Institute Ferial de Zamora

This unpretentious building sits in the middle of the show ground, which it serves. The site lies in the flood plain of the River Duero. To protect it from any deluge, the ground floor is raised up about a metre above grade on a concrete plinth. It comprises of two, double-height, exhibition volumes; one approximately three and a half times larger than the other, divided by a two-storey strip of ancillary accommodation. One enters the building head on to this support space, turning either left, or right to reach the principal areas. Unusually, the halls are treated in contrasting manners: The larger is essentially "blind", being lit only via linear roof-lights, and is clad with profiled metal sheets. The smaller, is illuminated by full height glazing which wraps around three sides. This glazing is transparent at low level, changing to translucent, horizontally arranged, cast glass units above door height. The detailing is crisp, simple and elegant.