Centers of National Tourist Interest, an oppotunity or a disaster? Platja de Muro vs. Cales de Mallorca

Paper presentation, Touriscape: Transversal Tourism and Landscape. International, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. 8th-10th February 2018.

The International Conference Touriscape has taken place from 8th to 10th February at the cultural centre Pablo Ruiz Picasso in Torremolinos (Málaga, Spain). It has been organised by Institute Habitat-Tourism-Territory and has reunite researchers from a wide range of fields -architecture, history, geography, among others. Keynote speakers and paper presenters have discussed about tourist development and its implications on urbanism, landscape and society. 

I have participated in the conference with the paper “Centros de Interés TurísticoNacional, ¿oportunidad o desastre? Platja de Muro vs. Cales de Mallorca”. I analyse and compare the urban development of Platja de Muro and Cales de Mallorca, two tourist areas in the north and east of Majorca respectively. Both were promoted after the approval of the Ley de Centros y Zonas de Interés Turístico Nacional (1963), a law that gave protection to urban developers but did not establish any urban regulations. Nowadays, Platja de Muro and Cales de Mallorca are still dedicated to leisure, but each one shows a very different relation with the environment.

Proposal of an evolution catalogue for the study of contemporary architecture

Paper presentation, I Latin American Conference redfundamentos: Research Experiences and Methods, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. From 11^th to 13^th December, 2017.

The I Latin American Conference redfundamentos:Research Experiences and Methods has taken place on the second week of December at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and the Museum of America.

The conference has gathered architects from different countries (Spain, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil). One of its main objectives has been to debate on research architectural methodologies considering theoretical and practical approaches.

I have presented my paper “Propuesta decreación de un catálogo evolutivo para el estudio de la arquitectura contemporánea. Una experiencia de investigación sobre la construcción turística en las Islas Baleares”. I reflect on the necessity of using tools to put the research data in order and I propose a catalogue that sums up all the history of a building and not only the moment it is constructed.

The seaside promenade of Palma. Genesis, development and future

Research grant. Ciutat de Palma Prize, 2016. 

On Friday the 20th January, took place the ceremony of the Ciutat de Palma Prizes awarded by the city council of Palma. I have been awarded with a research grant for my project The seaside promenade of Palma. Genesis, development and future.

It consists on a study of the urbanisation and the buildings of the seaside promenade of Palma (Mallorca), comprising the area between Portopí and el Molinar. The aim of the project is to historically establish the phases of the creation of the promenade, to point out and analyse the most important buildings and to determine the relevance of the promenade from a two point perspective, so to say, considering its relevancy in terms of urban planning of the town and its usefulness for locals and visitors.

The Mediterranean Sea has been a key element for the evolution of the city, from romans to 19^th–century travellers up to mass-tourism boom in the 1960s. The most important change of the seaside façade of Palma was the creation of its promenade. All started in 1939 with a contest and from then on, it grew during decades from the west to the east reclaiming land from the sea. At the same time, brand new buildings have been constructed. They coexist with ancient religious and military buildings and, at the same time, representing the arrival of architectural modernity. Apart from this significance for construction and as most as seaside promenades, the one of Palma plays a main role in the image of the city.

Aerial view of Palma's bay. Source: Google Maps.

Given the relevance of Palma in worldwide tourist routes, it is important to do research on one of its main avenues from a global perspective taking into account both history and architecture. In addition, the knowing of this infrastructure and its equipment can be helpful to decide the future of the promenade and which are the most suitable options to adapt it to 21^st–century social, environmental and economic challenges.