TEA, a new space for the arts in Tenerife

The innovative TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes) developed by the Cabildo de Tenerife, the Tenerife Government, opens its doors on 31st October and will be the latest addition to the cultural infrastructure in Tenerife and the Canary Islands. This ambitious project aspires to be a reflection of contemporary art, influenced by new technologies.

The spectacular building, designed by the prestigious Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and Spanish architect Virgilio Gutierrez, aims to become a leading example of contemporary architecture.

The approximately 20.622 m² building is located in Santa Cruz’s restored old quarter, on the north east coast of Tenerife. The interior is deliberately designed to stimulate sensations and movement by expanding dynamic spaces towards the exterior allowing a natural source of light to flow throughout the entire building.

Set between the city’s historic quarter and the modern, contemporary side, TEA is a link between the contrasting old and new districts of Santa Cruz. Diagonal components across the floor plan and several slopes allow the outside world to seep into the interior and spread across the outdoor patio.

TEA is a multi functional exhibitions centre which combines different spaces and activities for social interaction and aims to promote artistic creation and thought on contemporary forms of art and culture.

This ingenious project is set to become a new cultural and artistic reference, an absorbing, captivating space for visitors, and it expects to generate a profound and positive social impact.

TEA will integrate and harmonise photography, paintings, sculptures and other forms of art in an accessible, lively, dynamic and interactive meeting point. Both temporary and permanent contemporary art exhibitions are planned.

The building includes an assembly hall, a shop, a coffee shop and a partially covered plaza. It also houses Tenerife’s main library.

A permanent exhibition will be divided into three groups, one will display Oscar Dominguez’s collection (a respected surrealist artist from Tenerife), a second section will display the best examples of the Canary Islands art dating back to the 20th Century and a third display dedicated to artists who have contributed internationally since 1975.

Photography will be a substantial part of the venue as the contents of the Island Photography Centre, Centro de Fotografía Isla de Tenerife, established in 1991, will now be part of the TEA along with an office, a photo lab and restoration facilities.

Two of the architects, Herzog and de Meuron, have masterminded major projects such as London’s Tate Modern, a power station transformed into a world famous art gallery on the banks of the River Thames; the Forum in Barcelona, the Olympic stadium in Beijing and the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Virgilio Gutierrez, a senior member at the Official School of Architects in the Canary Islands, joined the pair to create this sensational design and also redevelop the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Javier Gonzalez de Durana Isusi, TEA’s artistic director, has worked on many important projects involving the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and ARCO in Madrid, one of the largest contemporary art fairs in the world.

For more information, log on to Webtenerife.com.