5 buildings that are out of this world in Valencia

At the end of Patacona is a cluster of enormous, abandoned towers with little portholes. They are the wacky old winemaking facilities of Vinival, built during a wine boom in 1969 with a capacity of 32 million litres. They’ve since been recognised for their architectural merit, and rumours are flying about their regeneration.

Known as the most expensive roundabout in Valencia, this 2009 project was supposed to be a viewing tower to look at the sea. The look-out was closed permanently after three months when they realised that it offered spectacular views of the motorway, tower blocks and car parks. It cost 24 million euro.

Aquariums will always be a controversial topic (this is the biggest in Europe), but architecturally speaking it’s a stunner. The exaggerated, undulating fins of the Edifici Oceanogràfic were designed by Félix Candela to make visitors feel enveloped by their watery surroundings.

Designed by David Chipperfield, this clean-lined, zig-zagging structure was built in 2007 when Valencia hosted the sailing competition America’s Cup. Its four shaded balconies were designed for spectators, and they still deliver hypnotising views of the port.

This unusual office block was built in 1978 by a Valencian studio GO.DB, and it’s found deep in the industrialised fringes of the city. Flanked by boring warehouses, the sleek building is topped with seemingly floating UFO-shaped rooms. Want to look inside? Grab lunch in the no-frills cafe downstairs, where you can peek at the hidden architectural flourishes.