The project for the future tower at the Port of Málaga, promoted by Grupo Inversor Hesperia (Gihsa) and the Qatari fund Al Alfia through the company Andalusian Hospitality II, is progressing through its administrative phase after nearly a decade of technical development and permitting. Further details were released on 17 November.
Thus, the project is expected to be completed around 2029 and aims to “contribute to Málaga's urban and economic development”. The project, expected to take three years to complete, will represent an estimated investment of around €200 million. The developer will provide most of the funding, though it remains open to European or other public support, which would represent a “considerably smaller” share. The future hotel will have 382 rooms, according to Jordi Ferrer, CEO of Grupo Inversor Hesperia.
During the presentation, he recalled that the file had been approved by Málaga's Port Authority and was sent to the State's Port Authority, a step before its final approval by the Council of Ministers.
“This project is the result of a long and rigorous process that seeks to add value to Málaga with a high-quality hotel offering and new public spaces that connect the port with the city; it is strategic and adds value to Málaga,” Ferrer added.
He stressed the project’s “rigorous processing” through the various administrations, noting that it “follows the parameters set from day one, which have required further refinement at different stages”. He added, “It is a regulated and highly rigorous process, and it has progressed as expected. We hope it will continue to do so without political interference”.
He also pointed out that, from a construction perspective, it is “a complex project”, yet one that “centres on a very simple idea: bringing the sea back to the city”.
A project with a luxury hotel
They estimate that the project will generate up to 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, including those created during the construction phase and those linked to the hotel’s future operations and associated services.
The planned five-star grand luxury hotel, together with a 2,500 m² convention centre, “will strengthen the city's ability to host large-scale professional and corporate events, consolidating its position as a leading destination in southern Europe”.
The hotel will offer 382 rooms, as well as sports, cultural and leisure facilities, with 80% of the site designated for public use. This mix of uses is intended to activate the new outdoor spaces designed for community activities and public enjoyment. The developers are in advanced negotiations with major international brands for their management, although no further details have been disclosed.
A work by the British artist David Chipperfield
It is worth recalling that the project’s design, created by British architect David Chipperfield, winner of the 2023 Pritzker Prize, proposes a renewed dialogue between the city and its port.
The team emphasised that “the project transforms a currently disused area into a space open to the Mediterranean and to public life, where architecture serves as a bridge between urban activity, nature and the maritime landscape”.
The proposal extends the waterfront to the Morro platform, creating a new 1,300-metre promenade with viewpoints, a cycle path and pedestrian areas. It also provides 54,000 square metres of public space with greenery, shaded areas and vegetation, forming a route from La Farola to El Morro that reduces traffic impact and integrates a formerly port-only area into the city.
“It is a private initiative, but we are creating a great deal of public and civic space. It is not a speculative project; while it will naturally generate a return for the developer, it will, above all, benefit the city and the people of Málaga,” Ferrer said.
The building, inspired by traditional Andalusian architectural principles, incorporates courtyards, gardens, shaded areas and open spaces designed to encourage natural ventilation and climatic comfort, explained Rodrigo Antón, director of David Chipperfield Architects’ Santiago de Compostela office. He highlighted the extensive new spaces included in the project, “many of them public”.
Ferrer added that “we are positioning Málaga globally to attract culture, food, commerce, and above all, high-quality tourism, including major events, conventions and meetings”. “This is a project that does not seek the spotlight; it avoids grand gestures in favour of creating more city,” he noted.
The 144-metre tower (59 metres by 19 metres) rises from a two-storey stone base housing public spaces. “Conceived as a light and abstract piece, it appears on the horizon with a contemporary and elegant presence,” they said.
Ferrer also stressed that the project “is not designed to take space away, but to give it back to the city”, arguing that it is “a strategic project for Málaga”.
“This project is strategic because it will strengthen Málaga’s international profile and promote an architecture that is highly respectful and highly sustainable,” he concluded.
Sustainability, at the core of the project
They also stressed that sustainability is a fundamental pillar of the proposal. The building prioritises a low environmental footprint, optimising resource use and achieving zero operational emissions. It has been designed in line with internationally recognised certifications, including LEED and WELL, and complies with the European Taxonomy, explained Jorge Mañas, founding partner of TAG Partners.
These measures go well beyond the requirements of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, with a strong focus on reducing both operational and embodied carbon. The building and its surrounding urban interventions combine advanced technology with traditional Andalusian solutions – such as recessed façades, natural ventilation, low-impact materials and native vegetation – to enhance efficiency and comfort.
Among other details, the team confirmed that 100% of the building’s electricity will come from renewable sources and its use of fossil fuels will be zero.
The project involves more than 200 professionals from the teams of David Chipperfield Architects, b720 Arquitectos, JG Ingenieros, Socotec and TAG Partners, who are coordinating the project.
Finally, when asked about public opinion, Antón noted that “a project of this scale is unlikely to achieve full consensus”. “For us, what matters is its potential to improve Málaga, and that is why we chose to take part.”
As for whether they intend to present the project more broadly to the public, Ferrer stressed their commitment to transparency, saying that “as procedures progress, we will of course provide further explanations to the various citizen platforms”.
“We will always be fully transparent. We are not hiding anything. We have even requested meetings with some of these platforms and local organisations, but they have not yet agreed to meet with us. I assume they will be willing to do so in the near future,” he concluded.
