Tall Storey – The Arrecife Gran Hotel
As you’d expect on a popular holiday island such as Lanzarote there’s no shortage of good quality hotels.
But one establishment stands – quite literally – head and shoulders above the rest. As the Arrecife Gran Hotel is the only high rise building on Lanzarote.
Back in the 1970’s when tourism was first taking off in Spain an island born artist and architect called Cesar Manrique campaigned against over development on the island of his birth. Successfully securing a ban on all high rise construction.
During the 1980’s though, whilst Manrique was off the island unscrupulous developers started to construct a high rise hotel in the island capital of Arrecife. Manrique returned, furious, and the development was scratched. Leaving a seventeen storey shell that was left unoccupied for many years.
The island government was unsure what to do with this eyesore — as the costs of demolition were prohibitive. And eventually took a pragmatic approach — granting a license for the development of a luxury hotel.
The building was brought up to scratch after a €26 million redevelopment, with the entire external structure glazed in blue-tinted glass and pale cream tiling. The sun terrace, swimming pool area and the up market shopping mall were all finished to a high specification. And the Arrecife Gran finally opened its doors to the public in 2004. Offering five star accommodation and some of the most stunning views of the island.
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