Tourist construction in the Balearic Islands (1939-2005). Architecture, urbanism and photography

Oral defense of the doctoral thesis. PhD in History, History of Art and Geography, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 6^th June 2019.

Tourist architecture has not been analysed from a historic and artistic perspective until recent times, despite the impact of tourism on contemporary society. Tourism has been the main economic resource in the Balearic Islands and buildings for leisure have caused a radical change in the archipelago’s morphology. Nevertheless, these architectures have been scarcely studied in the field of art history with the only exception of the works by Dr. Miguel Seguí.

In last years, I have been preparing my doctoral thesis on architecture and urbanism created for tourism purposes from 1939 to 2005. I have studied the buildings and the urban plans mainly, identified property developers, analysed legislation and have highlighted the most outstanding creations. Besides, I have examined the dissemination of the projects in photography considering commercial approaches, such as postcards, and professional perspectives, as the ones reflected in architectural press.

So, the thesis covers from the slow recovery of tourism after Spanish Civil War, when traditionalism was the main architectural style, to the very beginnings of 21^st century and the kitsch phenomena

+info: abstract in Teseo

+info: News on the oral defense on the website of the Universitat de les Illes Balears

Invasions and resources in tourist development. The implantation of Centres of National Tourist Interest and their implantation in Majorca

Paper presentation, Conference Invasion or resource? Landscape, tourism and sustainability, La Laguna (Tenerife). From 10^th to 11^th, 2019.

The Landscape Observatory of the Canary Islands, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of La Laguna have organised the conference Invasion or resource? Landscape, tourism and sustainability. Over these days, speakers from Mediterranean and Atlantic areas have discuss on the relation between environment and tourist development, especially on the topics related to construction and building development.

I have participated with an analysis of the Centres of National Tourist Interest in Majorca. I have studied their growth from the 1960’s to the 1970’s and 1980’s environmental demonstrations that fought against massive urban development. Furthermore, I compare the Las Gaviotas, a centre on the north of the island, and Cales de Mallorca, on the east coast.