Architectural Benidorm, awarded photo essay
In-house creafted project
Year: 2012-2017
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.