Parallel architectures: Alicante, Benidorm and Torrevieja compared to major Asian metropolises

Now, Cantabrian photographer Manuel Alvarez Diestro He displays his work together at Pozos de Garrigós, next to the Alicante Water Museum. IV Art and Environment Cycle organized by this center under the title steel caves, the phrase is taken from a book by Isaac Asimov. “My proposal aims to reflect the expansion of man in the landscape through the construction of cities” and also “To increase the perception that citizens have about his city,” says the artist.

And in this way, he thinks there is a relationship “on the way to build with major Asian metropolises on the coast of Alicante.” vertical model is the most sustainable to optimize water and light consumption and to protect nature”.

includes exhibit 27 pictures and articulated in three blocks. On the one hand, a series of images showing the connection between Mediterranean and Asian cities, “with a connection that makes it difficult to distinguish which metropolis in the story.” Another room contains a series of photos showing all the bridges in Seoul, but taken from below and in the same frame. In the last part of Pozos de Garrigós, there is a projection in which Álvarez Diestro includes the human element. “This is an experimental video that reflects everything that’s going on around these bridges.”

Photographs of Alicante and Torrevieja, where Albufereta’s architectural value comes to the fore, were taken during a few trips and Benidorm, where he lived for a while, during the pandemic.

During the presentation of the exhibition, which can be seen until September 15, Martin SanzAguas de Alicante’s Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs highlighted in the Arts and Environment Cycle that “while we look for collaborating partners and alliances, we are trying to go further, as in this case with the Alicante Territorial College of Architects”.

In this sense, Aurora Domínguez, architect and head of Communications at CTAA, stressed the importance of “giving more value to architecture with these fantastic images.”

round tables

During the next three months, IV Art and Environment Cycle additionally and in collaboration Alicante Regional College of Architects (CTAA))A lot round tables with the participation of famous architects who will discuss with Álvarez Diestro about The role of architecture in the present and future sustainability of our cities.

The first of these discussions was held this afternoon. At the Alicante Water Museumwith the presentation Emilio VicedoIn the presence of CTAA president and Álvarez Diestro, accompanied by Professor Jorge Olcina, director of the Aguas de Alicante Chair at the University of Alicante, and Aurora Domínguez as the moderator of the discussion.

HE The College of Architects will host the second roundtable meeting on Tuesday, June 13 at 18:00.With the participation of Álvarez Diestro, with Francisco Juan Martínez (professor of the Department of Urban Planning at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Higher Technical School of Architecture); Antonio Maciá (architect doctor from Valencia Polytechnic University and EU professor at Alicante University Higher Polytechnic School) and Alfredo Payá (architectural doctor from Madrid Polytechnic University). After the debate, the participants will go to the Alicante Water Museum with the artist to visit the exhibition.

Manuel Alvarez Diestro

As a visual artist, Manuel Alvarez Diestro He is one of the most influential photographers when it comes to the construction of cities. With regular publications in leading architecture magazines in Spain and abroad (Arquitectura Viva, MARK, Architectural Digest, Archdaily, Designboom, WIRE, Arabic CNN and others), He also directed two feature films shot in Asia..

In parallel with this, he developed his professional career as a d.Tourism Promotion General Manager He has served as UK executive in China, Japan, South Korea and Hong-Kong and has devoted over two decades to the development of airlines for British Airways and Iberia Airlines.

He currently heads the Art and Creation Department. TAI University School. He is an honorary citizen of the city of Jeonju in South Korea.

In addition to Álvarez Diestro’s background in the tourism industry, having photographed and filmed cities around the world, he will provide a different perspective on the debate tables of the IV Art and Environment Cycle for three decades.