause of political disagreements. "Right" from the People's Party, who financed the project, are in favor: the complex will be on a par with the New York Museum of Contemporary Art MOMA or the opera house in Sydney. Opponent socialists say that 400 million euros of the budget are simply “buried”. And while the bright prospect of making money on a tourist pilgrimage is still far away, their arguments have to be given their due.
By imposing a map of the old city on the relief of Mount Gayas, Eisenman harmoniously coordinated his project with the landscape and smoothed out all the rough edges, taking off the title of deconstructivist leader for a while. The objects fit very organically into the surrounding landscape; if you look at the "City" from above, then it resembles a shell of a sea shell. A visually attractive future cultural center will be no less interesting from a content point of view (library, theater, research center …).
In 1985, Santiago de Compostela was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the City of Culture of Galicia aims to support the cultural dimension of this historic city.
