While the eyesore of the Grupo Masaveu and Votorantim cement plant is being removed, the south coast of Gran Canaria is preparing for one of its most anticipated urban transformations: the complete renovation of the Santa Águeda Beach promenade. This project aims not only for an aesthetic facelift but also a structural modernization that will restore functionality and comfort to this strategic location within the municipality, just a few kilometers from Maspalomas.
The project envisions an ambitious undertaking on the existing promenade. Key measures include the complete rehabilitation of the retaining walls, which currently exhibit serious aesthetic and conservation issues. These walls will be clad with basalt slabs and coping stones, integrating the design into the island's volcanic landscape. Furthermore, the entire promenade will be repaved, ensuring universal accessibility and eliminating architectural barriers that hinder access for people with reduced mobility.
The modernization of Santa Águeda beach is not a matter of chance, but rather the result of an exhaustive study of the marine climate to guarantee the stability of the future beach. Engineers have analyzed decades of data from the REDCOS and REDEXT buoy networks, as well as the SIMAR numerical model, to understand how waves and currents affect this point on the coast. The goal is to design a stable beach that complies with the Coastal Law and prevents sand loss, a recurring problem in areas exposed to southwest storms.
To understand the future of Santa Águeda beach, it's necessary to delve into the engineering behind its new design, a plan that prioritizes structural safety against the onslaught of the Atlantic. The engineers based the project on calculating a specific return period, which, in technical terms, defines the structure's resistance to storms that occur only in exceptional circumstances. This "risk-based" approach ensures that the seawall not only serves an aesthetic purpose but also acts as a defense capable of withstanding the energy of northwesterly storms, which on the Canary Islands' coasts can be up to eight times more powerful than the usual swells from the south or east.
The scientific basis for this renovation rests on the analysis of historical data from the SIMAR 4032006 node of the Spanish Port Authority (Puertos del Estado), a database that records sea behavior since 1958. By applying mathematical models of annual maximums, the significant wave height that the promenade must be able to absorb has been determined. The Santa Águeda seawall is not a blank barrier, but a structure designed to interact with the local marine climate, minimizing sand loss and ensuring that the beach remains stable even after the most severe storms, thus complying with the requirements of the Coastal Law.
A critical factor in this modernization project, considered by the engineers, was the future management of sea levels, for which they used the records from the Arinaga tide gauge. Astronomical tidal studies indicate that the water level in this area typically fluctuates between 0,5 and 3 meters. This tidal range has determined the height of the new walls and the design of the access points to the beach, ensuring that the phenomenon of "overtopping"—when the water leaps onto the promenade—remains under control. Each step and ramp has been designed to offer the least possible resistance to the advance of the sea, avoiding points of structural failure.
The seafront promenade's finish will reflect a symbiosis between robust engineering and 21st-century sustainability. The use of basalt slabs for the wall cladding and the installation of technical copings allow the water's energy to be diverted back to the ocean, protecting the core of the structure. This entire technical deployment is complemented by photovoltaic lighting that meets Starlight certification, ensuring that solar technology and the protection of the night sky go hand in hand. Santa Águeda thus positions itself as an example of how precision in oceanographic calculations can support the recovery of a public space for the safe enjoyment of its citizens.
