The evolution of an idea...

"Villaricos - a forgotten community in search of a new idea."

Villaricos the way it was

Photographs from 1985 show a rare place on the Spanish Mediterranean: A forlorn pueblo with ruined buildings, unpaved roads and derelict harbours. There were no paseos, no phones, no drinking water and few drains. Yet nor were there any high rise buildings, nor any permanent eyesores and there was a small local population that wanted something better for the future. The first task was to identify a conceptual framework for the future that respected the rich and colourful history of the village.

A concept drawn from history

What more faithful and historic image of Villaricos could there be than that of a fortified coastal fishing village, overlooked by a series of strong redoubts up in the surrounding hills, culminating in a new 'atalaya', overlooking the Almanzora Valley; recreating, after a thousand years, the original Arab watchtower.

Refurbishment

Whilst plans for Almanzora Bay's concept were being elaborated by the 'atelier' of the world famous French architect Francoise Spoerry, major and minor improvements to the village were carried out in association with the local authorities. The Almanzora river was bridged, a new maritime paseo was created, roads and foopaths were surfaced, a new primary school, modern phone system, clean water and proper drainage facilities provided. Many existing buildings were restored and refurbished including the Castillo de Cristal, a former Napaleonic naval gun emplacement which is now an information centre, the Esperanza Restaurant, the Casa Verde Bar and Los Brisas Beach Bar. The two tiny harbours of La Esperanza and La Balsica were entirely reformed.