Anatomy of a Build: Concrete and Sea Mist on the Benahavís Fault
On a fractured schist ridge 450 metres above the Alboran Sea, an uncompromising retreat redefines the Andalusian vernacular with board-marked concrete and saline resilience.
By Editorial Team · Updated 06 OCT 2026
Board-marked concrete residence above the Alboran Sea, Benahavís
The Geological Fault
Spanning the steep limestone ridge above Benahavís, the site sits where fractured schist meets a deep coastal fault system. The residence is designed around that geological condition rather than hiding it, with each structural bay responding to a different rock profile and load path.
The dialogue between monolithic concrete and sea mist defines every structural calculation.
Engineers had to sink 42 micropiles through the weathered upper strata before reaching competent rock. The foundation grid follows the ridge contour, allowing the living volume to cantilever over the southern slope while preserving the natural drainage lines below.
Technical Specifications
- Concrete: C35/45 Sulfate Resistant
- Retaining Depth: 14.2m
- Micropiles: 42 galvanized steel shafts
- Thermal Mass: 450mm board-marked envelope
The resulting structure cantilevers over the southern slope with a measured restraint: a concrete frame that feels less imposed on the landscape than carefully calibrated to it.
“The daily record is where a place reveals its actual rhythm.”
Mistral & Marea · field note
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