The La Belleza factory will be converted into luxury apartments, preserving the facade.
In Tenerife, the former tobacco factory La Belleza will be transformed into luxury apartments, preserving the facade and entrance hall, which has provoked a mixed reaction from historians and architects.
In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the former La Belleza tobacco factory will be transformed into 11 luxury apartments. According to the city plan, the building's facade and entrance hall will be preserved because they are protected.
Professor of Art History Alberto Darias Príncipe is upset that the building could not be fully preserved. He believes that preserving only the facade is better than nothing, but regrets that the city is turning into "theatrical scenery," where the interior is also important.
Previously, architect Fernando Botell also insisted on the full preservation of the building on Pérez de Rozas Street. He considered it "illogical" to preserve only the facade and the hall.
Former Culture Councilor Dulce Xerach is glad that at least something of the factory will remain. She says that it will remind of the historical past of this place, and it will be possible to live there like in New York, where old factories have become lofts. She added that the factory was in poor condition, so preserving the facade is already good. "Not all historical buildings can become museums, but it is important to preserve their uniqueness. The facade will help with this," she believes.
Xerach emphasizes that the preservation of the entrance hall is also important, as it will highlight the historical value of the building. There are also plans to preserve the roof. "I am not too critical of this decision, because there was almost no other way out. At least there will be a reminder of what was once here," she concluded. The former factory is on the list of the Docomomo organization, which is engaged in the protection of valuable objects of the modern era.
The Docomomo description states that the factory was once part of a rationalist complex with the owner's house and garden, but they have not been preserved. The side facade has also disappeared, which has "significantly weakened" the building.
According to Docomomo, "the symmetry of the main facade, the stucco molding, the clear lines of the windows, and the transition between the facades make this building one of the best works of architect Miguel Martín Fernández de la Torre."
The factory was built between 1929 and 1930. Later, a fire broke out there, which damaged the interior, where the shops were located. After that, the building fell into disrepair.