Over the weekend of 15-16 March, the press focused on the changes to the Puerta del Conde, where the coral stones have been covered with plaster. The monument commemorates the site where the Dominican Republic’s independence was declared in 1844 and the Dominican flag raised for the first time.
Architect Christian Martinez Villanueva, the advisor for the remodeling of the historic monument, says that the plaster was applied to prevent the stone wall from deteriorating. He said that the colonial structure was decaying and the plaster would be a protective covering. The structure dates back to 1665.
The works are being carried out by the Office of Supervisory Works of the Presidency (OISOE) and the Ministry of Culture. Martinez is also director of the Museum of Dominican Man. The cost is said to have been RD$35 million.
El Nuevo Diario quotes a series of comments in response to the works. Italian expert Simona Cappelli de Taveras said that the plaster was applied without removing the contaminating elements.
“As always, whoever carried out these works has shown impressive ignorance. It is evident from the photo of the plastered surface that as usual, on top of an affected wall, there is a strong presence of algae (the black covering of the wall), as well as contaminants, including fuel and dust from cars. These substances can only be eliminated with specific chemicals. Failing to eliminate them means leaving a serious problem that in time (five or six months) will return to the surface, as has happened at the Iglesia de los Dominicos and other pseudo-restored houses,” says the expert.
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