Hotel Mencey

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Civil architecture · Year: 1945-1950 · Authors: Enrique Rumeu de Armas

From the very moment of its inauguration, the Hotel Mencey became a benchmark and the main luxury accommodation establishment in the city.

After the closure of several high-category hotels in Santa Cruz during the years before the Civil War, the city was left without important tourist infrastructure to serve as a starting point for any tourist route into the interior of the island. After the end of the war, it was the Economic Command of the Canary Islands, led by the Captain General of the islands, Francisco García Escámez, who was the main promoter for the construction of a new luxury hotel in Santa Cruz.

The Hotel Mencey arose from a provincial public competition. Architects Tomás Machado and Enrique Rumeu submitted complete projects and models, which were exhibited at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in June 1945. Rumeu's project was the winner, although the two proposals were very similar. They highlighted the most notable characteristics of traditional Canarian architecture.

The winning project presented a rectangular base structure divided into three clearly defined zones (living, resting and services), allowing the use of large terrace areas on the façade facing La Rambla. Its exterior appearance is a showcase of the official art of those post-war years in the Canaries, featuring balconies and galleries typical of vernacular architecture. The interior spaces also correspond to the decorative criteria of the time: lounges decorated with paintings by local artists (Martín González, Aguiar, Guezala, Bonnin, etc.), a large courtyard and a considerable area dedicated to gardens.

The building was completed in February 1950 and inaugurated a month later. At that time, it had a capacity for one hundred and seventy guests and eighty-six rooms. Ownership belongs to the Cabildo, which has operated it through various hotel chains throughout its history.

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