The Chimney of the old lead factory “Los Guindos”

Málaga, Málaga, Andalucía.

Dating of the building: 1923.

Applicant: Malaga City Council.

Reason for the award :

For the conservation of the chimney of the old lead factory in Malaga, now defunct, allowing the recovery of a very unique and popular landmark of this city.

The chimney of the old lead factory is the symbol of the industrial legacy of the city of Malaga.

The chimney of Los Guindos foundry is situated on the Malaga beach of San Andres, very close to the pier of La Termica. Its purpose was to expel the combustion gas from the boilers of a factory inaugurated by Primo de Rivera in 1923 and built entirely of refractory bricks specially designed to resist acid. The two tones of the bricks, still visible, indicate their origin; the yellows of Sevillian origin, the reddish produced in the German Fehrbeck factory. The chimney is 106 meters high and, given the sandy nature of the surface where it sits, is equipped with solid foundations eight metres deep. The most visually striking part is the shaft, reed, or hollow tube of circular section, perforated on its base by four semicircular arches, highlighted as doors. It lacks decoration, except for the outstanding metal steps that go up to its crown.

The chimney had been vandalized for decades and was in a deplorable state of repair. The importance of the chimney in the urban landscape of Malaga, as well as its historical significance, as a legacy of the industrial past of the city, encouraged the City Council to restore it. Thus, one of the most beloved symbols was recovered, while the community was made aware of the need to respect their traditional legacy.

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