The ethos and work of the Lanzarote artist César Manrique, known for designing the Costa Martiánez Tourist Complex, commonly referred to as Lago Martiánez, highlight a commitment to environmentalism, protection of the landscape, and preservation of local culture. This engineering marvel was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) in 2005, classified as a Historical Garden.
Situated along the coast of Puerto de la Cruz, this collection of man-made pools holds 27,000 cubic meters of saltwater extracted directly from the sea. However, since its construction, the pools have been cleaned using fresh drinking water – a measure not considered by Manrique at the time but now gaining significance due to water scarcity alerts in Tenerife caused by drought.
“These were aspects that were overlooked back then, despite being within the philosophy of maximizing the use of natural resources. This is why we even pay attention to the bleach application, which is done using a sprayer to ensure only the necessary amount is used,” stated Emilio Zamora, Tourism Manager of Puerto de la Cruz and the venue.
Although the amount needed to clean the six pools using a pressure washer is not substantial, both the management and the City Council are contemplating using seawater for this task to achieve significant savings, considering the current water shortage situation. Zamora confirms that to implement this, specific machinery resistant to saltwater needs to be acquired or manufactured, as the marine environment “corrodes everything, leading to increased costs.” An example is the recent acquisition of a concrete cage for the new filtering system, along with pipes made of a material with special resistance to the sea’s effects.
“We are currently in the machinery procurement phase, coordinating with the Department of Works and Services to cover the costs,” he added. Once this stage is completed, the City Council’s technicians will assess the feasibility of its acquisition for the municipal budget.
The manager finds it puzzling “how this possibility did not occur to anyone in almost 50 years, particularly during the 2006 renovation that included the construction of a cistern for fresh water but not seawater.”
The communication between the City Council and the César Manrique Foundation, responsible for preserving the artist’s works, is highly efficient. “Water treatment does not involve any intervention in the artist’s work; we consult on matters that may impact its aesthetic,” Zamora explained.
An Environmentally Integrated Lift
A transformation was made with the Lake Island elevator project, initially resembling a hospital installation and drifting away from the ethos of the Lanzarote sculptor.
To address this, a more fitting solution was devised with the Foundation, opting for the construction of an integrated sentry box within the complex. This will be operational once the 2024 budget is approved, according to the manager.
In this regard, he believes that “if César were alive, he would want the majority to appreciate his ethos, encompassing respect for the environment and nature, with which he would wholeheartedly agree.”
In May of last year, the Lake area was closed to the public for renovation work on the engine room, the first of its kind since the complex’s inauguration in 1977. Delays were incurred due to underwater activities dependent on sea conditions for safe maneuvering with skilled divers.
“While there have been delays,” acknowledged the mayor, Marco González, “they have resulted from following the processes inherent to projects of this scale, compounded by the continuous rise in material costs,” the president added.
Testing the Filling and Emptying with New Valves
The testing of the filling and emptying processes of the renewed facility, including the machine room serving the Costa Martiánez Tourist Complex, commenced recently.
The custom intake and delivery valves from Germany arrived on Tuesday, completing the vital mechanical infrastructure. Once the test phase is successfully completed, the Complex will be fully operational. Concurrently, administrative procedures for the second modification of the project are being finalized at the City Council, having the largest budget ever tendered with internal resources.
“Out of responsibility and commitment to the Complex designed by César Manrique, we are undertaking a comprehensive task after 46 years of the old facility’s existence, with the aim of making it accessible to the public at the earliest opportunity,” stressed Mayor Marco González.
