Loro Parque Honors César Manrique’s Legacy in Shaping Sustainable Development
Loro Parque is commemorating the birth of César Manrique by highlighting the artist's pivotal role in protecting the zoo from urban development and shaping its enduring philosophy of landscape integration.
To mark the anniversary of César Manrique’s birth, Loro Parque is highlighting the Lanzarote-born artist’s vital role in the zoo’s history. Beyond his artistic legacy, Manrique was instrumental in shaping the park’s development model—a philosophy that remains highly relevant to current debates about land use in the Canary Islands.
The partnership between Manrique and the Kiessling family, who own the park, began in the early 1980s during a time of intense urban expansion. At that point, the park’s future was at risk; planned road construction threatened to cut through the site, which would have forced the loss of a large portion of the land. When administrative efforts stalled, Wolfgang Kiessling turned to Manrique for help. Using his public influence, the artist held a press conference and rallied the residents of Punta Brava, successfully pressuring authorities to change their plans and save the park.
This victory did more than just keep the park open; it established a commitment to landscape integration that is still visible in the park’s design today. Manrique’s belief that economic growth and environmental protection must go hand-in-hand left a lasting aesthetic mark, linking Loro Parque to other iconic works by the artist, such as Lago Martiánez.
Loro Parque has consistently honored this alliance over the years. Beyond a commemorative plaque on the grounds, the park has hosted various cultural events, including a major 2019 exhibition at the Hotel Botánico celebrating the centenary of Manrique’s birth. Through these tributes, the institution continues to celebrate a giant of contemporary art while emphasizing the power of civil society to protect natural heritage from urban encroachment.