A 144-metre tall luxury skyscraper is set to begin construction along the dock of one of Spain’s most popular and crowded tourist destinations, and locals aren’t pleased
One tourist hotspot in Spain is about to get even more crowded thanks to the arrival of a brand new hotel skyscraper.
The Torre del Puerto de Malaga hotel complex will be built along the Levante Dock in the resort destination of Malaga city. But the grand development plans have been met with backlash from locals due to its scale and impact on the city skyline.
The 144-metre Torre del Puerto de Malaga project is being developed by Marina San SL— established by the Qatari investment fund Al Alfia—in partnership with the Hesperia hotel group. According to Idealista, the developers have invested north of €120 million in the construction which is set to be complete by 2028.
In addition to the luxury complex, the development includes the creation of six public spaces designed to drive tourism and hospitality commerce, as well as a 2,000-person convention centre and green, manicured spaces which will surround the skyscraper.
The project will also include a refurbishment of the Dique de Levante, the section of Malaga’s port where cruise ship passengers disembark. The Paseo de la Farola, which is already designated as a Site of Cultural Interest will also be refurbished as part of the project.
Controversy has surrounded the development project from the outset, with local groups anxious that the skyscraper will overcrowd the area and upset the cultural heritage tied to the landscape.
The project has already grown in scale since its initial announcement. When the project was approved in 2023, the luxury complex was proposed to include 378 rooms and sit at 116 metres tall. Since then, the complex plans have been expanded to include between 350 and 390 rooms and will now sit at 144 metres above sea level. It should be noted though that special plan for the port would allow it to rise up to 150 metres tall.
The updated dimensions are a direct result of a change in architectural leadership. Originally the project was spearheaded by the Malaga-based architect, Jose Segui, but has been overtaken by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect, David Chipperfield.
Chipperfield has steered the complex design in a new, more sustainable direction, which he shared in a private presentation earlier this month at Malaga City Hall in front of Mayor Francisco de la Torre and the port authorities managing the Levante dock.
While Segui’s original vision proposed a cylindrical structure, Chipperfield’s new design showcases a sleek rectangular design. The reenvisioned complex will also reportedly incorporate lighter materials inspired by the city’s bright light and open skies.
Speaking of Chipperfield, one spokesman for the developers said: “In recent years he has worked a lot on sustainability and the integration of projects in cities. Chipperfield has in mind that it is a hotel, but that is what he is less concerned about, but rather how it integrates with the city in the future, with a form that lasts and that 150 years from now it will still be valid, he is very obsessed with that.”