The Voices Of Architects

We interviewed Marbella's best architects for you. Rodolfo Baldrich & Miguel Tobal are two of them:

DMP: In your opinion how will the expansion of the EEC (European Economic Community), price increases in Spain and the traumatic events of March 11th 2004 affect the growth of residential real estate development?

Baldrich/Tobal: The residential housing sector presents positive perspectives for the future. Improvement on communication networks, reduction of transport costs, and the possibility of working from home, all favour a long term trend in European demographics: people move from Central and Northern Europe to our coasts, mainly to enjoy our mild climate and have a better quality of life. Events such as wars or terrorism do not affect this trend in the long term, being that buying a house is a much more complex decision than choosing a holiday destination (perhaps more influenced by the media).

DMP: What are your thoughts on the revision of the PGOU (Marbellaâ's Development Plan)?

Baldrich/Tobal: Marbella has experienced chaotic growth in the past few years. The Plan General (Master Development Plan) must put order to the already existing, and carefully plan future development growth, in order to provide for an infrastructure adequate to the size, extension and special characteristics of Marbella. It must start considering Marbella as a part of the Costa del Sol's metropolitan area, and provide new ideas for a more rational growth model.

DMP: After the amazing rise in the number of housing units and the insufficient development of infrastructure facilities (recreational areas, communication, services, etc) what are Marbella's and the Costa del Sol's needs?

Baldrich/Tobal: Marbella would need to re-assure the value added character that places her well above other residential destinations. Quality of life is not only made up by good climate and sea views. We must create a city that embraces leisure and quality work as a distinctive feature, in comparison to living in a big capital. There is still much to be done, and that is what specifically makes Marbella an interesting city project for the future.

DMP: How do you value the future opening of the Architecture School in Malaga? Could this benefit the promoter-architect relationship favourably?

Baldrich/Tobal: The speed at which development has occurred in the past years has prevented a reflection on what sort of city and what sort of lifestyle we would like to have. The School of Architecture will allow for new perspectives and ideas to come along, which will eventually improve our surroundings. It would be a good idea to get developers involved in the educational and reflexive process of the School, as, at the end of the day, they are the only ones capable of making projects a reality.

DMP: Finally, please describe the aesthetic concept which underlies your spatial/architectural work.

Baldrich/Tobal: Although each project is different, they all share a common idea: the understanding of our surroundings, and the respect for a way of living. We have been part of Marbella for many years now, so we understand the life-styles and ways associated with this city. From our studio, we try to contribute to this specially attractive and different way of life we have in Marbella.

Diana Morales, 01 Mar 2005 - News