History
La Muralla Roja History Part 1
The history of the La Muralla Roja building, located in Calpe, Spain, dates back to the 1960s. It was designed by the renowned Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, who was inspired by traditional Mediterranean architecture and the work of the famous Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy.Construction of La Muralla Roja began in 1968 and was completed in 1973. The building is perched on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, in a privileged setting. Its name comes from its most distinctive feature: its deep red color and intricate geometric shapes that evoke a sense of a labyrinth.The idea behind Bofill’s design was to create a unique and surreal place where residents could live in harmony with nature and experience a sense of isolation from the outside world. La Muralla Roja is inspired by the traditional architecture of Arab medinas, with its labyrinth of interconnected corridors, staircases and terraces.
The Architect
Ricardo Bofill Leví ( 5 December 1939 – 14 January 2022) was a Spanish architect from Barcelona, Catalonia. He founded Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura in 1963 and developed it into a leading international architectural and urban design practice. According to architectural historian Andrew Ayers, his creations rank “among the most impressive buildings of the 20th century.”
Taller de Arquitectura
Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura (RBTA) is an architecture firm that was founded in 1963 by Ricardo Bofill, initially as Taller de Arquitectura (lit. ’Architecture Workshop’). It is headquartered in Sant Just Desvern near Barcelona, in a former cement factory known as La Fábrica. Ricardo Bofill, then 23 years old, founded the Taller de Arquitectura in 1963 by with the …
La Muralla Roja History Part 2
The building consists of 50 apartments distributed on different levels and connected by walkways and stairs. Red and ochre colors predominate on the facades, while the interior spaces are painted in blue and pink tones, creating a striking contrast. The interior courtyards, with their angular shapes and cantilevered balconies, offer panoramic sea and mountain views.Over the years, The Red Wall has been a desired destination for architecture lovers and has been hailed as an iconic example of postmodern architecture. Its unique and bold design has been featured in numerous architectural publications and exhibitions, cementing its status as an internationally recognized architectural landmark.Today, La Muralla Roja continues to be an inhabited place and its residents enjoy the beauty and originality of its design. In addition, the building has become a landmark for tourists and visitors who are attracted by its unique aesthetics and privileged location.Calpe’s Red Wall remains a living testament to Ricardo Bofill’s creative ingenuity and a stunning example of how architecture can merge with the environment and cultural history of a place to create something truly unique.
Parking
Foto from the early years from Domingo Garcia Pozuelo
The Classic View
Foto from the early years from Domingo Garcia Pozuelo
The Social Club
Foto from the early years from Domingo Garcia Pozuelo
