Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
innovative aspects in the execution of the strengthening
and stabilizing of the volcanic cavern of “los Jameos del agua”,
lanzarote, canary islands, spain
a. cárdenas
Cabildo Insular de Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
c. olalla & a. serrano
Escuela de Ingenieros de Caminos, Madrid, Spain
a. Gonzalo
HCC, Madrid, Spain
aBsTRacT: The rehabilitation of the volcanic natural cave that constitute “los Jameos del agua”
auditorium, was a challenge in the development of new technologies, materials and even machinery, spe-
cifically designed for strengthening and conditioning this impressive natural area. as a consequence that
this is the biggest natural auditorium in europe, and a specially protected space, both, the project and its
execution have required to contemplate the double condition of securing more than 800,000 people who
use it every year, while maintaining the original aesthetics.
1
BackGRoUnD
los Jameos del agua is located in the north of
lanzarote, one of the seven islands of the canary
islands and is a part of the volcanic system of the
atlantic cave, formed by the eruptions of the vol-
cano la corona three thousand years ago. Jameo
is an aboriginal word that designates the part of a
volcanic tube that has collapsed its ceiling, gener-
ating a circular hollow open to the light.
The auditorium is the product of a geological
volcanic pipe, which is currently in progressive deg-
radation. The area consists of a natural cave with
73 meters in length, about 20 in width and 10 of
maximum height. since 1976 it has been fit out as
an auditorium by the architect from lanzarote,
césar Manrique being the biggest natural audito-
rium in europe.
several instabilities observed in the natural ter-
rain that forms the vault caused the preventive clo-
sure to the public of the auditorium in 2003. in
2005 the authorities of the cabildo of lanzarote
decided to entrust to a commission of experts the
study of the problem and the issuance of a techni-
cal report on its status and predictable evolution
from the point of view of security to the public use
of the auditorium.
This committee issued a report concluding
that the auditorium had various problems affect-
ing its stability. so for opening to the public the
Figure 1.
overview of the auditorium.
auditorium again in acceptable safety conditions,
several actions should be carried out.
The high patrimonial value of the place imposed
that these actions should be defined and run not
only under structural criteria, but also of aesthet-
ics, preserving the original appearance of the natu-
ral environment in which it is located.
