Santa Cruz Overhauls Viera y Clavijo Park Restoration to Integrate CaixaForum
Santa Cruz de Tenerife has unified the restoration of the Viera y Clavijo Cultural Park under a single strategic plan to accommodate the arrival of CaixaForum and revitalize the long-stalled project.
The arrival of CaixaForum in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has led to a strategic rethink of the Viera y Clavijo Cultural Park restoration. The city council has updated its contract with architect Fernando Menis, moving away from fragmented, piecemeal work toward a plan that treats the site as a single, unified complex.
This change is expected to restart projects that have been stalled since 2021. It involves adapting the former La Asunción school and the future Pérez Minik auditorium to meet the specific technical requirements of CaixaForum. The Cabildo de Tenerife has cleared the way for this approach, confirming that demolishing the current auditorium will not damage the site’s status as a protected Property of Cultural Interest.
The new project, titled "New Pérez Minik Theater and adjacent outdoor areas," focuses on creating a cohesive architectural identity. The goal is to improve the flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing the park to host large-scale events. Local officials believe this integration will help position the capital as a major cultural hub, boosting both social and economic activity in the area.
While the project began in 2020, it had been delayed by disagreements over urban planning and heritage management. With the Governing Board’s approval, the council is now aligning the renovation of the main building and the surrounding grounds under one strategy. At the same time, the local government is updating the park’s Special Plan to ensure the project meets all necessary administrative requirements.