A joint technical visit to various state-owned heritage properties in the port area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has revealed the favorable state of preservation of the silo, despite having been closed for decades. Both institutions agree on the importance of preventing its demolition and promoting its declaration as a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC), which would represent a significant step forward for the conservation of Canarias' historical memory.
This silo is a unique piece within Spanish industrial heritage, forming part of the National Network of Silos and Granaries developed in the post-war period. Its exceptional character is accentuated by being the only type P port silo preserved in Spain, adding to its architectural and technological values and its landscape relevance on the maritime front of the capital of Tenerife.
“"The great challenge of industrial heritage, once its productive activity ends, is to give it a second life."
According to a historian specializing in industrial heritage, the main challenge is to redefine the use of the property. There is a unique opportunity to transform this space, currently hermetic and with a great visual impact, into a dynamic asset for the city. This new line of collaboration between the Government of Canarias and the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife seeks to promote a rehabilitation that integrates industrial heritage into urban development and contributes to recovering the collective memory.
The meeting has laid the groundwork for a future collaboration agreement between both institutions, in order to protect assets of great historical and cultural relevance. The day included a tour of the Silo, the Cory Dock, the Bufadero Battery, and the La Alegría neighborhood tunnels, marking the first time that the High Inspection has accessed these spaces to learn about their current situation.
“"This meeting represents a decisive step to formalize a cooperation agreement between both institutions that allows protecting the heritage safeguarded by the Port Authority."
A spokesperson for the Port Authority recalled that, although its main mission is infrastructure development, the entity also has the responsibility to conserve the most significant architectural and defensive elements of the area, valuing the support of the Government of Canarias to guarantee a real and sustainable utility for these facilities.
