The project to reorganize the uses in several dependencies of La Casa de Los Volcanes, located in the Tourist Center and Site of Scientific Interest of Los Jameos del Agua, already has "all the approvals and authorizations" to be executed. This has been reported by the Cabildo, which has explained that the Governing Council has granted the territorial qualification for that project, which contemplates the redistribution, rehabilitation and conditioning of the space for a new exhibition area and a new restoration area. With this intervention, the place now occupied by the Casa de los Volcanes will become a restaurant and it will be located in currently unused facilities.
The institution has explained that the qualification comes after the Environment, Heritage and the Island Plan Office favorably reported on the project to be executed. These favorable reports, they point out, included both the "urban point of view, as well as environmental protection" and has been authorized in accordance with the legislation on the protection of the Historical and Cultural Heritage of this space, which is located in the Site of Scientific Interest of Jameos and initiated BIC, with the categories of Monument and Historical Garden, as well as included in a Special Conservation Area, ZEC.
Thus, after these authorizations, last week the Governing Council granted the Territorial Qualification for the project of "Reorganization of uses in the Casa de Los Volcanes (exhibition area and new restoration area), in the Center of Jameos del Agua", in Haría. "This project is also understood to be compatible with the Island Plan in the specific category of land, such as the management of the protected space and for the reception of visitors at tourist visit points", explains the Cabildo.
An intervention of 2.4 million
The Councilor of the Centers of Art, Culture and Tourism, Echedey Eugenio recalled that this project "includes an ambitious intervention of 2.4 million euros, approximately, of which the CACT already has 1.2 million euros of funds contributed by the Government of the Canary Islands for the new Casa de Los Volcanes". For his part, the accidental president of the Corporation, José Juan Cruz, advanced that "he hopes that this project can be a reality by the end of next year or the beginning of 2018, once all the relevant permits and authorizations are available, as well as the Territorial Qualification necessary for its execution".
The redistribution that is intended to be undertaken would fundamentally affect the spaces in which the Casa de Los Volcanes is currently located and the rooms located on the second level of the western half of the built complex, which, according to the Cabildo, are not currently being used.
Projected by GPY Arquitectos, following the guidelines of the CACT-Cabildo-FCM commission, "the project recovers underutilized infrastructures on the upper floor of the center to house a better, larger, more versatile and modern Casa de los Volcanes, which will leave its current space to become a new restaurant capable of meeting the needs of tourists and customers, both from Jameos del Agua and the Auditorium, without distorting the visit to the volcanic tube", highlights the Island Corporation.
They also emphasize that, in addition, the project "offers a solution to an old problem of Jameos such as the improvement of accessibility to the upper area, thanks to an elevator that gives access to the four existing levels".
As for the restaurant, which will be in the space currently occupied by the Casa de los Volcanes, we have worked with the kitchen and maintenance teams of the CACT, with Health and with specialized engineers to "shape an installation that is capable of satisfying the demands of the thousands of visitors".
