The Local Government Board of Málaga City Council has approved the lease of the former Astoria-Victoria site to the Unicaja Foundation for 75 years. The project includes the institutional headquarters and a cultural, educational, and social centre.
The site of the former Astoria-Victoria cinema, located in the heart of Plaza de la Merced in Málaga, now has a defined future. The Unicaja Foundation has received the green light from the City Council to build its new institutional headquarters and a large cultural, educational, and social centre, following the approval of a 75-year lease. The agreement, ratified by the Local Government Board, unlocks one of the most strategic plots in the historic centre, which has remained unused since the demolition of the old cinemas.
The plot, measuring 1,298.70 square metres, has a maximum buildable area of 6,340 square metres. The Unicaja Foundation will pay an annual fee of €411,083.58 throughout the lease period, an amount that will go to the municipal coffers. The new building will be constructed next to the monumental complex of the Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre, in a location that the entity considers ideal to become an urban icon.
A Multidisciplinary Facility for the City
The complex will not be a conventional headquarters. According to the Unicaja Foundation, it will host exhibitions, concerts, conferences, educational activities, social programmes, and gatherings for all ages. The aim is for it to become an open space for citizens, complementing the cultural offerings that the entity already has in other parts of Málaga, such as the Unicaja Foundation Centre in Plaza del Obispo, the María Cristina Hall, or the Museum of Arts and Popular Customs.
The entity highlights that this infrastructure will enhance its capacity in culture, education, research, entrepreneurship, social action, the environment, and sports. In practice, residents of the city centre and the entire city will gain a new meeting point with a stable and varied programme. The design will be carried out by a prestigious international architecture firm, yet to be confirmed, and the architectural project is expected to be presented in the coming months.
End of Years of Waiting in Plaza de la Merced
This initiative puts an end to a long urban wait. The Astoria-Victoria site has been without a definitive use for years, following the demolition of the old cinemas. During archaeological interventions at the site, remains were discovered that will now be preserved and integrated into the new building. The Unicaja Foundation has committed to enhancing their value, which will add historical appeal to the project.
Furthermore, the building will be constructed under criteria of energy efficiency and sustainability, aiming to contribute to the revitalisation of the historic centre. For local residents, the construction will boost commercial and tourist activity in Plaza de la Merced, although it will also involve inconveniences during the construction phase, which has yet to be scheduled. The entity is confident that the new facility will strengthen Málaga's cultural offerings and attract visitors from across the province.
The approved lease is a public lease, meaning that the City Council grants the use of public land for 75 years in exchange for a fee. The Unicaja Foundation will bear all construction and maintenance costs. According to municipal sources, the project is set to become one of the main cultural facilities in the city, which positively values the agreement. The coming months will be crucial to learn the details of the design and the construction schedule.
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