Architectural Benidorm, awarded photo essay
In-house creafted project
Year: 2012-2017
“Benidorm might not please everybody but, by God, it pleases a lot.”
01. City Portrait
This is a portrayal of an unconventional city, particularly in terms of its architecture. Benidorm stands out as one of the European cities with a high concentration of skyscrapers, surpassing 20 buildings that exceed 100 meters in height. It evokes strong emotions, with both admirers and critics. In recent years, it has sparked a noteworthy discussion on the environmental sustainability advantages and drawbacks associated with such cities, particularly in coastal areas.
02. Sustainability
Unlike housing complexes and detached houses, which demand significant expenses and energy to cater to a few residents (while occupying vast land areas), skyscrapers centralize resources for a larger population, leading to considerably reduced per capita energy and resource consumption.
03. Expansion
Due to relatively modest budgets and a goal to accommodate a large number of tourists, this city experienced rapid growth since the 1950s and 1960s, when it was primarily characterized by small, well-maintained hotels known as "trams." However, the subsequent expansion led to highly inconsistent construction outcomes, often of subpar quality, although some notable exceptions exist.
The project has been recognised with the prestigious Lux Oro award in architecture and design.
“Benidorm fascinates me because of its remarkable architectural diversity. The city offers a mix of ordinary and intriguing structures, seen from an architectural perspective. Through my color photographic series, I aim to portray the city’s spatiality, highlighting contrasts, the interplay with its residents, and, of course, the emotions I experienced during my exploration over several years, spanning various seasons.”
