[Espacios] Inacabados | Unfinished [Spaces]
[Joshua] Aylett [Sebastian] Munday
[Espacios] Inacabados | Unfinished [Spaces] [Espacios] Inacabados is a 35mm film photodocumentary exposing the condition of unfinished Spanish Architecture, 10 years after the 2007-2008 economic crisis. [Espacios] Inacabados seeks to engage with architectural sites around Spain that exist in a state of perpetual incompleteness. The series of images draw comparisons among the various developments while identifying similarities in the unfinished sites across Spain, in order to define an architectural typology. Through this process, significance is placed on the contemporary ruins by portraying them as the object in focus, in the same way that desired architecture is photographed or represented digitally.
The body of work is positioned as a dialogue that interrogates the critical errors that have resulted in the numerous unfinished developments around Spain, and to prevent the same shortsightedness from occurring again in the future. It is our goal to question the integrity of those responsible for Spain’s unnatural urbanisation, which ended abruptly when confronted with economic crisis. [Espacios] Inacabados is to be read as a part of the wider critique of the actions of autonomous development authorities, banks and the construction industry that gave rise to a new Spanish architectural typology. The following images capture this phenomenon, which we refer to as myopic urbanisation.
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Residential Infrastructure Mixed-Use Transportation Commercial 42’N
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Soto Del Real Universidad De Guadalajara
Ciudad De Justicia | Valdebebas
Ciudad Valdeluz | Soto De Monteluz Residencial Puerta De Horche MP - 203 El Cañaveral Rivas De Jarama Ensanche De Vallecas
La Celada
Los Berrocales | Vicalvaro
Residencial Francisco Hernando
Oficinas La Patacona Estadio Nouevo Mestalla
Aeropuerto Central Ciudad Real
Medina Elvira Golf Residencial
50 Miles 50 Kilometers
[40.383767, -3.530832] Rivas de Jarama
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[40.387032, -3.468632] Highway MP-203
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[40.389806, -3.554468] Vicalvaro
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[39.489759, -0.396657] Estadio Nuevo Mestalla
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[39.489759, -0.396657] Estadio Nuevo Mestalla
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[40.762960, -3.743390] Urbanizacion Soto Del Real
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[40.485684, -3.612805] Ciudad de Justicia
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[40.485684, -3.612805] Ciudad de Justicia
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[40.485684, -3.612805] Valdebebas
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[40.123629, -3.666563] Residencial Francisco Hernando
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[40.361486, -3.586228] Ensanche De Vallecas
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[38.867346, -3.987873] Aeropuerto Central Ciudad Real
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[40.435797, -3.597247] Estadio OlĂmpico
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[40.588822, -3.180137] La Celada
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[39.484939, -0.328832] Oficinas la Patacona
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[39.484939, -0.328832] Oficinas la Patacona
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[40.593806, -3.102025] Ciudad Valdeluz
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[40.582930, -3.099297] Soto de Monteluz
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[40.401707, -3.552141] El CaĂąaveral
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[40.361486, -3.586228] Los Berrocales
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[40.361486, -3.586228] Los Berrocales
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[40.646608, -3.187649] Universidad de Guadalajara
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[40.646608, -3.187649] Universidad de Guadalajara
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[40.574337, -3.076873] Residencial Puerta de Horche
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[40.574337, -3.076873] Residencial Puerta de Horche
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[37.261631, -3.691076] Medina Elvira Golf Residencial
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[Field Notes]
[40.383767, -3.530832] Rivas de Jarama
[37.261631, -3.691076] Highway MP-203
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: na Location: Madrid Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2005 Location: Mejorada del Campo Notes:
Residential development on the far outskirts of Madrid consisting of completed apartment buildings and empty plots for future buildings. The development is quite far out of Madrid and shows signs of neglect / lack of maintenance. Some buildings sites do exist around the development, yet it is difficult to determine whether construction efforts have resumed. The development is located just beyond the ‘Canada Real’, a slum village that exists on the southeast perimeter of Madrid.
A highway extension and tollbooth located East of Madrid. The infrastructure is in place including the road surface, toll offices, bridges and tunnels. The tollbooth and adjacent building are guarded by security in order to prevent theft and damage to the government property. The area is frequented by people who walk their dogs through the fields and farmland. [Ref. p.10]
[Ref. p.8]
[40.389806, -3.554468] Vicalvaro
[39.489259, -0.396450] Estadio Nouevo Mestalla
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2013 Location: Madrid Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2007 Location: Valencia Notes:
A collection of mixed-use and residential areas that were started but abandoned soon after. In places the sewer systems have not yet been completed, whereas in others the roads have been laid. The foundations of the bridges between Vicalvaro and El Cañaveral have been built but never finished due to the halt in construction in both locations. Vicalvaro is also designed to connect to the future development of Los Berrocales, which remains unfinished.
A 61,500 seat stadium located within the urban context of Valencia. The concrete structure of the stadium is virtually complete. The structure is surrounded by a secure metal fence. Construction equipment and site offices remain within the construction site, despite the lack of construction since 2009. The deteriorating concrete stadium is only metres away from neighbouring residential buildings. Experts have estimated it is unfit for future use.
[Ref. p.16]
[Ref. p.22]
[40.762960, -3.743390] Urbanizacion Soto Del Real
[40.485684, -3.612805] Ciudad de Justicia
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2008 Location: 50km north of Madrid Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2005 Location: Madrid Notes:
Suburban residential development located near the Guadarrama mountains. Development is partially competed, with front half of the development comprised of identical town house style buildings. The rear portion contains numerous ready building plots with electrical and gas outlets, and 14 unfinished homes.
A complex of up to 12 buildings known as the ‘City of Justice’, designed in order to deal with major emergencies such as major transport or natural disasters. Constructed elements consist of a network of underground structures and the Institute of Legal Medicine, known locally as ‘the donut’. The majority of the constructed elements are underground and only a few concrete structures can be seen publicly from the surrounding roads. The ‘City of Justice’ is located next to the ‘City of Sports’ - the training grounds for the Real Madrid Football Club.
[Ref. p.28]
[Ref. p.32]
[40.485684, -3.612805] Valdebebas
[40.123629, -3.666563] Residencial Francisco Hernando
Status: UNDER CONSTRUCTION Founded: 2005 Location: Madrid Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2003 Location: 37km south of Madrid Notes:
A suburb of Madrid that consists of residential buildings, the Real Madrid football Club training grounds and the future site of the ‘City of Justice’. While many of the building plots remain empty, construction has resumed in some places. The master plan of roads, paths and public spaces has been maintained over the years suggesting that the development is operating normally despite the ghost town feel.
Suburban residential complex of 14 identical U-shaped buildings, 14 identical tower buildings and 5 identical l-shaped buildings; all situated within a square grid complex. The southern area of the development contains a number of building plots that were abandoned shortly after construction began. Electrical pylons cross through the building sites at the southern boarder, rendering them unusable.
[Ref. p.40]
[Ref. p.44]
[40.361486, -3.586228] Ensanche De Vallecas
[38.867346, -3.987873] Aeropuerto Central Ciudad Real
Status: UNDER CONSTRUCTION Founded: 1990’s Location: Madrid Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2009 Location: 200km south of Madrid Notes:
Mixed use development designed in the 1990’s consisting of La Gavia shopping centre, football stadium, schools, offices and residential apartment buildings. The rear portion of the development contains various unfinished building sites and buildings under construction. The development is bisected by a 6 lane motorway that leads to unfinished developments at either end. Bridges extend from the northern end of the development over the A-30 highway to the abandoned site of Los Berrocales.
An international airport that closed after 3 years of use. It contains a single runway, terminal building, offices and control tower. A bridge links the terminal building to the site of the AVE high speed train station that would have connected the airport to Madrid in under 45 minutes, but the station was never built. The site is surrounded by an unfinished road network and building plots. Located on a hill overlooking the Airport is a circular shaped building that has been damaged and stripped of materials in recent years.
[Ref. p.48]
[Ref. p.52]
[40.435797, -3.597247] Estadio Olímpico
[40.401707, -3.552141] La Celada
Status: UNDER CONSTRUCTION Founded: 1994 Location: East Madrid Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: na Location: 56km northeast of Madrid Notes:
Football / athletics stadium that was constructed in the hope of hosting the 1997 World Athletics Championship which was eventually awarded to Athens. The site was abandoned in 2004. The stadium was a part of another bid for the 2008 and 2016 Olympics - which were never awarded to Madrid. The Estadio Olimpico stop of the Madrid metro line was constructed, yet the doors have never opened to the grounds of the stadium. The stadium is now under construction once again to be used as the new home of Club Atlético de Madrid. [Ref. p.58]
Hillside residential development with distant views of Madrid. The majority of the development is unfinished, with the concentration of completed housing located in the centre of the gridded master plan of streets. The development is surrounded by farms and, in places, the unfinished roads end in the edges of the farm fields. Certain streets seem to be used by the local farmers passing from farm to farm. All areas of the development apart from the cluster of houses are fenced off to prevent trespassing and damage to the completed infrastructure. [Ref. p.62]
[39.484939, -0.328832] Officinas la Patacona
[40.593806, -3.102025] Ciudad Valdeluz
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2005 Location: Valencia Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2004 Location: 65km northeast of Madrid Notes:
Commercial building located less than 1km from the beach. Above ground level the building appears to be completed, however, the ground level is unfinished and completely secured. All perimeter fences are welded together and layered in most areas to prevent break-ins. Behind the fences lay the concrete structural elements and brick walls closing all entrances to the lower levels below ground. The stair cores at ground level seem to be completely blocked and secured by brick walls.
A 4 phase residential development that was abandoned during phase 1 of the building construction. The city was projected to include 9,500 residential units totalling over 30,000 inhabitants. Current figures estimate that less than 3,000 people live in the city. The development has a number of unfinished buildings including a school, church and commercial centre. One apartment building, which was abandoned from 2008 2016, is under construction once again.
[Ref. p.64]
[Ref. p.68]
[40.582930, -3.099297] Soto de Monteluz
[40.401707, -3.552141] El CaĂąaveral
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2007 Location: 65km northeast of Madrid Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED / UNDER CONSTRUCTION Founded: 2013 Location: Madrid Notes:
A residential development designed as an extension to the east of Ciudad Valdeluz. The development was designed to hold 3,500 residential units, yet no buildings have been constructed. The roads and infrastructure are in place, however the road linking to Ciudad Valdeluz stops short and is divided by a fence boundary and mounds of dirt. The roads in place at the south of the development continue towards to the neighbouring fields as if they would join another future site.
Residential development on the outskirts of Madrid consisting of 10-15 completed apartment buildings. Much of the development has been blocked off, restricting public access to areas of the site where the roads and buildings have not been completed. Construction efforts have resumed, with 5+ apartment buildings currently under construction. A regular bus service travels through the development, connecting the residents to the neighbouring town of Coslada.
[Ref. p.80]
[Ref. p.84]
[40.361486, -3.586228] Los Berrocales
[40.646608, -3.187649] Universidad de Guadalajara
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: 2013 Location: Madrid Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: na Location: Guadalajara Notes:
Construction of the groundwork started, including the definition of the street network and partial installation of the sewer systems. Bridges to the neighbouring urbanisations Ensnache de Vallecas, Vicalvaro and El CaĂąaveral are partially constructed.
A mixed-use development located next to the Circanias railway line that connects Guadalajara to Madrid. The road network is laid out and mostly completed throughout the development apart from the top layer of asphalt. At the centre of the development is an old farm building and house that are currently occupied, with the roads abruptly ending at the site boundary of the house. The existing power lines to the farm buildings remain and travel across the site of the development. In one location, the road was constructed around the pylon and the ground that it stands on.
[Ref. p.86]
[Ref. p.92]
[40.574337, -3.076873] Residencial Puerta de Horche
[37.261631, -W3.691076] Medina Elvira Golf Residencial
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: na Location: 70km northeast of Madrid Notes:
Status: UNFINISHED Founded: na Location: 17km north of Granada Notes:
Residential development located 5km from Ciudad Valdeluz. The development is made up of smaller, single family-style housing units with the constructed buildings concentrated to a cluster in the centre of the development. One completed house exists in solitude to the west of the development, surrounded by building plots ready for future houses. Located at the eastern edge of the site are the cranes and some building equipment that has been stored on the site of the previously existing farm. The roads of the development continue eastwards and end in the fields as if they would join another future development. [Ref. p.96]
Residential development and golf resort consisting of abandoned golf course and country club, various completed and unfinished apartment buildings, partially completed infrastructure and road network. All infrastructure has been neglected and many of the buildings have been vandalised and looted. The Civil Guard maintain constant surveillance. The golf course is currently used by a local farmer to graze his horses. Properties were originally sold to residents despite the uncompleted sewer and fresh water systems. [Ref. p.100]
[Joshua] Aylett joshua.j.aylett@gmail.com @joshua.aylett
[Sebastian] Munday sebastian.g.munday@gmail.com @bazmund
[Espacios] Inacabados | Unfinished [Spaces] www.espaciosinacabados.com
espacios.inacabados@gmail.com @espacios_inacabados