History has a way of repeating itself, but finding comfort in that repetition is near impossible. It’s especially challenging when a public project ends up costing three times its initial budget, faces years of delays, and despite gaining international acclaim for an island, leaves behind a lingering sense of wastefulness, negligence, and almost disdain. This unfortunate tale has been unfolding for far too long with the Tenerife Adán Martín auditorium, an iconic structure designed by the renowned architect Calatrava. While the auditorium stands as a cultural hub with a packed annual program and numerous events on the island, its deteriorating state significantly tarnishes its image. The use of duct tape on its façade, along with other defects, is a far cry from the €74 million (€12 million for the architect) it cost to build. It’s nothing short of an insult.
The initial budget of €26.7 million seems like a distant memory when faced with the reality of the current state of the auditorium. Anyone with a decent mobile phone camera can witness firsthand the various issues plaguing the once prestigious building. Instead of witnessing an architectural marvel solely dedicated to its purpose as a music venue (despite ongoing controversies regarding its acoustic quality), visitors are met with a structure that appears more like a sculpture, riddled with shortcomings that are unworthy of its hefty price tag.
Over the years, the gradual detachment of parts of the trencadís, the distinctive covering made of small, shiny white ceramic fragments seen in Calatrava’s works, as well as numerous issues such as interior humidity and makeshift repairs using visible insulating tape, have significantly marred the auditorium’s appearance. Despite the Cabildo of Tenerife’s desire to address these unsightly damages, estimated at €2.6 million in 2017, the situation remains at a standstill due to ongoing legal disputes involving Calatrava and the construction companies responsible for the project (Dragados, Acciona, and Promotora Punta Larga, the latter linked to businessman Antonio Plasencia, currently in prison over the Las Teresitas case). Calatrava has distanced himself from the repairs, further complicating the resolution process.
The Minister of Culture for the Tenerife Administration, José Carlos Acha, acknowledges the prolonged neglect surrounding the deteriorating state of the auditorium. Despite periodic evaluations indicating that the current conditions do not pose immediate risks, the ongoing decay continues to tarnish the image of this iconic structure. Nevertheless, cultural activities and other events at the auditorium continue as usual, drawing visitors to this popular location near the Santacrucero port, the renowned Black Castle, the maritime park, and the Palmetum.
The council emphasises that since the situation became a legal matter, following the detailed report from the specialized company Intemac, they are powerless to intervene. Calatrava and his team argue that the responsibility lies with the construction companies and not them. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, as similar issues arose with the Palau de Les Arts in Valencia, a project that ended up costing four times its initial budget (€478 million) and suffered similar damages.
A report from eight years ago highlighted the need to replace all damaged trencadís to prevent further water leakage and deterioration. Unfortunately, no action has been taken since then, leading to a worsening of the situation over time.
Three Presidents of the Canarian Coalition
The inception of the auditorium dates back to 1991 with Adán Martín (CC) serving as the president of the Cabildo, hence its attribution to his name. However, it was during Ricardo Melchior’s (CC) term when the island’s plenary assembly had to endorse the consistent budget overruns of the construction, escalating up to three times the initial 26.7 million Euros. It wasn’t until Carlos Alonso’s time (also from CC), who is currently distanced from his involvement in the European Parliament in collaboration with the PNV, that it became imperative to dispatch a letter to Calatrava requesting accountability for the detected blunders, which were mounting with each phase. These issues persist, resulting in the structure now showcasing external areas as depicted in the images.
Following numerous setbacks, this renowned edifice was tendered in 1997 for 26.7 million Euros (4,400 million pesetas, albeit the final cost exceeding 16,000 million), prompting Calatrava to revamp the design and shift the auditorium to its current position (initially planned in the interchange area). In 1999, further alterations were made to enable the symphony hall to accommodate operas, a parking facility was integrated, and when it was officially opened on September 26, 2003, the total expenditure had risen to approximately 74 million Euros after substantial injections of public funds, accumulating over the years as captured in these images.
