Sunday Escape - La Muralla Roja

Alicante. Spain.

In the Calpe area, near a cliff that is almost overhanging the sea, there is a special complex of apartments with beautiful red and blue tones called La Muralla Roja, the Spanish word for Red Wall.

Designed by Architect Ricardo Bofill's Taller de Arquitectura, built between 1968 and 1972, this work embodies both modernity and, at the same time, traditional values.

As illustrated by narrow, almost labyrinthine narrow streets, staircases, platforms and bridges, this structure is freely inspired by the popular architectures of the Arab Mediterranean Area, by the fortified towers of North Africa and, in particular, the Casbah.

The complexity of the project that provides access to 50 apartments, several roof terraces, a solarium, a swimming pool and a sauna recalls the Greek crosses, grouped together in different ways, with facilities, kitchens, and bathrooms at the Intersection, to form towers. Height variations, as well as external staircase systems and complex terrain geometry, contribute to reinforcing the similarity between La Muralla Roja and a labyrinth.

The colors of the building designed by Bofill capture the attention and enchants those who look at it. The chromatic choice, in contrast to the natural colors of the surrounding landscape and existing complexes, indicates the different functions of the buildings: various shades of red paint for the exterior facade, different shades of blue, celestial indigo, stairs, and circulation surfaces.

Isn't Muralla Roja beautiful?