West Beach Promenade

West Beach Promenade is one of three beaches in Benidorm, Spain.

The architects who designed this were partners Carlos Ferrater and Xavier Marti Gali. Carlos started The Office of Architecture in Barcelona (OAB) in 2006 with the help of Xavier and others.

The project has received several awards including first prize in the 2006 ASPRIMA Prizes for the best tourist development, first prize in the VIII Ceramics Awards for Architecture organized by ASCER, and special mention in the European Award of Urban Public Space 2010. In fact, it was received so well that it was commissioned to be extended an additional 500 meters.

Benidorm has experienced rapid economic and urban growth in the last twenty or so years. In response to the immense rise of the tourist industry, it has become a location with an extremely high population density, but only during certain months of the year. Thus, the area had been thirsting for a resolution for issues such as high traffic, drainage, and accessibility. The idea for the new passageway was conceived of by Carlos Ferrater and Xavier Marti Gali in a design competition, which sought to adapt the shoreline to deal with the problems it was facing. Construction was completed in 2009.

The form of the design mimics the shape of the waves and cliffs. Due to the overhangs, it creates more usable space with minimal disturbance of the sandy beach underneath. This allows the people above to use it for circulation. At the same time, it provides shade for the beachgoers below. Despite the seemingly random curves, there is actually a strict adherence to a set of specific geometric laws, conducive to construction.

The use of color presents an attractive gradient, suitable for vacationers on holiday. The appealing array of playful hues exudes a bright and cheerful vibe. Conveniently, it also functions as a landmark by helping beachgoers determine where exactly on the beach they are located. It is commonly understood that these types of colors reflect the sun and have a cooling effect, which is favorable for the hot summer climate of this region of Spain.

Developed specifically for this project by Keramia Ceramics, the ceramic tile have the ideal chemical makeup. Some of the qualities of the material are that it is resistant to discoloration from the silica (beach sand), stain-resistant, slip-resistant, and able to withstand wear and tear for a lifetime. Also they are non-porous so as to not absorb water. The circular and triangular shapes are formed using die cut molds, and work fluidly with the undulating slopes of the promenade. The mortar is an innovative, high tech material, known as thixotropic mortar.

...
Wikipedia