Battle For Babilonia Homes Continues

On August 20, hundreds of Guardamar del Segura residents took to nan streets to protestation nan planned demolition of 65 century-old homes connected Playa Babilonia, scheduled to statesman connected September 15. As they moved from nan formation to nan municipality hall, protestors carried banners reading, “What if it were your house?” and “The houses of Babilonia are not a governmental game. They are our home.”

Designed by technologist Francisco Mira, who besides planted Guardamar’s iconic conifer forest, nan statement of low-rise homes has agelong been portion of nan town’s personality and was moreover utilized successful section tourism campaigns. Residents reason nan houses are ethnological heritage, representing a Mediterranean manner of unfastened doors, low-rise dwellings, and organization traditions. 

Even though nan location authorities has initiated proceedings to assistance nan homes practice protection, jurisdiction complete Spain’s coastline lies pinch nan cardinal government, which has refused to renew concessions.

Officials reason that demolition will reconstruct complete 600 metres of nationalist formation and reconnect dune pinch nan conifer forest, stating that nan buildings accelerate erosion and are susceptible to large wind damage. Neighbours antagonistic that erosion stems from a poorly designed 1990s jetty connected nan Segura River, not their homes. 

Tensions concisely flared erstwhile immoderate younger protesters entered nan municipality hall, but nan rally concluded peacefully pinch a corporate swim, which served arsenic a symbolic enactment of defiance against what residents spot arsenic nan erasure of their history.