Last week, we had the opportunity to examine the
results of works in buildings making up Cau Ferrat and Maricel Museums once refurbishment
was over. We were aware that we would find cozy spaces that preserved legacy elements, but adapted to
the needs of the twenty-first century. But even so, the surprise was
overwhelming and gratifying. All the work done in
museums was magnificent, and they have insured facilities geared up for the
future while preserving the past.
The reform and refurbishment of museums was
quite a challenging project. Works proved to be difficult right from the onset.
The uniqueness and location of buildings and the need to adapt to the current
regulations (safety, removal of architectural barriers, installation of
services ...) transformed the project in an intervention that required special
care to preserve heritage.
For this reason, as soon as we won elections,
the current government of the City of Sitges and Barcelona Provincial Council
did not hesitate for a second to change the initial project. The initial
project involved a blatant and outright aesthetic aggression against the
buildings, both in the grotesque catwalk on the seafront as in the installation of interior platforms that
disrupted the layout of buildings. The results of works show that it was
technically feasible to remove such elements and achieve environmentally
friendly buildings that were not an aggression to our legacy.
The restoration of stained glass and ceramics,
the recovery of the original paintings at the Cau, the refurbishment of Saló
Gran, or Great Hall, the improvement of services and facilities, the
establishment of a historical route or the creation of new spaces (like the
exhibition hall, the training classroom or the museum shop), among many other
elements, highlight the extraordinary work carried out in this project.
Once works were over, the three buildings known
as Cau Ferrat, Can
Rocamora and Museu de Maricel will have to install air conditioning before the
reincorporation of works and collections.
We must be very strict in such interventions and abide conservation policies
applied by the Museums of Sitges.
Museums are one of the most important legacies
of Sitges. Collections exhibited and stored are remarkable important, and the buildings are privileged store
windows for our city. The refurbishment will allow and encourage the preservation of buildings and works and at the same time, create a new magnet for visitors. The museum discourse
and the intensive program performed by the Consortium team, under the drive of Vinyet Panyella, will be a significant support for this purpose. The
first step was achieved, fully equipped buildings that respect our heritage,
and to achieve the latter we will keep on working vigorously.
