Quay and service building in the port of Alicante, Spain (1997-1998-2000)

Abstract

The competition consisted in designing a quay for thedisembarkation of local passengers and a building housing akiosk and shaded waiting area on top of it. This was asplendid opportunity for exploring the two extremes ofconstruction most closely linked to the sea: the building of adike and platform using civil engineering techniques inaddition to a small building made with the quality ofmaterials, fit and precision characteristic of the best navalarchitecture. Construction of the quay started with largeblocks of concrete and stone, earth moving and underwateranchoring. It then continue above water, as if it were a boat indry dock, with wood and metal, assembling, fitting together,tightening screws...
It was proposed to design and asymmetric quay that wouldlook in a specific direction so that the boats would notobstruct the views from the building. The height of thebuilding was kept to a minimun seeking the predominanthorizontality of any view of a port. The building resolutelyraises its own verticality competing masts of the sailboatslining the dock to greet those who arrive at the citty,
The building is intend ed to have an ambiguous relationshipwith the sea. The metal balcony, lack of handrails, lightness,lack of definition between inside and outside and between thesea and land all contribute to creating such a relationship.