ICHH (former National Social Security Institute)

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Civil architecture · Year: 1966 · Authors: Juan de Zavala y Lafora

This building, which today houses the Canary Islands Institute of Blood Donation and Hemotherapy (ICHH) of the Government of the Canary Islands, was designed in 1963 by the architect Juan de Zavala y Lafora as the headquarters of the National Social Security Institute in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Located in one of the most representative administrative areas of the city, it faces what was the Civil Government and, a little further on, the main City Hall headquarters. 

The building of the former National Social Security Institute is a property whose façade is structured into three differentiated sectors. The first to describe is the corner between Méndez Núñez and Pi y Margall streets, trapezoidal in shape with a curved front and two supporting columns; here is the main entrance to the building. At height, it has lintelled windows framed in stone and a small balcony on the first floor. On both sides of this section is the second sector, configured by vertical elements where concrete lattices provide light and ventilation to the staircases and interior rooms. The third and final section is also composed of two longitudinal blocks lined with framed and lintelled windows.

Inside, the floor is arranged around a rectangular courtyard, now covered, that provides light to the rooms. The entire structure is reinforced concrete and the carpentry is prefabricated wood.

Construction began on 11 February 1965 and was completed on 9 May the following year. Today it is owned by the Canary Islands Health Service, which uses it as a blood donation and hemotherapy centre.

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