The Junta de Andalucía has initiated the process for the rehabilitation of the former Bank of Spain building in Huelva, allocating a budget of €13,371,781.83, which includes VAT. This project is co-financed by European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) and aims to convert the neoclassical structure into a museum.
The building, constructed between 1935 and 1938 under the design of architect José Yarnoz Larrosa, will serve as the new home for the Fine Arts collection of the Huelva Museum. The rehabilitation will respect the building's heritage values while integrating archaeological remains discovered beneath the site.
The former Bank of Spain consists of three above-ground floors, including the ground floor, and one basement level. The rehabilitation project is designed to adapt to new findings that enhance the building's historical significance, particularly the archaeological discoveries in the courtyard area.
One of the unique aspects of this project is the incorporation of the archaeological remains into the museum's displays, alongside stratigraphic layers that illustrate the evolution of a key urban sector in Huelva and its port structures. This will strengthen the connection between the city's history and the arts.
The rehabilitation process is expected to take 20 months following the awarding of the contract and will be carried out in two phases: the first phase will focus on the building's restoration, while the second will involve extensive archaeological excavation in the courtyard, which must commence once the rehabilitation work is sufficiently advanced.
Culture, Heritage and Sport Minister Patricia del Pozo has indicated that the future museum will showcase the collection of José Caballero, a pivotal figure in 20th-century avant-garde art and a member of the Generation of '27. The Caballero-Thomas de Carranza Foundation has entrusted the Junta de Andalucía with a significant legacy, including around 150 paintings, over 2,500 drawings, sculptures, costumes, and set designs, as well as a library, archive, and applied arts.
This collection will coexist with archaeological exhibits, providing the museum with a distinctive character within Andalucía's network of museums. The Caballero-Thomas de Carranza collection is crucial for shaping the strategic future of the Huelva Museum, influencing the new permanent exhibition, research initiatives related to the artist, outreach activities, cultural acquisitions, and temporary exhibition proposals.
