Architecture Old and New

The town of Vila Joiosa is justifiably proud of its architecture. The steep narrow streets of its seafront old town are famous for their brightly hued houses crammed together in a riot of colour.

This week two contrasting pieces of news have hit the headlines, both with the theme of architecture. The ultra modern auditorium which is being built in the town has been chosen to appear in an exhibition in New York. The Big Apple's Museum of Modern Art has singled out the building for its design, originality and the 'vanguardist' manner in which it integrates into its surroundings!

Meanwhile the town's Archaeologists have been busy nearby. They have just unearthed two ovens which predate the Roman occupation of the town. Built from sun dried mud bricks the ovens were found deeper below the surface than the recently discovered Roman relics on the same site and date from the Iberian period roughly 2300 years ago.

Footnote: The new auditorium will hold 820 people and should be ready by the end of this year.

9 February 2006 Stephen White.