May, at first
glance, the following lines have little relation with heritage and cultural
identity, but soon you will see that I am not far wrong.
On this
occasion I wish to speak of a construction that makes me fascinated while
uncertainty every time I pass by it or I am going to visit it. This is a huge
skeleton of reinforced concrete that was once thought of as hangar and now
totally abandoned and dilapidated. In its state and its possible recovery I
want to focus, due to it is a clear and undoubted remains of our local history.
The hangar of
which I speak is at the University Campus of Science; within the grounds of the
University of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid) located northeast area of the city.
Before making
a brief history I would note that we cannot really talk about a construction
because the project that Esteban Terradas made in the 40´s to implement this
new hangar to the General Air Academy in Alcalá de Henares just ran the
structure, what can be observed and what is imminent, and it was abandoned long
before the end of the work.
Everyone,
speaking or remembering aerodromes that there are or there were in the area, they
always mention the Barajas Airport and Air Base of Torrejón de Ardoz (both in
Madrid), but what few people know is that there were once other two more, both
in Alcalá.
In 1913 a
temporary aeronautical facility was opened in this town known as Angel Field
(named after a chapel dedicated to the Holy Guardian Angel, who it was in the
same area). This airfield served as a pilot school for the various Spanish
military forces. At that time there was no concept that we have today of
"track" of an aerodrome, therefore, to get off the planes were
oriented in the direction where the wind was more favorable.
These plants were
growing and most powerful aircraft were already harboring and a greater number
of military soldiers, and soon these facilities became too small to harbor both
members of the Navy and the Air Force, until finally it was abandoned in 1934.
The new
airport, to accommodate this large existing military movement, was built on the
outskirts of the city and it was called by the name of "Barberán and
Collar" in honor of two Spanish pilots disappeared mysteriously in Mexico
at that time.
During the
Republic, this new airfield was a participant during the War from 1936 to 1939,
in the missions of aerospace defense of Madrid. With the coming to power of the
General Francisco Franco took the step of creating the Air Force as a third
force Spanish Armada.
The Spanish
Air Force needed a new training center for pilots (known by the Spanish acronym
AGA (acronym from General Air Academy) and at first considered building that
AGA in Alcalá de Henares, in this airport, for which new buildings and a huge reinforced
concrete hangar were built, but finally was located in San Javier (Murcia).
"Barberán
and Collar" was closed to air traffic in 1965, but until 1969 it had a
garrison of the Air Force, which was used for storage and other auxiliary
facilities.
Finally the
grounds of the airfield were reused to make way for external campus of the
University of Alcalá de Henares, which were reused and extended some existing
buildings to provide shelter and services to different schools of the
university.
Viewing the historical
past that has this hangar, it would not be strange to think of an immediate
recovery of this element, in the consolidation of the existing structure and
severely damaged and try to establish some kind of program to use and enjoy it today
and tomorrow ... but nothing is further from the truth. After more than 70
years standing still there is nothing planned for it. The aim was installed
under this structure a large greenhouse that was part of the Botanical Garden “Juan
Carlos I”, located in the vicinity, but has forgotten the project, along with
many others.
Furthermore,
it appears that in the case of military architecture or related military issues
not pay much attention to time and try to safeguard its use and give it back,
surprising, since this element does not remember events rough or harmful
memories.
Another
important point and key to its recovery is currently uncatalogued and it has no
known type of protection, being part of the Red List of the Complutense Heritage.
As you
approach to the place where it is still standing may be seen traces that have
been causing continuous due to the time and neglect it has suffered, not those
observed at first glance, such as humidity, vegetation on all items, graffiti’s,
trash and dirt... but in areas where concrete is cracking due to oxidation of
the internal armature and show a marked and severe structural weakness.
Currently the
use given to this facility is to store mulch and pruning, and college parties
are held occasionally, patterns days, "paelladas" and "botellones"...
Therefore I
find it strange that in the time it takes the university in the area has not
done anything to put this hangar at its facilities because, as shown in the
photographs of the site, following a structural reinforcement and correct
adaptation would be fully capable of hosting any use, educational or not, that it
would bestow. In addition, we are talking about a building consisting of three
longitudinal aisles with huge dimensions (over 150 meters long, more than 30
meters wide and almost 15 meters high in the central zone).
At the time of
award possible uses that can be established here I have found different
solutions and the most varied, prove me curiously the fact that no one wish to
its transformation into a museum of aviation or the use to which it was
intended in the 40's, as advocated by some elders.
A large
majority of students opt for its transformation into a central library supply
all surrounding colleges (science, biology, nursing ...). And most would choose
another was put up to house the events that held in different schools now,
patterns days, "paelladas" ... in a safe manner.
The first
option does not see it feasible for two reasons: one, by the fact that every
school has a greater or lesser extent a library, and two, because in the center
of Alcalá de Henares it is doing a work of remodeling and expansion of the “Chancellor”
and “Infantry” area, and in the future it will house a large library of several
plants.
The second
option is more feasible that I see, the transformation of the hangar in a large
reception center student, partly because of the large influx of students who
are in the area, not just local or national, even international, thanks to exchange
programs like Erasmus, grants for languages... that they offered. A meeting
point where they could gather and share experiences, socialize, and celebrate
events, concerts...
Whether use or
otherwise, any of the exposed or one that could adapt, it is important that we
should worry about the elements that are part of our history, whether
buildings, elements... all are always linked to stages of human beings and of
life.
And, as it
once told me: "... if it has a
certain use, it is protected ... if it does not have a certain use, it is abandoned
..." ... so much reason...
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