3 min read

Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain - Detail — Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain – Detail

Address

Partida Manzanera, 3, 03710 Calp, Alicante, Spain Copy to clipboard

38.639244, 0.040688 Copy to clipboard

Visit information

Private access only

The building is not open to the public and there is no indication that access will be allowed in the future.

Check online for any potential updates or opportunities, such as photography tours or public events.

Accessibility

La Muralla Roja is a private residential building and is not open to the public.

Access is restricted to residents and their guests, and security is strict at the entrance.

Visitors can appreciate its striking architecture from the outside.

The surrounding area is easily navigable, with flat terrain and paved roads.

Before you go

Behavior: Respect the privacy of residents. Attempting to enter the building without permission is not allowed and often met with hostility from security or locals.

Nearby attractions: Take a walk along the nearby coastline and enjoy the stunning Mediterranean views. The beaches of Calpe, such as Playa de la Fossa and Cala del Racó, are close by and offer picturesque settings.

Photography: The exterior is a masterpiece of architecture and worth photographing from a respectful distance. The best angles are often captured from the public pathways or surrounding cliffs.

Safety: Calpe is generally safe, but avoid confrontations with residents or security if you attempt to get too close to the property.

Supplies: Bring water and snacks if you plan to explore the nearby areas, as facilities around the site are limited and the Mediterranean sun can be intense.

Best visit time

The building can be appreciated at any time of day, but morning or late afternoon provides the best lighting for photography.

While the building is not illuminated at night, some visitors have managed to take stunning photos under soft evening light, making it worth a visit for experienced photographers.

Avoid peak tourist hours to minimize crowds in the surrounding area.

Directions

By car

From Alicante, take the N-332 northbound towards Calpe. Follow signs to the coastline and search for nearby public parking areas.

By public transport

From Alicante, take a train or bus to Calpe. From the Calpe bus or train station, a local taxi is the easiest way to reach the area near La Muralla Roja.

Parking

Public parking is available a short walk away from the property.

La Muralla Roja

Lying off Spain’s Calpe coast is La Muralla Roja (red wall), one of the most eye-catching buildings on the shores of the Mediterranean. It is an apartment block borrowing heavily from the Arab, Greek, and contemporary designs while keeping clean-cut geometric shapes of contemporary architecture.

The outer walls are in different hues of red and pink, that when seen from far, give the whole building a distinct reddish tone.

Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain - Facade — Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain – Facade

How it looks like

La Muralla Roja was Ricardo Bofill’s design in 1968, but its beauty still awes many visitors to this part of the Spanish coast. The building is designed like a middle ages fortress castle, complete with turrets at the top and geometric layers of stairwells.

It also conforms to the Greek cross design when seen from a bird’s eye view; the arms of the cross intersect at the service towers where the kitchens and bathrooms are located.

Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain - Top View — Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain – Top View

Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain - The top swimming pool — Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain – The top swimming pool

Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain - Swimming pool detail — Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain – Swimming pool detail

What’s inside?

Inside structures are influenced by the architecture of the Arab Mediterranean seen in much of North Africa. The stairwells are interlocking, with doors to the apartments located on the stair platforms and bridges.

There are 50 apartments of differing sizes in the complex; 60, 80 and 120 square meters with one, two and three bedrooms, respectively. The Kasbah style is well-known for the mix of private and public spaces, and its created in this building by a labyrinth of stairs and interconnected patios.

Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain - Staircase — Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain – Staircase

Videos

3 min 35 sec

1 min 8 sec

Colors & Surroundings

Inner and circulation surfaces are painted in varying tones of blue, indigo and purple, which creates the illusion of blending with the sky or create a contrast with the sky. Reddish and pink hues of the outer walls contrast sharply with the surrounding landscape of sandy brown and green vegetation.

The clean-cut walls jut from the rocky shore in a disruption that the eye can hardly miss. Turret outlines at the top of the walls complete the silhouette of a fortress castle overlooking the coast.

Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain - View from the sea — Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain – View from the sea

Ricardo Bofill – La Muralla Roja, 1973, Calpe, Alicante, Spain – View from the swimming pool

Analysis

This building’s thoughtful design is seen in the Greek topology of the inner design. The internal structures are modeled on a geometric Greek cross, with arms 5 meters long intersecting at the service towers. La Muralla Roja’s utility as a modern living space can be seen in the creature comforts it offers with a swimming pool, solaria, and sauna on the roof terrace.

All apartments enjoy stunning views of the coast, making this the most envied address on this stretch of the shoreline. This visually intriguing building will also continue to be a study piece for architecture and design students for a long time to come.