The Portón social housing project, developed by the Municipal Housing Board of Alicante, has been honoured with the Public Award at the Federation of Public Works of Alicante (FOPA) awards, selected from 14 candidates. This recognition comes as part of the 18th edition of the awards, where a total of 17 projects were submitted.
Among the notable winners, the Vía Verde de la Cantera was awarded for Best Integration into its Environment, while the third phase of the reurbanisation of La Explanada received a Special Mention. Alicante secured three out of four awards, highlighting the city's prominence in public works.
The Mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, expressed gratitude for the public's support in recognising the Portón social housing project. He noted that the initiative not only provides housing solutions and supports youth emancipation but also enhances the integration of streets leading to the historic centre, improving accessibility while promoting energy sustainability.
Details of the Fopa awards
The Fopa awards celebrate the best civil engineering works executed in the province over the past two years. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on 20 October at the Auditorium of the Diputación de Alicante (ADDA). This year, 17 projects were evaluated, with the best work awarded to the viaducts of Line 9 of the TRAM in Algar and Mascarat.
The Portón social housing project received 18.6% of the votes in a public poll that engaged over 3,000 participants. This accolade adds to the national sustainability award received earlier this year from the Association of Housing and Land Managers (AVS) in the category of Sustainable Building, marking the second consecutive AVS award for the Municipal Housing Board of Alicante.
Architectural significance
The Portón project consists of 15 social rental homes aimed at young people, designed as part of an urban and social regeneration effort in a topographically complex and historically significant area near the Casco Antiguo (Old Town) of Alicante. The building is situated on the slope of Mount Benacantil, blending harmoniously with its surroundings.
The architecture is designed to complement the landscape, with a fragmented volumetric structure that adapts to the terrain. The project features terraced spaces and continuous pathways that enhance the relationship between the building, the topography, and the historical context of the area.
The design employs a modular system of 3×3×3 metres, allowing for various housing types that optimise natural light, views, and the creation of stepped terraces. The result is a dynamic composition that alternates solid and void spaces, fostering a dialogue with the environment.
The building includes 14 apartments, two of which are accessible, and a shared living space on the ground floor for young people with intellectual disabilities. This communal area is central to the project, promoting community life, personal autonomy, and social inclusion.
Additionally, the complex features an elevator that connects all levels, serving as public infrastructure for residents in the upper part of the Casco Antiguo, many of whom are elderly. This, along with an existing pedestrian bridge, enhances accessibility and strengthens connections between different levels of the neighbourhood.
From the residential complex, residents can enjoy views of key historical and natural landmarks in Alicante, including the Santa Bárbara Castle, Mount Benacantil, the Santa Cruz neighbourhood, the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás, and the Mediterranean Sea, integrating the project into a broader understanding of the territory.
