bofill taller de arquitectura's fortress-like resort cascades down albanian coastline mountains

Bofill Taller de Arquitectura introduces fortress-like building

Rising from the verdant mountainside of Dhërmi, Albania, Bofill Taller de Arquitectura’s Red Sol Resort commands attention with its bold hue and fortress-like silhouette. From afar, the striking geometric massing appears to float above the lush terrain. Winding exterior stairways, rooftop terraces, and dramatic walkways carve out a labyrinthine journey through the cascading volumes of the resort, offering guests a variety of vantage points overlooking the shimmering Ionian Sea.

all images courtesy of Bofill Taller de Arquitectura

stairs, bridges, and pathways define Red Sol Resort in albania

Designing for the Albanian Riviera, the Spanish firm Bofill Taller de Arquitectura begins by addressing its formidable topography: jagged rock formations, steep mountain slopes, and dense undergrowth rooted by pine and cypress trees. Red Sol Resort responds by overlaying a precise fine grid on the ground plane, organizing a series of squares in a plan that systematically adapts to the challenging contours of the site. In section, these volumes shift up and down, producing the diverse spatial qualities needed for the hotel pavilions, apartments, and villas of the resort.

As the architecture zigzags down toward the water, its vertical movement mirrors the rhythm of the surrounding mountains. Painted in a vivid earthy red, the resort with its fortress-like presence contrasts with the green and blue around. Interconnected by a network of exterior stairs, bridges, and pathways, the various blocks include pools, patios, and secluded lookouts.

the resort rises from the verdant mountainside of Dhërmi, Albania