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Projecting from the cliffs on the border of the Mediterranean in Spain, La Muralla Roja (The Red Wall), is a bold apartment block with breathtaking seaside views. Completed in 1968, Ricardo Bofill designed this playfully erratic fortress and almost 50 years later it’s still stealing our attention.

At first glance it’s easy to get lost in the labyrinth of this haphazard design, layers of geometric stairwells, winding thoroughfares and castle-like turrets jolt the eye from one architectural element to another. However boisterous its personality may seem, its layout strictly confirms to the precise typology of the Greek cross. Each arm of the cross intersecting at the service towers that contain kitchens and bathrooms.

Heavily influenced by the architecture of the Arab Mediterranean Area, this housing project is a modern interpretation of a typical casbah – think nostalgically back to Disney’s Aladdin and its walled citadel housing style. Characterised by its modern take on the traditional circulation of a casbah, a playground of interlocking stairs, platforms and bridges provide access to all 50 apartments in the complex. The apartments are varying sizes of 60, 80 or 120 square meters and contain one, two or three bedrooms.

Related: Architecture Meets Perfect Colour Palettes In June Kim & Michelle Cho’s Captivating Images.

Within its zigzagging layout, open-air thoroughfares and separate apartments are linked, encouraging the relationship between public and private spaces. A jealously evoking roof terrace, swimming pool, sauna and solaria are all found within La Muralla Roja and promote an enhanced lifestyle for its residents – I imagine its gorgeous location plays a part in this too.

As with its layout, La Muralla Rojas’ colour palette appears unruly at first glance. Striking reds, pinks and blues cover its exterior and seemingly contrasting to its surroundings. Bofill’s colour selection not only contrasts against but also compliments the location. A spectrum of blue tones ranging from sky-blue to violet creates visual continuity with the ever-changing sky above this deafeningly loud and considerably thought out apartment block.

Related: Ricardo Bofill’s Epic Home Within An Old Cement Factory In Spain.

[Photography © Gregori Civera.]

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