Manolo Espaliú awarded gold at the 2024 LUX Awards for “Welcome to the Paradise”

The architectural plan depicted by Manolo Espaliú contemplated providing these Iranian cities with all services, but the enormous inflation, largely motivated by international sanctions, caused the developers to leave the construction of many of these houses half-finished, without access to basic services.

The project of the author, a Sevillian photographer specialising in architecture and heritage, arose 14 years ago, whose trip to Iran was prompted by his interest in the Islamic world and his father's relationship with the country.

"Welcome to the Paradise". Photograph by Manolo Espaliú.

"It is a very current issue in Spain because we also experience the impossibility of access to housing for many people, especially young people, and to a certain extent it reminds us of cities that were left half-built after the 2008 crisis, such as the famous city built by Pocero in Seseña, Toledo."

Manolo Espaliú.

Paradoxically, Pardis is the etymological origin of “paradise”, hence the name of the series.

The Association of Professional Photographers of Spain created the LUX Awards in 1993, which have become the benchmark for professional photography in Spain. Its purpose is to give visibility, recognition and prestige to this art, and to keep alive the enthusiasm of the professional photographers who participate each year.

The prestige of the LUX Awards is backed by the enormous quality of the works presented, but also by a jury that is renewed year after year and is made up of renowned professionals from the image and communication sector.