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PRP Wins Leisure and Residential Scheme in Spain

14.03.2006

PRP Architects Ltd, has been appointed by Spanish developer Grupo Pinar through one of its companies called “Lifeland”, to produce the residential design for a new leisure and residential ‘village’ development in Spain. Montealmenara is located just 30 kilometres north of Valencia overlooking the Mediterranean coast and is estimated to be one of Spain’s newest, and largest, leisure and residential schemes.

Situated on an attractive steeply sloping site covering approximately 320 hectares of previously developed agricultural land, Montealmenara will have stunning views over the sea and two PGA standard golf courses. On completion, it will comprise 6,000 homes, hotel, the two golf courses, leisure and education facilities, shops, restaurants and clubhouse.

Chris Rudolf, managing director of PRP, says: “We are seeing an increasing amount of interest in our work from foreign developers, largely because of our expertise and track record in designing sustainable residential and mixed use schemes.”

The vision behind the development is to create a unique new community that appeals to all walks of life. The varied scheme is expected to attract younger local people looking to set up a new home as well as locals or foreigners wishing to buy a holiday home. Full healthcare support facilities also make this an ideal retirement option for older people looking for a place in the sun.

PRP has participated in the preliminary designs for part of the residential areas. The first area to be planned in detail is the ‘horse shoe’ site, named after its shape and location at the head of the valley. The scheme has been planned in a traditional manner with apartments along the contours and at right angles to the slope. This creates an interlocking pattern of quiet pedestrian streets around private courtyards which are separated from the streets by the buildings.

At low level, and at the heart of the ‘horseshoe’ design, is a piazza with a restaurant and café overlooking a large pool. The intimate scale of the piazza acts as a focus for the development and meeting place for residents and visitors. The apartments look over the piazza and down the valley to the golf courses.

Work on this first phase is expected to commence on site later this year and the whole project is due to be completed within three years.

High resolution images are available upon request. Please contact vanessa.clarke@prparchitects.co.uk