La Muralla Roja
- Agnieszka Chromiec
- 4 cze 2017
- 2 minut(y) czytania
The shorter and darker days in the Northeast, where I come from, the greater the lure of warm colors of Spain. The palette of local landscape, consisting of insanely turquoise sea and beige rocks inspires many artists and architects.
Among the natural hues of Costa Blanca, the most conspicuous are vivid reds and carmines. Recently I stumbled upon a jaw-dropping place full of those colors.
Leaning out the steep cliff, like an exotic plant, La Muralla Roja is part of a coastal landscape of Calpe. Red Wall, as the Spanish name literally translates, is a private residential complex designed in the 70s. by Ricardo Bofill.
Being inside La Muralla resembles wandering around the quiet streets of old town just before its residents wake up. Serene squares, narrow passages, and multiple staircases disorienting occasional visitor, leading up and down between the doors to apartments, make you feel like a child stuck in a maze. It offers freedom to choose which route to take.
Finding way up to the rooftops is utterly rewarding. The views open to turquoise Mediterranean Sea and a stripe of land powerfully finished with Peñón de Ifach. One of the staircases that leads to a swimming pool located on the roof is intuitively painted deep sky blue. So deep you might actually mistake the wall with the sky.
The structure embodies a clear reference to the North African tradition of the casbah, a fortress with high walls and few windows. The geometric plan of the complex with 50 apartments is based on the typology of the Greek cross with arms 5 m long. The apartments are grouped in different ways, with the service towers (kitchens and bathrooms) at their point of intersection.
The identity of this space remains in my memory as one of the strongest highlights of the past few months spent in Spain. This experience reminded me about how powerful is our imagination, and and made me realize that I want to create things that remain inspirational after a long time.
Mr. Bofill, chapeau bas!
Image source: Agnieszka Chromiec
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A music video 'Do It Right' by French artist Martin Solveig including La Muralla Roja:
