The cultural heritage of a nation serves as a bridge connecting us to our origins and remains the only means to preserve history, transcending the passage of time. Yet, a town’s true character, aside from its cobblestone streets, historic edifices, churches, or squares, is shaped by its inhabitants, the very individuals who infuse it with vitality. A lifeless town tends to wither and perish, notwithstanding its glorious past. Sustaining an active lifestyle, which enables people to uphold a high quality of life as years go by, could parallel the preservation of unique town essence. Therefore, amalgamating these concepts is imperative to maintain this rich heritage.
Fortunately, we have learned from the errors made not long ago, where in the northern region, a significant portion of this heritage value was obliterated in the pursuit of becoming a tourist hub, resulting in soulless constructions erected over the traces of our history. The authorities have recognized the necessity of safeguarding this heritage, and it is never too late to pursue happiness. But is it truly a blessing for the proprietors of these private properties, burdened with the responsibility of preserving the walls of our history?
About four years ago, the Association of Owners Affected by the Special Plan for the Protection of the Historical Complex of La Orotava transformed its name to a simpler yet still significant Association of Houses with History of La Orotava. This change loses none of its essence when it comes to emphasizing the reality of the challenges, particularly administrative, that these property owners confront when executing any interventions in their homes.
Its president, Rafael Machado, owns one of these historically rich houses in the town center. It is one of the most stunning I have ever seen, featuring an interior dome dating back to 1784. Rafael narrates the genesis of the association, which emerged “as a movement of like-minded individuals grappling with the same reality – the increasing difficulty of passing on to future generations the personal attachment that we still hold in preserving this legacy. Our offspring hold a more pragmatic perspective. Their outlook lacks the emotional connection that we possess, having been born and raised in these memory-laden homes. Many of them no longer reside here, finding it uncomfortable to spend their holidays in houses ill-equipped to address modern needs and where it is bitterly cold, despite our enviable climate. No one realizes they are unwelcoming and impractical residences with exorbitant maintenance costs, thus destined for neglect if we fail to address this predicament.”
For him and the forty members of the aforementioned association, representing thirty homes of a similar nature, the remedy lies, among other strategies, in promoting their commercial, hospitality, or residential usage for digital nomads in an environment as distinctive as theirs. “For this to materialize,” he emphasizes, “they must be made alluring and comfortable without compromising their historical and heritage significance.”
The Special Plan for the Town of La Orotava currently encompasses approximately 600 properties with varying protection categories, stalling any desired initiatives. Rafael Machado recounts a specific instance that led to the loss of a €10,000 subsidy due to bureaucratic entanglements. “In 2015, when I sought authorization for house renovations, I was first required to draft a specific master plan as a prerequisite to another execution plan for the work. The response to this paperwork arrived in 2018, three years later, only for them to demand a new master plan. This example merely highlights a common reality faced by numerous individuals dealing with increasingly convoluted legislation that diverges greatly from reality.”
“Hence, the primary mission of this Association is to streamline these procedures to maintain the optimal conditions for the private real estate assets of La Orotava and, concurrently, contribute to rejuvenating the municipality to generate stable employment, ensuring an increase in the average income of its residents through the judicious exploitation of these houses. To accomplish this, aligning with the authorities is imperative, hence the collaboration with the Cicop foundation (International Center for Heritage Conservation), which holds extensive experience, particularly in La Laguna as a heritage city of humanity.”
In line with these efforts, the La Orotava recently hosted an open patio and landscape seminar aimed at contemplating and deliberating on actions within heritage value buildings located in historic centers, as a part of the Open Courtyard European Innovation Project, coordinated by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Lpgc) in conjunction with Cicop. The ultimate goal of such initiatives is to reflect on valuable and high-quality situations and contexts, fostering cultural and political dialogue with local, national, and European institutions, as well as other specific territorial organizations.
To conclude these conferences, overseen by the professor of architectural projects, Juan Manuel Palerm, and featuring international experts in restoration, it is essential to underscore the need to “establish a laboratory for tourist islands in Europe” that encourages the rehabilitation of their assets, positioning them as a culturally valuable destination, deviating from traditional mass tourism, with an emphasis on the visitor experience. This proposal would open doors to European funds allocated for this purpose, within a timeframe of two years.
In the short term, the Association, in collaboration with Cicop, is engrossed in preparing a report comprising the inventory of historical houses in La Orotava and crosscutting projects for the entire municipality, demonstrating a well-defined global approach eligible for potential aid. This notion sits within the framework of a rehabilitation plan for areas with low per capita income, considering that in La Orotava, the per capita income remains below €15,000, compared to the European average of approximately €30,000, with available European incentives.
“This is the only path to secure a more prosperous future for our offspring, bequeathing them an inheritance that does not become an arduous burden to maintain. Simultaneously, it guarantees a stable employment niche and a respectful environment for those residing in the North, steering clear of continuation in constructing and encroaching upon more space in our limited territory, which results in landscape deterioration,” emphasizes Rafael Machado.
Several examples of the patios of La Orotava’s real estate are included amongst those that depict environments and municipalities due to them being old buildings that persist as residences or establishments.
