The executive committee of Urban Planning has approved a new extension for the works at Casa Cernuda, the fourth since its inception. The City Council of Seville maintains the expected opening on December 16.
The City Council of Seville has once again postponed the completion of the works at Casa Cernuda, the future museum dedicated to the Sevillian poet. The executive committee of Urban Planning approved this Tuesday a new extension of the execution deadline, the fourth since the rehabilitation works of the building began, located in the heart of the capital of Seville.
Unlike previous extensions, motivated by the discovery of historical remains, this latest extension responds, according to municipal sources, to the need to “finalise the works”. The initial completion date was set for last June, but continuous archaeological findings have delayed the schedule.
Mural Paintings and Gold Leaf Arches, Causes of the Delay
The penultimate delay, approved in June, was due to the discovery of “mural paintings distributed in the galleries of the ground floor”, according to a technical report consulted. Restorers detected that these paintings were “in worse condition than expected”, especially due to the accumulated humidity in the walls, which forced a slowdown in the restoration works.
Moreover, the professionals in charge of the rehabilitation noted that the restoration of these murals had “a lower yield than estimated”. Remnants of gold leaf were also found in the lobed arches of the building, whose removal proved more complex than anticipated. “The enamel paint applied is being removed with greater difficulty than initially expected, due to how adhered it is to the plaster,” the report details.
Another factor contributing to the delay was the need to modify the lighting of the building following the appearance of the paintings, as well as the impossibility of laying the patio flooring until the restoration work is completed, due to the occupation of the area by the auxiliary means of the restoration team.
December 16, Key Date for Opening
Despite the continuous setbacks, the City Council of Seville maintains its commitment to open Casa Cernuda on December 16, coinciding with the day of the famous foundational photograph of the Generation of '27. This was confirmed a few months ago by the Culture delegate, Angie Moreno, who assured that the date remains unchanged despite everything.
Municipal sources emphasise that the appearance of these historical remains was something “unforeseen” when the contract was formalised with the contractor, and they defend that the works are progressing to ensure the enhancement of the building. Casa Cernuda will become a museum space dedicated to the Sevillian poet, with a shop and exhibition areas that will include the recovered mural paintings.
For the residents of Seville, the opening of this museum will represent a new cultural attraction in the historic centre, in a building that has remained closed for years. The rehabilitation has been followed with interest by the cultural community, which hopes that this fourth delay will be the last and that the space can open its doors before the end of the year.
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