On 28 April, Lloret de Mar will have a new immersive space dedicated to the climate emergency. Lloret Castle will open its doors completely renovated, transformed into a cultural attraction where the causes, consequences and solutions to the great challenge we face as a society: climate change, will be on display. The proposal is the brainchild of businessman Gustavo Buesa, who has had the artistic direction of Toni Cruz and Pascuals Design in the design and construction of the three rooms of Lloret Castle.
Lloret Castle, known as d’en Plaja Castle, was inaugurated in 1940. It was designed by the Girona industrialist Narcís Plaja, and from the outset it became one of the most emblematic buildings in Lloret de Mar. After passing through several hands, Lloret Castle had fallen into disuse and was quite abandoned, and Gustavo Buesa acquired it with the aim of converting it into a cultural space open to the public, since until now it had always been closed to the public.
The restoration project has made it possible not only to open up all the spaces of Lloret Castle, but also to adapt them to new needs with the construction of new services, such as a lift that will allow everyone to access one of the most emblematic spaces: a terrace with privileged views of the Costa Brava. Furthermore, in keeping with the theme of the space, sustainable materials have been used and photovoltaic panels have been installed to supply the facilities with minimum impact.
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE DEDICATED TO CLIMATE EMERGENCY
The experience at Lloret Castle begins with a corridor of large screens where visitors can feel the effects of a tsunami. This will welcome visitors to a tour that lasts around an hour, during which they will pass through three rooms dedicated, respectively, to the causes, consequences and solutions to the climate emergency.
Room 1. The cases
What activities have polluted the planet? How did we get here? Which sectors pollute the most? In this first room, visitors will put on virtual reality goggles and will enter, through the metaverse, into the causes of global warming. Access to the room will be after passing through an outdoor area where a sculpture is on display that spectacularly shows the evolution of renewable sources.
Room 2. The consequences
How do we experience the effects of climate change and how far will deforestation and ocean pollution go? This second room will allow visitors to feel the consequences of the climate emergency in their own skin. Using technology that is unique in Europe, visitors, seated on a mobile platform and surrounded by a 12-metre-long LED screen, will experience sensory effects that will not leave them indifferent.
Room 3. The solutions
How can we put a stop to the climate emergency? The third room offers solutions, those small gestures that each of us can make to alleviate the effects of the tragedy. These solutions are presented in the form of three interactive digital games:
- The eco-house game: how to transform your house into an eco-house and save money and energy
- The shopping basket game: how to consume in a conscious and environmentally responsible manner
- The transformer belt game: how to generate less waste and reuse everything we have
A PROPOSAL ADAPTED TO ALL AUDIENCES
Lloret Castle aims to become an educational tool for future generations, which is why a tailor-made tour has been designed for schools and children aged 6 and over, with guided visits, so that they can discover the contents in a wider context and adapted to their needs.
NIGHTS AT LLORET CASTLE
One of the most emblematic areas of Lloret Castle is its spectacular terrace, with privileged views over Lloret de Mar beach and the Costa Brava. So that everyone can enjoy it, the terrace will remain open after the visits have finished, so that visitors, whether they have enjoyed the experience or not, can relax, have a snack and admire the views. During the high season, a light and colour show will be projected onto Lloret Castle and will be visible from Lloret beach itself.
SOME FIGURES
– 8 million investment
– 100,000 visitors per year (forecast)
– 40 direct and indirect jobs
– 9 km of computer network
– 44 m2 of immersive screen
– 240 days open per year
LLORET DE MAR’S COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL AND FAMILY TOURISM
The proposal for Lloret Castle, although privately owned, is fully in line with the city’s objectives of opening up to a family public that wants to enjoy new experiences and that, in particular, is looking for environmentally responsible proposals linked to nature and the territory.
The project is in line with the one carried out by the municipality over the last 20 years, making the cultural and heritage spaces of the Open Museum of Lloret (MOLL) open to visitors: the Santa Clotilde Gardens, the Maritime Museum, Can Font House Museum, Can Saragossa and Turó Rodó. In addition, the refurbishment project preserves the natural environment, as the commissioned studio has worked to minimise the impact on the surroundings.
