The mountain with its historic cathedral Seu Vella and the Segre River marks the high point and low point of Lleida (Lerida), the second city of Catolonia, following Barcelona. 'Palau de Congressos La Llotja' sits on the banks of the Segre, somewhat outside the centre of the city. Mecanoo’s design interprets the landscape of Lleida as the exciting scenery before which the building has been placed, somewhat further from the river. The mise-en-scène is elaborated on three levels of scale. Regarded from the large scale of the region, the building forms a link between the river and the mountain. Viewed from the urban scale, La Llotja and the river form a balanced composition. At street level the cantilevers of La Llotja de Lleida provide protection from sun and rain. The large stone edifice seems to have sprouted from the Spanish earth. The building’s horizontal form provides a large garden on the roof. The city of Lleida (El Segrià) now has a new multi-functional building, La Llotja de Lleida, which will provide services to the city and be a key reference for tourism associated with meetings, congresses and business. This carefully designed, emblematic building is a highly functional and aesthetically pleasing example of how urban planning can establish a continuous and harmonious dialogue with the city through forms, colours, vantage points and glass façades. The outer part of the building is a visible testimony to the unique nature and identity of this territory. It has already another piece of this urban framework, assuming part of its character and contributing to its users.The inner part of this space, which is welcoming and utilitarian, has been designed for congress-related and business activity, but also for use by local citizens. It offers its guests magnificent panoramic views over the city, the river Segre and the Seu Vella (Old Cathedral).