091_Eco Living Tarifa

In the south of Spain, in the immediate vicinity of the Strait of Gibraltar, a sustainable complex comprising detached houses, hotels and various public facilities is to be built on an area of around 760,000 m². The site is located between two nature reserves with special fauna and flora and offers a fantastic view of a varied landscape - from wooded mountains to sand dunes and the Moroccan coast.

 

The project sees itself as a bridge between the two nature reserves. At the most prominent points on the site, on two hilltops and along the streams, landscapes are planned with correspondingly diverse habitats for fauna and flora, thus creating a connecting corridor between the nature reserves. Three zones are embedded between these landscapes and topographically separated from each other: Hotel, residential and public square. The hotel and residential zones benefit from the hillside location with views of the sea and mountains, while the public plaza benefits from the strong presence of the national highway.

 

The development structure of the hotel and residential areas is based on the local building tradition. One to two-storey buildings are compactly grouped into clusters. This sparing use of the site creates generous open spaces that lead around the clusters and allow wide lines of sight. Each building stands in the natural surroundings. A pleasant microclimate is easily created within the clusters, from which the surrounding detached houses or hotel rooms benefit - the arrangement of the buildings and trees provide wind and sun protection, while a swimming pond provides evaporative cooling.

 

A total of 48 detached houses, 10 terraced houses and 320 hotel beds in 12 clusters are planned for the site. Various public uses such as schools, an event and sports hotel, a nature conservation center with tourist information as well as restaurants and retail outlets are planned for the plaza area. The building volume was subtly developed from the topography and designed as part of the landscape. A green base level, which accommodates the majority of the building mass, follows the natural slope. Individual recesses form wind-protected entrances or inner courtyards and are themselves planted with large trees. A wooden bridge connects the green roof with an observation tower and leads barrier-free across the main road to the beach. The tower and bridge offer a wide view over the site and at the same time mark the location as landmarks visible from afar.

Status: Competition entry

Client: Private

Year: 2021

Size: 760,000 m²

Mareike Beumer, Magdalena Baraniak, Raimon Espasa Bou, Marc Dufour-Feronce, Marielena Hickmann, Lou Pelosoff, Marie Nägele, Lilli Ritter, Andreas Reeg