The Alicante Square That Returns the Force of the Waves to the Sea

Poder ver el mar en primera línea sin la preocupación de que una ola arrase. A pesar de no ser el Cantábrico, la fuerza del Mediterráneo también es poderosa en tiempos de tormenta. Cuando rugen las mareas, las olas que mecen Alicante hacen su presencia. Muchos son quienes se acercan cuando el mar está bravío en busca del 'selfie' y la foto.

A design by the Alicante City Council aims to create a new space close to the sea, but at the same time protected from the dangers of the Mediterranean, which it has. It contemplates the construction of a new coastal defense wall made of reinforced concrete attached to the existing one and resistant to marine dynamics, provided with an optimized design and dimensions "that return the energy of the push of the sea waves through a characteristic curve in its intrados," explain from the City Council.

The project has been pre-awarded by the Contracting Board to Pavasal S.A., which will undertake the works for the replacement of the coastal wall and conditioning of the esplanade at Finca Adoc, for 302,258 euros and with an estimated execution period of three months.

"The works will consist of repairing, rehabilitating, and improving this coastal protection wall, adapting and conditioning the adjacent esplanade up to the facade of the building adapted for pedestrian traffic, and incorporating urban furniture elements to improve its image and enjoyment by Alicante residents," explains Urban Planning Councilor Rocío Gómez.

As for the esplanade, starting from the condition of not introducing additional elements beyond urban furniture, it opts for the execution of a design in plan materialized with continuous impermeable natural pavement, stabilized aggregate. Its design incorporates panels of different earthy colors, generating a series of passage and stay areas with benches, bins, and bike racks.

The intervention area is within the maritime coastal scope defined by coastal legislation, so no public lighting, irrigation, or gardening installations have been planned as they are incompatible in this environment.

The intervention area is the coastal facade of the area known as Finca Adoc, opposite Torre Alacant urbanization. Within the scope of Public Maritime Terrestrial Domain, there is an esplanade limited by a containment and protection wall in poor condition due to time passage, maritime storm action, and coastline regression due to coastal dynamics.

A solution has been projected that renews a currently very deteriorated and abandoned space from an aesthetic point of view, allowing its use and enjoyment while providing sufficient protection against marine dynamics.

This rehabilitation and reform project is one of the initiatives of the comprehensive reform plan for the Albufereta beach and Serra Grossa environment, which will also include reurbanization of Ireland Street. This plan includes, among other actions, reurbanization of Sol Naciente Street and adjacent areas, which will include improvement actions on Sol Naciente Street and its surroundings, with improvements in sidewalks and accessibility, new sewerage system, urban and pedestrian mobility actions as well as energy efficiency improvements.