The president of the Consell Insular d’Eivissa, Vicent Marí, has led the ceremony marking the start of construction for the Ses Nou Rodades Centre for Intangible Culture, a new cultural facility to be built near the Sant Rafel Hippodrome. The initiative, promoted by the Department of Culture, Education and Heritage, has a total budget of €8.2 million, partly funded through the Sustainable Tourism Tax.
The event brought together local authorities and representatives from cultural groups, including the mayor of Sant Antoni de Portmany, Marcos Serra; the regional minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Jaume Bauzà; members of the Ball Pagès associations; and the team responsible for the project.
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Vicent Marí: “Ses Nou Rodades will serve as a living archive to understand and appreciate our intangible heritage”
In his address, Marí emphasised the value of this project for Ibiza’s popular traditions, describing it as a long-awaited space designed for “rehearsing, creating, researching and showcasing everything that forms our intangible heritage—steps, songs, dances and ancestral techniques that cannot be placed in museum cases, yet define the island’s cultural identity.”
He also expressed gratitude to all those involved in turning this vision into reality, highlighting that Ses Nou Rodades will preserve a heritage that is “rich, dynamic and full of future potential.”
Minister Jaume Bauzà added that the new centre represents a commitment to protecting and promoting the cultural legacy of the islands, benefitting both residents and visitors.
Ses Nou Rodades: key features of the project
The building, designed by architect David Calvo, will include 2,129 m² of constructed area, with 659 m² dedicated to exterior porches. The surrounding outdoor spaces will cover 6,372 m², offering gardens, terraces and parking areas. The estimated construction timeframe is 18 months.
The facility will house:
- A multipurpose hall for rehearsals and events
- A dedicated space for the federation of colles
- Music workshops
- A ceramics workshop
- A traditional ceramics exhibition room
- Accommodation for visiting cultural groups
- A small bar-restaurant, bookshop, library and archive
- A children’s area and additional multifunctional rooms
The architectural design prioritises full integration with the landscape, drawing inspiration from traditional Ibizan structures characterised by patios and porches. Materials such as wood and stone will be combined with contemporary elements like glass, steel and aluminium to create a sustainable and flexible building. The roof will follow the natural terrain and partially function as a landscaped surface.
The project aims to achieve the VERDE certification from the Green Building Council Spain, incorporating environmental and social strategies to reduce energy and water consumption, enhance biodiversity, ensure healthy material use and support accessible, low-maintenance construction.