Puerto Banus history

The tourist centre that Marbella is today underwent a spectacular boom in the 1960s, after it had originally been discovered in the second half of the 1940s by early pioneers like Ricardo Soriano, the marquis of Ivanrei, the marquis of Salamanca and Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe. The renowned members of society felt attracted by the paradisiacal conditions of the place, the climate, low population density and solid possibilities of developing a flourishing real estate business. Later Marbella was to become the centre of attention of one of Madrid top property developers – José Banus. He first set foot in the area when he bought a large estate, initially destined to breeding bullfighting cattle, in the vast area known today as Nueva Andalusia, where many developments have subsequently been built.

Jose Banus have a vision of a luxury future.

A clever intuitive businessman, at the beginning of the 1970s he started to dream of the idea of providing Marbella’s international elite with a glamorous marina, a relaxing haven far from the usual journalistic hounding they had to put up with in other parts of the Mediterranean coast, due to their professions status. This is how his idea started to develop. It was, eventually, to become a reality and the internationally renowned marina that carries his name – Puerto Banus. At the time, a flourishing construction drive all along the coast was leaving the deeply-rooted. Andalusia architectural style behind, replacing it with more the real estate boom that was to come.

Two architects dream job.

Meanwhile, Noldi Schreck and Marcos Sainz, two architects from very different places – Switzerland and Mexico respectively – had moved to the area under influence of Prince Alfonso Hohenlohe. He entrusted them to design his El Club de Playa, and later he introduced them to Jose Banus. The latter then told them about his intention to build a marina, a somewhat revolutionary idea at that time due to its high cost and its uncertain welcome by the type of society is was initially targeted at. Out of these initial meetings emerged the blueprint of the later Puerto Banus.

Influenced by the fashionable trend of the time – which leaned towards spectacular designs rather that traditional old-fashioned Andalucia architecture – Noldi and Marcos produced a plan that was at first not favoured by Jose Banus, more enamoured of rural styles. In the face of this opposition, they held firm that their vision of maintaining the traditional Andalucia architectural features enlightened with a touch of modernity to strengthen functionality was this thing to do for a unique marina like this.

An international marina success.

During the research you could see Noldi and Marcos travelling around local villages and hamlets, sketching and marking notes of Andalucia features and stiles to a more modern design until Jose Banus finally approved one – perhaps knowing that they had hit on something that would become an international success.

This is how the project became a reality. The port facilities and part of the apartments and service areas were officially opened in May 1970, giving Marbella the jewel in the crown, an inducement which progressively increased its presence in jet-set tourist destinations and made it become one of the favourite new destinations – to the detriment of other renowned ones along the Mediterranean coast.

Jose Banus have a dream and a vision that come true.

Much of the success of Puerto Banus can be traced to the fact that an excellent combination of functionality, comfort and beauty was achieved. Soon the image of an idyllic landscape featuring a typically Andalucia fishing village alongside moored yachts went around the world. This corroborated the faith that the architects had in this project, and in the fine instinct of the man who made it possible – Jose Banus.

The lavish marina of Puerto Jose Banus thus became a must-stop for politicians, business people, stars of show business and jet-sets people. Naturally, it also received a definite accolade when Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco visited and when King Fahd of Saudi Arabia decide to build his summer house in Marbella and have his huge yacht – Shaf mooring in the marina Puerto Banus.

Puerto Banus, a luxury resort even today.

Construction companies, real estate agents, El Corte Ingles, and professionals from the world of trade fought to open their businesses in Puerto Banus. The port has weathered the passing of time very well, still setting guidelines and trends. And the areas around Puerto Banus as Nueva Andalucia, Golden Mile, Sierra Blanca, Benahavis, and Guadalmina, also around the whole Marbella with the new developments of apartments, townhouse, luxury villas and Marbella property surrounded around all the famous golf courses. Jose Banus did really put Marbella on the map around the world.

It is good to see that amid all the change many of Puerto Banus longstanding institutions still exist. Noldi Schreck is now days in Mexico and Marcos Sainz is still work and living here in Marbella and often walking around in the marina see that the good image of the great project that Jose Banus made possible, and of which Marbella and Andalucia can rightly fell proud over.