Architectural photographer Dave Kulesza has seen plenty of famous buildings in his career, but he says the work of Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill is by far one of the most ‘magical’.

His latest series turns the lens on Ricardo Bofill’s fortress-like apartment building La Muralla Roja (Spanish for ‘The Red Wall’), which is known for its bold pink exterior and maze of stairwells.

Having travelled to North Korea and Japan for his past photographic series, Dave made the trip to Calpe earlier this year to see the 1968-designed building perched on the coast of Spain.

‘Colour, nostalgic architecture and “unworldly” buildings are perhaps the three criteria that really draw me to an architectural subject — La Muralla Roja ticked all these boxes,’ Dave says.

‘Once you’re inside, it feels like a place like no other with its bubbly colours and labyrinth of steps and spaces.’

Over four days, Dave explored the enchanting eight-storey building at different times of day, getting to know some residents (or Airbnb guests) living in the 50 apartments that hide behind La Muralla Roja’s geometric walls.

He stayed in two separate apartments and woke up to an ‘explosion of soft pink’ as the sun hit the building every morning.

The surrealist images Dave captured during his visit have been turned into 25 prints for his new series, UTOPÍA: Built forms of Ricardo Bofill, and a 135-page self published book.

The exhibition’s opening night kicks off this Thursday November 14 at 6pm in Brighton. Each limited-edition print is available to purchase in framed or unframed options, with a 15 per cent discount on opening night purchases!

Plus, Dave hints that space itself will ‘have a La Muralla Roja presence about it’. Colour us intrigued!

See UTOPÍA: Built forms of Ricardo Bofill from November 14 – December 1.

Opening night:
Thursday November 14
6pm – 9pm

Sera Building
27 Pine Street
Brighton, VIC