La Muralla Roja (The Red Wall) is a post‑modern apartment complex perched on the cliffs of Calpe, on Spain’s Costa Blanca. Designed by renowned Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill and completed in 1973, the building mimics a fortress-citadel inspired by North African kasbahs and Arab Mediterranean architecture .
The layout is based on an interlocking grid of Greek‑cross modules (5 m arms) forming a labyrinth of patios, stairways, terraces, bridges, and courtyards, serving a total of 50 apartments—studios (~60 m²), two-bedroom (~80 m²), and three-bedroom (~120 m²)—with amenities including rooftop solariums, a pool, sauna, ground-floor stores and a restaurant
Its bold chromatic scheme distinguishes function and blurs the structure with its surroundings: deep reds and pinks on exterior walls contrast with the rocky landscape, while the circulation zones—stairs, platforms, patios—are painted in sky‑blue, indigo, violet tones to echo the sea and sky
Critics describe it as a “candy‑coloured citadel” that “evokes a Postmodern casbah,” merging constructivist geometry and vernacular tradition to foster fluid interaction between public and private spaces
. It has become a favorite setting for photographers and social media fans, often likened to the surreal staircases in Squid Game
Today, La Muralla Roja remains a private residential complex, but its striking architecture and vibrant colors continue to captivate visitors and reinforce Bofill’s legacy as a visionary who bridged cultural history and architectural imagination
DRONE: DJI MAVIC 2 ZOOM
LOCATION: Spain | Calpe