The municipality of The Sauzal recovered this Thursday, June 2, 2022, the Red House, an 18th-century mansion, to give it an educational and training use with the support of the Cabildo de Tenerife, the University of La Laguna and the University Foundation of Las Palmas. After acquiring it in the year 2000 and rehabilitating it with the support of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Northern City Council has finally presented the new life of this historic property where an annual and stable program of courses, workshops, seminars and conferences of interest to all will be offered the public ones, with special attention to families and unemployed people.
The Sauzal Town Hall has already signed a collaboration agreement with the Island Council for the development of activities, which will soon be joined by the two Canarian universities and other entities such as the Insular Tenerife Federation of Associations of Parents of Students (Fitapa) or the German Dual Training School in Tenerife (Feda). On Thursday, June 2, the insular director of Education of the Cabildo, Elizabeth Bello; the rector of the University of La Laguna (ULL), Rose Aguilar; the president of the University Foundation of Las Palmas, Alberto Cabreand representatives of Fitapa, Feda, the hotel management Ashotel or the Federation of Metal Companies of Tenerife (Femete).
The mayor of El Sauzal, Mariano Perez (CC)stressed that its objective is that the Red House becomes “a training space that benefits the municipality, the north of Tenerife and, in general, the entire Island. And that acquires relevance in training at the insular, national and even international level, thanks to its training school to through the internet”. The president added yesterday that it has been “a great day for El Sauzal”, since from now on he can count on a new space dedicated to training and education in its broadest sense.
Elizabeth Bello congratulated the municipality “for this architectural jewel that has become such an important resource for the entire educational community in general and also for non-university training”, and promised to always support training initiatives for the benefit of the new generations.
During his speech, Rose Aguilar He offered his full support to this initiative and stressed that for the ULL it is “a pleasure to collaborate with this space for creativity and training in all its aspects, which also allows us to rehabilitate a beautiful building and create a place for reflection.”
Alberto Cabre announced that the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), through its foundation, will also collaborate with this center, whose academic director is the ULL professor Luis García. In his opinion, it is important to highlight “the example of heritage recovery and collaboration that has been given here.”
The local government (CC) explains that the project to convert the Red House in a training center it emerged in 2016, “after some open days where the future of the building was sounded out”, which was built in the 18th century and has had various uses throughout its history. In the 20th century, it came into the hands of a Swedish scientist surnamed Lindstrom, who, from that moment, wanted to dedicate it to knowledge and research, “for which he would feel very proud of the destiny of his house”, recalled the mayor. 22 years ago, the Consistory bought the house and the adjoining farm to adapt it to the academic and educational needs. Between 2008 and 2010, thanks to the students of a workshop school, it was rehabilitated with funds from the Canary Islands Government.
An old 19th century inn
The mayor of El Sauzal, Mariano Pérez (CC), recalled this Thursday, June 2, 2022, that the historian Enrique Acosta has pointed out that during the 19th century, the Casa Roja, built a century earlier, functioned as a “stop house and inn for the transit of people traveling from areas such as Santa Cruz and La Laguna to the north of the island of Tenerife. Once they arrived at this old inn, “the guests moved on donkeys to the interior of the municipality of El Sauzal.”
