La Casa de Al Returns to Life

Varadero – Structural solutions, comprehensive roof repair, floor restoration, recovery of architectural elements, replacement of carpentry, and other construction tasks define the investment that brings back to life a building of great value such as the Casa de Al in this resort town.

Executed by a non-state management form, under the direction of Karel López Valenzuela, the goal is to return the property to its integrity and authenticity, posted on her Facebook profile Justa Bielka Cantillo González, director of the Provincial Heritage Center in Matanzas.

«More than restoring a building, memory is being recovered. Each saved element represents a part of Varadero’s history; each solution respectful of its architecture contributes to preserving the identity of a place that is part of collective memory,» she stated.

Cantillo González highlighted the fact of undertaking this work in a year marked by difficult economic conditions. Despite this, she observed, work has been done with commitment, will, and great strength in the recovery of a property of exceptional architectural and historical values, and very unique within the built heritage of this important tourist destination.

«Heritage is an essential part of our cultural identity. Recovering a historic building means preserving a part of our memory and keeping our history alive,» she posted.

She recalled that «the property presented an advanced state of deterioration and even had a technical report recommending its demolition due to structural problems.»

She acknowledged how, faced with such a situation, authorities, heritage specialists, and those from the MINTUR Real Estate Company and the Monuments Office have given systematic follow-up to the recovery process, betting on the conservation of its values and the search for solutions that would allow saving the building.

«The recovery of the Casa de Al in Varadero demonstrates that even in complex circumstances, when will, specialized knowledge, sensitivity, and commitment to Cuban heritage come together, its enhancement is possible. Our respect and recognition to all who have participated. Especially to Karel and his team, who have also projected its operation and sustainability,» added Cantillo González.

This mansion was commissioned to be built in the 1930s by Colonel Eugenio Silva Giquel, a figure linked to the transformation and development of Varadero as a tourist destination.

Its architecture, characterized by the use of stonework, constitutes a reference of great significance for the history of Varadero architecture and for Cuban architectural heritage.

Photo: Taken from Justa Bielka Cantillo González’s Facebook profile.