The mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, declared yesterday that the restoration of the remains of the old church of San Agustín, which was lost to a fire in 1964, “must become an emblem signifying our desire for a vibrant heritage that can be appreciated by the community.” He noted, “We face the challenge of transforming this ancient temple into an accessible space, a premier cultural venue that will enhance the value of the city, situated on one of the most distinctive streets in our historic centre, alongside the IES Cabrera.”
Moreover, he mentioned that this initiative “aligns with other significant projects that will commence in the near future.” This week, the La Laguna City Council recommenced efforts to stabilise the ruins of this historic church.
The Councillor for Works and Infrastructure, Ángel Chinea, detailed that the work has resumed following the necessity to revise the initial project, which began execution in January 2022. This revision involves various adjustments, both financial and operational, due to the state of the building that only became apparent once restoration efforts were underway.
Following the completion of the modified project, the works now have a budget of €1.148 million, which accounts for newly added items and altered quantities. The revised plan suggests making some minor adjustments and refinements in the facilities section, as these need to be tailored for the use of the open-air interpretation space of the ruins. Additionally, the processes for shaping and consolidating have been defined without alterations and must comply with the Technical Building Code of 2023, serving as an open-air interpretation area for the convent’s ruins. These revisions respect the project presented in 2016, which received approval from the city council after a favourable assessment by the Historical Heritage Commission of the Cabildo.
Details of the Works
The work commenced with the removal of the façade coverings that were added in the 1950s, along with preparations for the scaffolding that will envelop both the interior and exterior of the structure.
The revised project prioritises the consolidation and treatment of stone, including actions such as the cleaning of biological colonies, stain and salt removal, bonding of fragmented pieces, dry cleaning, restoration of stonework, mortar reintegration, and stabilisation of the masonry. Furthermore, there will be arch repairs, wall cleaning and sanitisation, façade treatment including the restoration of the coat of arms and stonework, cleaning and recovery of natural stone mouldings, and removal of plaster that is at risk of collapse, along with general cleaning treatments.
Other interventions will involve demolishing the walls of access doors, hydraulic tile flooring, as well as plastering and painting of the façade, disassembling the wooden flooring, clearing and cleaning the grounds, along with landscaping, carpentry, and electrical installations. The project does not include any intervention on the Bethlemites building, which will be reserved for a subsequent phase, aside from the removal of the shed roof.
