In a privileged setting, next to the majestic Levante Beach, a unique opportunity arises to create a public space that enriches the coastal experience. This project has been conceived as a tribute to our greatest treasure: the sea and its beaches. Thus was born the «Aula del Mar,» a place designed to promote environmental awareness and to celebrate the rich history of Benidorm, always linked to its coasts and beaches.
The building consists of three modules: toilets, projection room and exhibition room. The geometry of these elements is derived from the hexagon, adapting in shape and size according to their function. Subsequently, some of its edges have been modified in plan and section to create the illusion of three large rocks on the seashore. These volumes establish a visual dialogue through the empty spaces, the panoramic views, the interaction with works of art and the incidence of light.
The structure of the building has been resolved by means of prefabricated structural steel frames, allowing an efficient construction with a low environmental impact. This approach was essential due to the location of the project on Levante Beach, one of the hearts of Benidorm. Furthermore, this structural system reinforces the notion of temporality of the building, highlighting its connection with the changing environment.
We sought to physically materialise the building as three monolithic volumes with no apparent joints, like three white rocks on the Mediterranean coast. The solution was found by multiplying the joints, using the complex geometry of the hexagon. This hides the joints from view and creates the illusion of a continuous finish. The exterior cladding is composed of custom-sized porcelain stoneware ceramic hexagons, hand-made in a white tone.
If the three built volumes were intended to emulate white rocks on the shore, the pavement evokes the sea, flowing between them and surrounding them with swirls and flashes of blue and white. For this, a bespoke porcelain stoneware ceramic hexagonal pavement was used, with three shades of blue and White with more than 26,000 pieces.
On the other hand, the glass ceiling connects the hall with the blue sky and the tall constructions surrounding the building, characteristic of Benidorm’s urban planning. Here, verticality and horizontality, tradition and progress, nature and human action merge indissolubly. This, in short, represents the essence of Benidorm.
In short, the Aula del Mar is much more than a building; it is a tribute to Benidorm’s natural environment and its rich coastal history. This structure, which resembles three white rocks on the coast, is a testament to the harmony between architecture and nature, a place where the beauty of the sea and local culture converge to enrich the experience of those who visit.
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