Bureaucratic Deadlock Stalls Restoration of Historic La Estrella Gas Station
The historic La Estrella gas station in Puerto de la Cruz remains in bureaucratic limbo as authorities and owners struggle to finalize a rehabilitation plan following a partial roof collapse.
The administrative deadlock surrounding the La Estrella gas station in Puerto de la Cruz highlights the challenges of preserving modern architecture. Despite a partial roof collapse in March 2024, the building remains in bureaucratic limbo, caught between its owner, DISA, and the Cabildo de Tenerife.
Built in the 1960s by architect Luis Cabrera Sánchez-Real, the gas station has been a designated Property of Cultural Interest (BIC) since 2006. It is a significant piece of the city’s history, once winning the Manuel Oráa Prize for its innovative hyperbolic paraboloid design. Despite its architectural importance, the site remains neglected, even though the Puerto de la Cruz City Council approved a rehabilitation plan last year.
The proposed project, costing over 570,000 euros, is currently stalled at the Cabildo’s Historical Heritage Service. Officials state they are still reviewing the plans, trying to balance the need for modern, durable materials with the requirement to preserve the building’s original character.
For now, the site remains cordoned off and inactive. As negotiations between the authorities and the oil company continue, this once-celebrated landmark of 20th-century engineering waits for a solution that will allow it to be restored and reopened.