Tenerife Weekly
  • Home
  • About
  • El Diario
  • Diario de Avisos
  • El Dia
  • Europa Press
  • La Laguna
  • El Digital Sur
  • Atlantico
  • Press Releases
  • Essentials
  • Blog
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
  • El Diario
  • Diario de Avisos
  • El Dia
  • Europa Press
  • La Laguna
  • El Digital Sur
  • Atlantico
  • Press Releases
  • Essentials
  • Blog
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Tenerife Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home La Provincia

Navigating the World of Public Architecture Competitions: A Creative Journey

February 8, 2025
in La Provincia
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Navigating the World of Public Architecture Competitions: A Creative Journey
3
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Navigating the World of Public Architecture Competitions: A Creative Journey

The headquarters of the Presidency of Tenerife originated from an architectural competition initiated by Jerónimo Saavedra in 1985.

Sweet Xerach Pérez

08 Feb 2025 11:00

I have pondered the state of architectural service competitions in the Canary Islands and the reasons behind the varying approaches of different institutions—some formerly altruistic and now thriving, while others remain stagnant.

We present a cursory analysis of the public architecture competitions within the archipelago, aimed solely at initiating a dialogue: the Canary Islands, with their geographical and cultural variety, offer an intriguing landscape for public architecture contests. However, there are numerous factors that warrant a thoughtful critique.

Provincial Disparities

The disparities among the Canary Provinces regarding public architecture competitions are significant, yet it is inaccurate to claim that Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote significantly outnumber Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro in terms of competition frequency.

The estimated distribution of public architecture competitions by province is approximately as follows: Tenerife, 30%; Gran Canaria, 25%; Lanzarote, 15%; Fuerteventura, 10%; La Palma, 7%; La Gomera, 5%; and El Hierro, 3%.

At a glance, this appears reasonable; however, when examining the total percentage invested in architectural competitions per province, it turns out that Gran Canaria invests around 50%, while Tenerife allocates about 47%. These percentages are rough estimates and are subject to variation based on the year and the number of published bids. Nevertheless, this distribution suggests a balanced ratio across the provinces in terms of the number of competitions, though we lack insight into the fees and project costs involved.

Competitions: The Good and the Bad

Certain entities have demonstrated greater efficacy in organizing public architecture contests. For instance, the Island Cabildo of Gran Canaria has been lauded for its transparency and high standards in tenders. Most notably, it accurately assesses (at market rates) the fees that teams need for their work—why can’t others comprehend that inadequate budgeting prevents us from achieving the quality and creativity demanded by Europe for our new infrastructures?

Conversely, some entities have faced criticism regarding their unclear requirements and lack of transparency during the adjudication process. Such criticisms often go unnoticed, as very little action is taken when technicians fail to heed that suggestions from peers aim to advance societal betterment. Even inexperienced technicians often resist cooperative reflection between the private and public sectors to enhance outcomes.

Thoughts for Consideration

The landscape of public architecture competitions in the Canary Islands is intricate and varies significantly across different councils and municipalities, as well as the government of the Canary Islands itself. It is imperative that those responsible for drafting specifications possess a solid foundation in economic, architectural, historical, urban, and landscape knowledge. Additionally, processes must be transparent and clearly articulated to ensure fair and effective competition, yielding quality results and safer buildings better prepared for future demands. Moreover, efforts must be made to foster superior architecture in the smaller islands to ensure a balanced architectural evolution throughout the region that honours the archipelago’s environment. Our diverse landscapes, unique to each island, speak their own language, each necessitating solutions tailored to that context rather than borrowed formulas from elsewhere.

Lawyer and Doctor of Architecture. European University Researcher

Related Posts

Wind and Fog Leave Hundreds of Passengers Stranded in Tenerife
La Provincia

Wind and Fog Leave Hundreds of Passengers Stranded in Tenerife

July 6, 2025
Canaries Roll: From Sancheski to Skate
La Provincia

Canaries Roll: From Sancheski to Skate

July 6, 2025
Coque Malla stars in ‘The Threepenny Opera’, new project from ‘Segunda Lectura’ at the Pérez Galdós Theatre.
La Provincia

Coque Malla stars in ‘The Threepenny Opera’, new project from ‘Segunda Lectura’ at the Pérez Galdós Theatre.

July 2, 2025
No Result
View All Result

Click Image to Join Community

Tenerife Forum Community

Previous News

The fire in Tenerife remains out of control although there has been no progress during the night

The fire in Tenerife remains out of control although there has been no progress during the night

2 years ago
BUZZING VIRAL CANARY ISLANDS | Explore the trendiest villages in the Canary Islands right now

BUZZING VIRAL CANARY ISLANDS | Explore the trendiest villages in the Canary Islands right now

1 year ago
Two groups denounce that the terraces complicate pedestrian mobility in Puerto de la Cruz

Two groups denounce that the terraces complicate pedestrian mobility in Puerto de la Cruz

2 years ago
Earthquakes Rock La Palma and Tenerife: A Trembling Thursday

Earthquakes Rock La Palma and Tenerife: A Trembling Thursday

5 months ago
A local police officer helps a woman give birth in the middle of the street in Granadilla de Abona

A local police officer helps a woman give birth in the middle of the street in Granadilla de Abona

3 years ago
Tenerife South Airport puts into service five new boarding gates and a passport control

Tenerife South Airport puts into service five new boarding gates and a passport control

4 years ago
No Result
View All Result

News Highlights

The PSOE criticises “lack of political will” to reopen Los Patos beach, closed since 2023

Business leaders do support the Social Councils law that universities oppose.

La Laguna publishes the provisional list of accepted applications for the municipality’s nursery schools.

Sentenced to three years in prison and fined €8,000 for selling cocaine and heroin from his home in Taco.

Prosecution seeks 12 years in prison for breaking into ex-partner’s home in Tenerife, raping her, and making death threats.

Culture, Memory and Flavor: The Dwarfs of La Palma Now Have Their Own Tasting Menu

Trending News

Curbelo calls on the Port Authority to reorganise traffic in Los Cristianos amid the congestion.
Atlantico

Curbelo calls on the Port Authority to reorganise traffic in Los Cristianos amid the congestion.

by Admin
July 10, 2025
0

The president of the Cabildo of La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, has called on the Port Authority of...

Santa Cruz to Host the Women’s U20 Basketball Tournament this July

Santa Cruz to Host the Women’s U20 Basketball Tournament this July

July 10, 2025
The Great Podcast Night Celebrates Its Fourth Edition in Madrid

The Great Podcast Night Celebrates Its Fourth Edition in Madrid

July 10, 2025
The PSOE criticises “lack of political will” to reopen Los Patos beach, closed since 2023

The PSOE criticises “lack of political will” to reopen Los Patos beach, closed since 2023

July 10, 2025
Business leaders do support the Social Councils law that universities oppose.

Business leaders do support the Social Councils law that universities oppose.

July 10, 2025
Tenerife Weekly

© 2025 Tenerife Weekly

Navigate Site

  • Tenerife Forum
  • Tenerife Travel Shop
  • Ask Tenerife
  • Guide
  • Adobe
  • Linkedin
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
  • El Diario
  • Diario de Avisos
  • El Dia
  • Europa Press
  • La Laguna
  • El Digital Sur
  • Atlantico
  • Press Releases
  • Essentials
  • Blog
  • Contact

© 2025 Tenerife Weekly