Architect Ricardo Bofill turned 80 years old in December 2019. This major cause for celebration gave architectural photographer Sebastian Weiss the impetus to travel to one of Bofill’s most well known and distinctive buildings, “La Muralla Roja” in Calp, Spain. Weiss describes the housing complex as “a place on the border to the surreal,” and his abstract photographs bring this kaleidoscopic project to life in all its colorful glory.

La Muralla Roja, Spanish for ‘The Red Wall,’ was inspired by the bold colors and distinctive vernacular of the Mediterranean region, referencing the architectural language of alcazabas (old forts or medinas). The bold colors were chosen by Bofill to strike a contrast with the natural surroundings, while simultaneously sitting in harmony with its context.

“The strict geometry and the juxtaposition of ocher, red to pink, blue and the turquoise of the sea impressed me very much,” said Weiss of his visit to the complex. “This surreal place is a feast for the senses and fascinates with its perfect tuning of colors, geometrical shapes, public and private areas, as well as light and shadow plays. It feels like moving through the set construction of a movie production.”

Weiss’ series won Gold at the PX3, Prix de la Photographie de Paris 2020 in the Category Architecture / Buildings – Professional. For more stunning photography by Weiss, check out his Instagram page. For more beautiful architecture by Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, explore the architect’s stunning home inside a ruined cement factory.

Sebastian Weiss lives and works as an architectural photographer in Hamburg, Germany. He is “Professional Member” of the Professional Association of Freelance Photographers and Film Creators (BFF) and also a member of the Bundesverband Architekturfotografie e.V. (BVAF).