Heritage Day: Smiljan Radić Returns to Teatro Biobío Following 2026 Pritzker Prize Win

«Radić’s visit to Concepción comes just days after the Pritzker award ceremony held on May 12 at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, where jury president Alejandro Aravena highlighted that the award recognizes not only the winner’s work but also their contribution to humanity,» Teatro Biobío representatives explained.

Fernanda Castillo, executive director of Teatro Biobío, emphasized that «architecture plays a crucial role in heritage construction, as it reflects the historical context in which buildings were created while also serving as containers of the histories of people and communities.»

«In the Biobío region, we are fortunate to have a cultural space with a significant architectural and urban impact, serving as a source of inspiration for multiple artistic endeavors and the construction of our local and national identity,» added the director of the venue.

Therefore, Fernanda Castillo reiterated that «hosting Smiljan Radić and engaging in a conversation about creativity and the intricacies of designing a theater aligns perfectly with the program of Heritage Day and the moment the architect is experiencing now.»

Radić in Dialogue: The Creative Processes of a 21st Century Theater

Situated on the banks of the Biobío River and covering nearly 10,000 square meters, Teatro Biobío has garnered recognition from the Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize (2018), Architectural Digest (2018), and the Pan American Architecture Biennale in Quito (2022). The building features a concrete structure wrapped in a translucent membrane that serves simultaneously as a facade, climatic filter, and lighting device.

How did Radić and his team arrive at this design? On Sunday, May 31, at 15:00 in the Chamber Hall, the architect will participate in the conversation The Creative Processes of a 21st Century Theater, alongside Hernán Barría, dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Bío-Bío and a member of the board of Teatro Biobío, moderated by Fernanda Castillo.

This meeting will provide attendees with insights into the references, ideas, decisions, and processes that shaped one of the most significant cultural buildings constructed in Chile in recent decades. It will also be an opportunity to learn about the challenges of designing contemporary performance spaces.

Other Activities

The conversation with Smiljan Radić is not the only event organized by Teatro Biobío for Heritage Day 2026.

On Saturday, May 30, at 15:00, the workshop «Lights of Heritage» will be held for children aged 6 to 12, inviting them to explore the Teatro by creating a lamp inspired by the building’s architecture.

On the same day, at 15:30 and 16:30, two guided tours will take place, allowing visitors to explore the building, learn about its materials, and discover the purpose of its different spaces. These tours are among the audience’s favorite activities at Teatro Biobío, attracting over three thousand visitors each Saturday in 2025.

On Sunday, May 31, at 17:00 in the Chamber Hall, a free performance of «Entrelazar, Düwentükun» will be presented by the local company La Noble Compaña, written and directed by Francisca Ovalle Ortega.

Inspired by the Mapuche legend – or in Mapudungun, epew – of Llalliñ Vuche, meaning ‘the weaving spider’, this performance follows the journey of Pire, a young girl who connects with ancestral memory and the wisdom of her ancestors.

Through an interdisciplinary language that combines theater, dance, music, circus, and craftsmanship, this family-friendly performance – recommended for children aged 9 and up – encourages reflection on relationships and generational transmission through the metaphor of weaving, understood as an act of memory, creation, and identity.

For more information and registration, visit www.teatrobiobio.cl