Casas Históricas:
Profile and Aims
Casas Históricas y Singulares is a non profit-making organisation,
which belongs to the European Union's Association of Historical
Houses, an organisation which has counted among its members the
owners of houses of recognised artistic, historical or cultural
value in Spain since 1994. The basic aim of the Association is
to promote conservation, maintenance, restoration and a more aware
use of all such houses. In so doing the socio-cultural role of
the buildings will also be heightened.
At this point in time the Association has
affiliated organisations throughout all the 17 Autonomous Communities
and numbers among its members the owners of more than 500 buildings,
buildings dating back to particular moments of historical relevance
or buildings that have particular traditions attached to their
building styles, buildings which in many cases come together
with the added attractions of gardens, parks and nature areas
that have their own important historical and ecological value.
It is clear then that "Casas
Históricas" is active in different areas:
A representational role for the owners when dealing with Public
Adminstration. The Association acts as a coordinator for independent
work and organises the opinions of the owners of these buildings,
providing them with an official "voice", expressing
their problems, and offering solutions to work on, as conservationists
of an important part of the national heritage. "Casas Históricas"
has become a mediator between the owners it represents and Public
Administration.
Sensitising the members of the public to what the work is that
the owners of historical buildings have to undertake. Making
it known to the whole of our society just what a complex task
it is when you decide to preserve and work on the conservation
of this important part of the historical heritage is one of
the things that is at the centre of the original aims of the
Association.
Promoting a type of legal framework to be created especially
for conservation. "Casas Históricas" would
like to create a legal framework which might temper and bring
a measure of balance into the notable tax burden imposed by
the current laws on the Historical Heritage : the economic,
financial and fiscal measures , all of which would do nothing
but encourage the owners to favour the increase and development
of the social role of these buildings.
In 1998 "Historical Houses" set up two new work groups
in order to facilitate this job of defending the private historical
heritage.
Regional groups:
these groups will be working at a regional level to create small
regional groups within the Association, that will be able to
have a more direct relationship with local government bodies.
Casas Históricas
y Singulares Foundation: This
new body will enable us to develop our work of protecting and
advertising the private, historical heritage by providing us
with a better political and social guarantee.
sociales.
Our work:
The Asociación de Propietarios de Casas Históricas
takes part in various projects, which have similar ends to its
own aims and objectives. Some of these schemes are backed by
the Ministry of Culture and Education.
An Informational Journal:
issued every four months.
A Juridical Service: this
is a cosultancy service which answers all questions of a legal
nature concerning the historical heritage. This is the service
which helps all those interested to find information about the
grants that are available for the various different categories
of buildings.
Cultural excursions
to various different areas to visit historical buildings and
to find out about the problems that they are facing.
Day sessions, courses, lectures:
in these sessions we deal with
many areas ranging from historical subjects to the purely legal
aspect, as well as criteria for conservation, or management
of the buildings.
Other work areas:
the Association has taken part on forums on Culture and Heritage
where its support was important, and the Association has also
helped the research and publication of studies on historical
buildings.
