The City Council of La Laguna’s Cultural Heritage Department in collaboration with Taro We are Heritage have introduced the video game ‘Aguere. The Foundation’. This innovative tool allows for the digital recreation of the construction of La Laguna, showcasing its evolution from 1496 to the late 18th century. Geared towards PC gaming, the interactive initiative is now freely available and open for all, with a specific outreach plan among students and educators across the municipality set to coincide with the new academic year.
Adolfo Cordobés, the Councilor for Cultural Heritage, emphasised that this project is a result of collaborative efforts between the department, young entrepreneurs, and historians from the municipality and the island. This initiative aligns with the new local heritage education strategy, reflecting one of the most effective and profitable lines of action to ensure the knowledge, protection, and preservation of cultural assets, as stipulated in the recent national plan in this field.
“This project complements other ongoing initiatives that cater to all age groups and reinforce the significant exposure brought by our membership in the Network of Spanish Heritage Cities,” Cordobés explained. He pointed out that video games are a primary form of entertainment for the younger generation, making this gaming approach an ideal platform to convey the heritage values of La Laguna to this demographic.
“Through this gaming experience, we offer a fun and engaging way for players to reconstruct the streets, buildings, and socio-economic aspects of the Canary Islands’ only World Heritage city, which celebrates its 25th UNESCO anniversary this year. This not only provides entertainment but also imparts knowledge about our history, monuments, and unique features that define La Laguna, acting as a stepping stone for raising awareness about its preservation from a young age,” expressed the councilor.
“In La Laguna, we are also challenged to integrate sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) into planning and management processes while catering to the community’s needs. Initiatives are already underway, including the essential update of the municipal Special Plan for the Protection of the Historic Site this year, fostering maximum citizen participation, and establishing the first Historic City Office,” added Cordobés.
Luana Studer, the technician from Taro Somos Patrimony, detailed that ‘Aguere. The Foundation’ focuses on “using entertainment as a pedagogical tool to enable players to discover the origins of local heritage and learn, in an enjoyable manner, about the city’s architectural evolution.”
“Players are not only tasked with constructing the city but also with unlocking construction units and key monuments corresponding to different historical periods, leading up to the 1779 urban plan by M. le Chevalier,” highlighted Studer. In addition to city-building, players must manage resources, population dynamics, and economic development, with potential social and physical consequences if decisions are not sound.
The video game showcases natural landscapes such as the city’s surrounding mountains and the ancient lagoon after which it is named. Players can incorporate various constructions reflecting the architectural styles of different periods, starting from mud houses with straw roofs, workshops, and agricultural developments.
An Expedition Through Three Centuries
The gameplay progresses to more intricate structures, featuring iconic historical buildings like the Alhóndiga, Casa de los Capitanes, Town Hall, Cabildo, as well as Plaza del Adelantado and the churches of La Concepción and Los Remedios, encompassing three centuries of local history. Each milestone is accompanied by detailed descriptions of the heritage and historical significance of the structures, as well as their current real-world locations.
This interactive journey offers a glimpse into the 18th century as described by Viera y Clavijo in his History of the Canary Islands, or chronicled by numerous European travellers from that era. Back then, La Laguna was a hub of political, religious, cultural, and social influence in Tenerife, serving as a focal point for insular and regional decisions. However, its prominence dwindled, culminating in Santa Cruz de Tenerife being designated the capital of the single province of the Canary Islands in 1833.
The initiative, available at https://juegoaguere.lalaguna.es, incorporates an educational component tailored for students and educators. Following the game’s digital release, the upcoming phase will focus on disseminating the game as an instructional tool and encouraging its utilisation in the municipality’s primary schools.
In September, a segment of the project team, comprising historians, will embark on visits to educational institutions to provide teachers with training and tutorials to maximise the educational potential of this tool. Furthermore, tailored talks on the city’s evolution since its foundation, its heritage, and navigating the historically accurate gameplay will be offered to students.
