Benidorm is making progress in the restoration of the ‘Andrea’ columns on the Levante seafront promenade

The rehabilitation and restoration work on the 18 iconic ‘Andrea’ columns on Levante Promenade, which Benidorm City Council began last December, is progressing well. It is expected that all the columns still in place will be removed in the coming days, while those already relocated are being restored.

This project combines the structural restoration of these emblematic elements “with the modernisation of their architectural lighting system,” stated the Councillor for Urban Scene, Francis Muñoz, who added that the project is part of the sustainable and smart city roadmap “that has allowed Benidorm to be recognised as the first Smart Tourism Destination (STD) certified city in the world.”

The project, being carried out by the companies SICE and Signify, is being developed under the ‘Green Benidorm’ Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan, within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed by the European Union's Next Generation EU program, and included in the Valencian Community's Territorial Sustainability Plan, coordinated by Turisme Comunitat Valenciana. It involves an investment of €590,210.42 and will not only significantly improve the promenade's appearance but also enhance its energy efficiency.

The restoration process for the columns is “carefully planned” and is being carried out in several phases and at different specialised centres “to guarantee the highest quality in the final result.” Thus, after dismantling the columns in three sections, a detailed visual inspection is performed, and any damage is repaired.

The paint is then removed to carry out a paint treatment designed for highly aggressive marine environments, "ensuring durability in such a demanding environment as the seafront promenade." After drying, the blocks are reassembled for reinstallation. This reinstallation process is carried out in two phases. First, the bases and lower modules are installed, and then the upper modules, which incorporate the lighting system, are put in place.

The final phase of the renovation consists of incorporating new architectural lighting with dynamic colour changes, which complements the installation already completed on the seafront promenade's overhead power lines. In fact, the plan includes "adapting the lighting to different needs and holidays, creating dynamic scenes and transforming the installation into a communication tool between the city, its residents, and visitors," the councillor stated.

The removal of the columns has been carried out “with minimal disruption to traffic and pedestrian flow, and this will continue throughout the project,” stated the councillor, who explained that for this reason, “the restoration is being carried out in phases.” Thus, once the first ‘Andreas’ columns are rehabilitated, the removal of new units will begin, and those already restored will be replaced, “gradually replacing and restoring them until all 18 planned for the seafront promenade are complete.”

The councilor noted that this action “was much needed due to the deterioration and oxidation of these elements after more than three decades facing the sea” and that the project will entail “not only the renewal of these characteristic and recognizable elements of the Levante waterfront, but also an improvement in energy efficiency and, therefore, a reduction in emissions, consumption, and costs.”