The Auditorium Hole: the abandoned music project in Las Palmas
On the front line of Las Canteras beach, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a huge excavated pit remains as a concrete and earth reminder of a frustrated cultural ambition. The neighbors know it as the Auditorium Hole, a space that was supposed to become the home of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Gran Canaria. The works started, but stopped more than twenty years ago, leaving the plot in total abandonment that today sparks discussion about what to do with it and with the investment that was made. 🏗️
A palace for music that was never built
The idea was born to give the philharmonic orchestra a prestigious home of its own. The Music Palace design proposed a modern building with a large concert hall and other facilities. Its privileged location next to the sea sought to enhance the city's cultural life. However, a mix of technical problems, changes in public administration, and difficulties in financing the project led to halting the works shortly after they began. The dream of a musical landmark was indefinitely truncated.
Key details of the stalled project:- The main objective was to provide the Philharmonic Orchestra of Gran Canaria with a permanent headquarters with all the necessary facilities.
- The work only advanced to excavating the pit for the stage and building part of the foundations, remaining in its earliest phase.
- The halt has extended for more than two decades, with no significant advances to resume it.
The pit, which once dreamed of hosting the notes of an orchestra, now only collects the murmur of the sea.
An empty plot that divides opinions
The large hole, fenced off, has transformed into a symbol of unfinished cultural infrastructure. Over time, several proposals have emerged to give it a use: from completing the original auditorium to creating an open-air space for events or even a public park. None of these initiatives have materialized, maintaining the stagnation. This urban void strongly contrasts with the lively Las Canteras beach, one of the most visited places on the island.
Proposals and controversies about the space:- Some sectors advocate for resuming the original project and completing the Music Palace for which it was designed.
- Others propose alternative ideas, such as an open-air auditorium or a green area, arguing for other uses for that public space.
- The division of opinions reflects a broader debate on how to manage urban spaces and public investments that are left halfway.
A future yet to be defined
Meanwhile, the Auditorium Hole is still there, like an unanswered question in the Las Palmas landscape. It represents not only an unfinished project, but also a lost opportunity and a pending debate on cultural heritage and urban development. The city still awaits to resolve the fate of this space, which remains between the memory of what could have been and the uncertainty of what it could become. The solution will require consensus, political will, and a new vision for a plot that has been waiting too long. ⏳