World News Inc. publica sobre Casa del Agua

Fuente: http://article.wn.com/view/2012/08/05/the_mexican_foreign_ministry_asks_the_korean_government_to_r/


MEXICO Ministry of Foreign Affairs
05/08/2012

THE MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ASKS THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER DEMOLITION OF THE "CASA DEL AGUA" BY ARCHITECT RICARDO LEGORRETA ON JEJU ISLAND, KOREA  

Since it became known that the "Casa del Agua," designed by the prestigious Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta and built in 2009 in the city of Seogwipo on Jeju Island in Korea, might be demolished, the Foreign Ministry--on behalf of the Mexican government--has been involved in intense negotiations with Korean authorities at all three levels of government (municipal, provincial and national) to stop the destruction of the house, part of the artistic legacy of one of the most important Mexican architects.

La Casa del Agua (House of Water) and Legorreta's design were awarded the American Property Award by Bloomberg and the New York Times in 2010, which called it the best hotel design and construction on Jeju island. It is one of two architectural projects by Legorreta in Asia; the second is in Japan.

Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa discussed with Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan over the telephone Mexico's concern about the property's future and the government's and people's desire to preserve it, given its architectural value.

The Korean Foreign Minister explained that the decision to demolish the building resulted from a lawsuit brought by officials in the town of Seogwipo. The judge found that the building does not meet the environmental and land use regulations and that it was built as a show house that was not meant as a permanent construction.

He stressed, however, the intention of the current owners to construct the main building according to the original design of architect Ricardo Legorreta.

Mr. Kim Sung-Hwan expressed the willingness of the Korean government to explain Mexico's interest in the case to the officials on Jeju island.