The regional directorate of culture stated that the ongoing works at its historical headquarters and the regional heritage preservation office in Tangier, which previously housed the English consulate, aim to maintain and preserve the original historical character of the building that has been registered as national heritage since 2007, without affecting its decorative components or architectural design.
The directorate also justified the works as a means of improving the functional and administrative structure of the institution and enhancing the surrounding area to ensure the security of the institution’s staff and visitors by upgrading the surrounding fence, especially given the risks faced by some of the staff due to homeless individuals and delinquents jumping into the institution and also the theft of artifacts displayed in the square next to the historical Mohammed Drissi gallery.
The same source indicated that these works are overseen by prominent specialists in architectural heritage and in coordination with the relevant technical authorities, and under their supervision according to legally and technically approved restoration standards; all stages of the project comply with and carefully consider the historical peculiarities and architectural uniqueness of the building, ensuring that no modifications will alter the building’s identity and its original decorative elements.
Regarding the circulated images, the directorate informed that the ongoing works are aimed at repairing some distortions affecting the ground surrounding the building by using materials that do not match the building’s original character, asserting that these have become a real danger to the visitors (slips and falls occurring right after rain).
The head of the Observatory for the Protection of the Environment and Historical Monuments expressed his concern about what is happening in the historical building of the English consulate in Tangier, stating that “what provokes anger before concern. A site classified as national heritage since 2007, a face of Tangier’s international memory, is quietly transforming into a mysterious workshop executed with no transparency and away from the eyes of specialists and public opinion.”
The president presented photos that he claimed show the removal of original architectural components amid incomprehensible interventions and a complete absence of any signage as required by law, questioning, “Can we not talk about what is referred to in the saying ‘the protector is the thief’?!”
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