DESTRUCTION OF AVERLY
WARNING: ALL FACTS DESCRIBED BELOW ARE PART OF THE LEGALITY. THIS MEDIUM IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISBELIEF OR DISAFFECTION THEY GENERATE.
JULY 21, 2016, early morning. The first demolition machines that will finally settle the battle for Averly’ s conservation are coming. Traffic, noise. The model ship drops. Dust. The foundry. Ruins. The mold room. 68 % of the oldest industry in Aragon, founded by Antonio Averly in 1880, explains the industrial revolution in the city, the syndicalist movements, and the one that architecturally represents a unique example of industrial archeology. July 21, Checkmate, only the final blow of a long and painstaking work, through actions and overcome constraints.
Perhaps the unique charm of Paseo Maria Agustin,-full of blocks and cars- be tripping Atletico brick. The surprise of finding once at street level. Go over that huge gray metal door crowned by a very Bauhaus typeface that lets you read: AVERLY- S.-A. Further progress. Look left-right, do not come any cyclist on the bike path, and stand, clutching the bars-forjados in the same place to observe without much detail that strange space, so close and yet so exposed. That Typical summer garden of BOURGEOIS FAMILY, decorated with fountains, route by roads, surrounded by plants of all kinds. On the right, the side of the house, that house film. But above all, that halo of mystery. And this feeling of strangeness only makes clear what is perhaps the basic problem: the almost structural IGNORANCE of the immediate environment. Do not have that access to information. Do not recognize or know important goods. And therefore, not being able to configure an idea around them. Not being able to be critical or indignant. Only narcotized docile beings free hand.
17 years ago APUDEPA- PUBLIC ACTION FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE ARAGONESE HERITAGE- already requested the protection of Averly. They wanted it to be classified as a Property of Cultural Interest. There were too many reasons: it was not only the oldest industry Aragon,-and its most important moment, the most producía-, but its design is( was) only believe that the founder imported from France this model has. It has been called“ Villa-factory”. a structure that combines housing employers and ships working in the same architectural complex, common on farms but not in foundries and is not protected. Their operation, they said, was the ultimate guarantee of conservation.
When in 2013 Averly ceased the activity and the real estate Brial bought the floors, it was too late. The-Committee International TICCIH for Conservation and Protection of Heritage Industrial- joined the petition, getting in vain that industrial it was protected as Aragonese Cultural Heritage. A cataloging which did not involve ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION. n, and therefore not could ensure the conservation of the architectural ensemble. a
THE EXPERTS? WHAT EXPERTS?
In this same year the DIPUTACIÓN GENERAL DE ARAGÓN presented three REPORTS to assess the value of Averly. The first, realized, by an architect, valued the state of the good. The second, he took care of the pieces of furniture and machinery. The third determined which areas would be retained-APUDEPA had also submitted DGA The technique of three reports, the“ three highs knowing good” that, contrary to those of the DGA, advocated the protection of the entire whole-. On which fell this decision, and therefore the fate of the architectural ensemble, was the same that had secured two years ago in the XIII International Conference of Industrial Heritage, which Averly was the most important of Aragon industry well and one of the most relevant of Spain. And yet, he did not consider PRESERVING the whole.