Gastronomy Open Ecosystem

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN

2025

CLIENT

Basque Culinary Center

TYPOLOGY

Culture

SIZE M2/FT2

9,090 / 97,843

STATUS

IN CONSTRUCTION

Conceived as an architectural extension of the dramatic landscape and cityscape of San Sebastian, BIG’s design for the 9,000 m2 Gastronomy Open Ecosystem (GOe) for the Basque Culinary Center bridges science, gastronomy, entrepreneurship, and nature to advance the art and science of gastronomic innovation.

The Basque Culinary Center, a pioneering gastronomic institution, launched the international design competition for the new food innovation hub in 2021 with the mission to bring food start-ups, researchers, and chefs under one roof.

Located between the edge of San Sebastian and mount Ulia, GOe is situated in a terrain with a 10-meter height difference. The new building gently rises from the ground floor, utilizing the height difference to preserve and enhance the existing park qualities at the site while creating connections to the adjacent Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route and the Cantabrian Sea.

At the street level, the new building sets back to create a covered public plaza directly connected to the Camino, establishing the building as a meeting point between culture, gastronomy, and the city. The building rises to create a series of terraces and recessed windows displaying the activity in the kitchens, labs and classes to the public.

The Site — Wedged between the edge of San Sebastian and Mount ulia, GOe is situated in a terrain with a 10-meter height difference. The new building rises from the ground floor, utilizing the height difference to preserve and enhance the existing park qualities at the site.

A Flexible System — The food labs and offices are designed to offer maximum flexibility, with open classrooms, laboratories and kitchens that can be rearranged for different purposes due to the generous height and width of the spaces.

Program Organization — Starting from the modularity of an optimal kitchen BIG configured the new GOe and its programs as a grid - the façade is carried to the roof extending the landscape and the many public spaces and exterior programs in a continuous motion.

Park, Terraces & Views — The building's continuous roofscape, offers different programs - such as orchards, restaurant, terraces and a landscape auditorium for outdoor events - that allow daily users and visitors to experience nature as well as the activities and creativity of GOe.

The Plaza & Camino de Santiago — The new Gastronomy Ecosystem waves and recesses at ground level to create a sheltered plaza at the stairs of the ancient pilgrimage route Camio de Santiago, welcoming the pilgrims of the Camino, the citizens of Donostia and food lovers from all over the world.

The City and the Sea — In a gentle nod to the sculptures of Eduardo Chillida in San Sebastian, a series of terraced and recessed shop windows towards north expose the activities inside the building's kitchens and labels which will have views of the Cantabrian Sea and the mountains.

The Backbone of GOe — The Gastro Hall is the backbone of the GOe, running from the entrance all the way to the roof. Like a promenade, the grand staircase connects all programs and levels in the building and doubles as seating for events with views into the showcase kitchens and ongoing research.

A Home for Culinary and Social Innovation — Gastronomy Open Ecosystem (GOe) for the Basque Culinary Center at the heart of San Sebastian bridges science, gastronomy and nature to promote culinary research, innovation and enjoyment.

“Conceived as an architectural extension of the dramatic landscape and cityscape of San Sebastian, our proposed design liberates the ground and provides parks on the roof - inviting the public life of the city to engage with the art and science of gastronomy. Located on the heralded Camino de Santiago de Compostela, we believe that this architectural fusion of gastronomy and technology, city and landscape, building and park has the potential to become a destination in its own right for culinary pilgrims from around the world.”

Bjarke Ingels — Founder & Creative Director, BIG

Daily users and visitors enter directly into the Gastro Hall, the backbone of GOe. This central space runs from the ground floor all the way to the roof. Like a promenade, the grand staircase connects all programs and levels within the building and doubles as an amphitheater for events and lectures, allowing visitors to observe the showcase kitchens and ongoing research during their visit. Moving up, visitors can continue into the auditorium, public terraces, or experience world-class cuisine at the top floor restaurant.

The food labs and offices are designed to offer maximum flexibility, with open classrooms, laboratories, and kitchens that can be rearranged for different purposes due to the generous height and width of the spaces. All kitchens and laboratories feature industrial materials for hygiene and maintenance, while public programs use natural materials such as wood and stone to create a welcoming atmosphere.

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"Starting from the modularity of an optimal kitchen, we configured the new GOe and its public and private programmes as a grid - the façade is carried to the roof extending the landscape and the buildings many public spaces and exterior programs in a continuous motion. Gently waving up from the ground, GOe will be a good neighbor and citizen in San Sebastian, offering a window into global gastronomic discovery while creating new public spaces, plazas, parks, and views."

João Albuquerque — Partner, BIG

Bjarke Ingels Ole Elkjær-Larsen Andrea Hektor Hanna Ida Johansson Maria González Rodríguez de Biedma Matthew Reger Petros Palatsidis Tore Banke João Albuquerque Gonzalo Coronado Maceda Mireia Sala Font Jose Gomez Carbonell Natalia Politano Cosmin Paduraru Klaudia Szczepanowska Pietro Saccardi Allegra del Bono Venezze German Otto Bodenbender Johan Fredrik Lindqvist Wiktoria Martyna Kolakowska Laura Font Gallart Adelardo Domingo Ruiz Carmen Ortega Hernaez Dino Vaindirlis Nicolas Bachmann Bellido Pernille Uglvig Sangvin Candela González del Tánago Otto Hernéndez-Palacios Patrycja Tomaszewska Esther Diaz Salas Gian Marco Prisco Uri Lewis Torres Martina Tosarello Kareena Lily Pinto