Completed in 2025, the Tourism Faculty at the University of Malaga merges modern educational needs with Mediterranean design principles
The building is conceived from a radical conceptual standpoint based on a unity of principles
The building is conceived from a radical conceptual standpoint based on a unity of principles

TYPOLOGY & TRADITION 

Typologically, the building follows the tradition of educational architecture based on a system of aggregating volumes  around courtyards, recovering the “cloister” as an organizational system, reminiscent of Mediterranean architecture  where the climate favors open and landscaped spaces forming different types of courtyards.   

TOPOGRAPHIC ADAPTATION AND VOLUMETRIC CORRESPONDENCE 

The complex is affected by the restrictive airspace easement that limits the building’s height. This necessitates a large  footprint and adaptation to the gently sloping topography. 

The proposal comprises three volumes arranged around a central atrium that organizes access and connections,  creating a large, communal space that allows for diverse uses and functions within a high-quality environment. The  volumes are staggered across the site, generating different platforms and gently sloping landscaped areas. Internally,  each volume is organized around a courtyard/cloister, around which all activity revolves: 1- Classrooms and Laboratories  of the Council Center; 2- Departments: Offices and Research; 3- Multipurpose Areas: Auditorium, Cafeteria, Library, and  Dean’s Office. 

FLEXIBILITY – TIMELESSNESS AND STRUCTURE 

The proposal aims to offer a flexible and timeless architecture. To achieve this, a public scale closer to urban  infrastructure is established. The structure becomes the essential architectural element of the project, capable of  organizing the program and defining its image. 

The building’s image is formed by an exposed, in-situ concrete structure, both interior and exterior, with very slender  sections—15 cm thick. 

The structural design around the perimeter seeks maximum interior flexibility through the use of walls of varying depths  and deep beams spanning large distances, allowing for multiple interior layouts capable of accommodating different  uses and programs. 

MATERIAL AND PLACE 

The building is conceived from a radical conceptual standpoint based on a unity of principles. The tectonic configuration is based on the exposed structure itself, and therefore the palette is minimalist, using  locally sourced materials: local aggregates and cements for the concrete—hence its somewhat dark color; only  plywood and glass act as infill for the concrete structure. 

The overall design is based on passive systems, seeking natural efficiency and sustainability, promoting structural  elements that integrate functions: the structural facades act as large solar shading screens, modifying their depth  and density according to their orientation. The courtyards and atrium act as thermal buffer spaces, allowing cross  ventilation to moderate the interior temperatures. 

The landscaping is minimal, adapted to the current demands of extremely limited water resources—xeriscaping— using native species and permeable paving.