The Punta Aldea Lighthouse by RCR Arquitectes

DATE

21.10.2025

In 1988, newly graduated from the Vallès School of Architecture, Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem, and Ramón Vilalta presented an innovative proposal for a national maritime lighthouse competition. Their design broke away from traditional typologies, opting for a horizontal structure that harmoniously integrated with the landscape and the site’s natural light.

The project proposed a horizontal structure that extended over the terrain, raising the lighthouse’s beam to the required height without resorting to the conventional vertical tower. This decision stemmed from a deep understanding of the context: the area’s cliffs and slopes, the sun’s orientation, and the need for a light signal that would adapt to its natural surroundings. Although the proposal was selected as the winning entry, it was never built — yet its impact was immediate and far-reaching.

The project’s recognition in Japan, where the architects were invited to participate in another competition on Saikaibashi Island, marked a turning point in RCR Arquitectes’ career. Their experience in Japan revealed a sense of sensitivity and refinement that would later shape their architectural approach, characterized by transparency, fluidity, and integration with the environment. These principles would become evident in later works such as the Les Cols restaurant, the Soulages Museum in Rodez, and the Bell-Lloc Winery in Palamós.

Although never realized, the Punta Aldea Lighthouse represents the seed of an architectural philosophy that has guided RCR Arquitectes throughout their career: an architecture that responds to the specificity of place, integrates with the landscape, and seeks an emotional connection with people. This first project reflects the studio’s ability to think beyond convention and to establish a profound dialogue between architecture and context — a quality that would later be recognized with architecture’s highest honor.

MARCH VALENCIA | ARQUITECTURA Y DISEÑO

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