It’s been six months since Viera y Clavijo Park of the capital of Tenerife began to be reborn after more than 15 years in abandonment. An emblematic building, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), for which thanks to the agreement signed between the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Government of the Canary Islands in 2018, 12 million euros of financing were achieved to undertake the rehabilitation works of This historical and cultural property, whose initial construction dates back to 1903.
The restoration work of the space, according to the project of architect Fernando Menis, and with a completion period of two years, is being carried out by the company Sando, winner of the tender, and its completion and opening to the public is expected by 2026. The mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, yesterday inspected the progress of the work on the occasion of a visit requested by the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, Horacio Umpiérrez, who asked the City Council to include future uses cultural aspects of this space can be counted on as a “historical need for the city”, such as the creation of a Contemporary Art Room or the location of the headquarters of the Canarian Film Library.
However, the councilor added that the future of Viera y Clavijo has not yet been decided and noted that “we are evaluating with different cultural groups what uses we will give to the property, for which there has not yet been a decision made but there is time ahead.” Thus, in response to the deputy minister, he pointed out that, “although the Park is an option, there are others, still in the pipeline, such as the School of Arts and Crafts, which needs 7.5 million euros for its rehabilitation and in which I hope That the Government also collaborates.
In addition, there is the renovation of the Marqués de Villasegura building, which will also need financing for its restoration. There are spaces where we can contemplate these possible requests and we will be delighted if the Executive wants to share uses in them.”
Regarding the progress of the works on Viera and Clavijo, the councilor stated that “they are going at a good pace and the perimeter wall that will modernize this notable cultural infrastructure of the capital has already been demolished, which will allow the opening of the park towards the Rambla.” .
More than 30,000 square meters that will experience the transformation of this enclave and that will be “one of the important milestones” for the capital, stated the mayor, in addition to meaning “recovering one of the most important facilities dedicated to culture and the consolidation of this public space open to all citizens.”
Reform of which Bermúdez highlighted the open spaces that will be inside the property and that can serve as multipurpose rooms, in addition to the use of the chapel as an exhibition room or for debates and conferences; while concerts or performances could be organized in the gardens.
For his part, Fernando Menis commented that the degree of execution of the work follows the established pattern, although “the first three months were dedicated to cleaning the place, in which there was so much garbage and so delicate that it had to be selected and separated, while “That the other months have focused on organizing the rehabilitation, focused on recovering a building that the city can boast of.”
In this sense, he mentioned the “great construction quality and the solid load-bearing walls of the property”, which have contributed to it not falling. “Now we are trying to prepare it for the next 50 or 70 years and, therefore, the only thing I ask is that it does not end up being a university, but rather an emblematic site immersed in a magnificent construction,” said the architect.
After the renovation, Menis said that “the building will remain as it is. Renovated but respectful of history. It will not be an invasive action, since it will be open to the city and for this the sidewalk will be widened following the same typology of García Sanabria Park, with a flowerbed that allows access to the gardens and its connection with the Rambla.”
As for the interior, the architect announced that the current structure will be maintained and as a decorative element only a mural will be preserved on the wall of the former Assumptionist convent that reproduces a painting by Óscar Domínguez, a work made by Fine Arts students from the University of La Laguna when the film about the artist Oscar was filmed in this space. A surreal passion, by Lucas Fernández, whose original is preserved in the Santa Ana sanatorium in Paris.
A new playground integrated into the Park’s gardens
The gardens of Viera and Clavijo Park will be integrated into the city once the rehabilitation works on the property are completed and, in addition, will have a children’s space for which the Councilor for Public Services, Carlos Tarife, proposes a park dedicated to the Carnival. In this regard, the mayor of the capital indicated that “the idea is to open a playground on Viera and Clavijo and, although there is already another one on Carnival planned for the Barranco de Santos, just below the Galcerán Bridge, it could be another option to locate a new one in this environment.”
