The Vice-Ministry of Culture and Cultural Heritage has presented the first phase of the cultural project and museumization of heritage contents that is intended to be implemented in Casa Torres, an 18th-century building located in the heart of the historic center of Teguise, recently acquired by the Government through direct award.
This is the first building with historical values that the Culture area of the Executive acquires in Lanzarote with the intention of creating a multipurpose space of cultural and heritage character, such as a museum, an art room and other uses related to cultural activities. The presentation ceremony was attended by Juan Márquez, Vice-Minister of Culture and Cultural Heritage; Nona Perera, General Director of Cultural Heritage; Marcos Antonio Bergaz, Vice President of the Cabildo of Lanzarote; Sara Bermúdez, Councilor for Heritage of the Teguise City Council; and Valentín Barroso, director of the exhibition project.
Regarding the museographic project, “taking into account the unique architectural characteristics of the house as well as the furniture elements preserved inside”, this historical space lends itself to “the dissemination of the heritage values of both the island and the Canary Islands”, Perera said.
Until now, the Government “has made an inventory of the assets that are kept in the manor house, including furniture, ceramics, ethnographic elements such as cisterns, ovens, etc.”, among other safeguard actions. On the other hand, “those assets that require an intervention to prevent their loss or deterioration are being restored”, explained the General Director of Cultural Heritage.
“It is a project that will include different disciplines that start from the concept of cultural landscape by including material and intangible elements that define it as a living, dynamic, interactive and research center”, in short, as “an archive of Canarian memory”, as defined by Perera.
For Barroso, “Casa Torres is one of the most unique buildings in one of the best preserved historic centers in the Canary Islands”. In fact, “the last owner of the house preserved many of the movable assets, which is a great advantage to start the museumization process”, explained Barroso. Thanks to her contributions and written sources, “we created a document on the historical and architectural interest of this building that has served the Government to justify its purchase”. "When the house is fully rehabilitated as well as the museographic project is defined and launched, it will be a source of pride for the Canarians who visit it,” concluded Barroso.
Casa Torres is a property included in the Historic Site of Teguise, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1985 and which has individually recognized heritage values as it is included in the Architectural Catalog of the General Plan for Urban Planning of the Municipality with a degree of comprehensive protection.