A.2 LONG YEARS OF ABANDONMENT

The Punta Begoña Galleries were dreamed up by a great entrepreneur at an extraordinary time in the history and development of Bizkaia. Over the troubled course of the 20th century the structure was overtaken by events. It ceased to be a family home and was pressed into service for some highly unexpected purposes. Social gatherings and business meetings gave way to political negotiations, hospital services, humanitarian and propaganda actions and games and adventures for children; and the site was eventually abandoned and vandalised. From being a symbol of power, it gradually slipped into oblivion.

In spite of its obvious worth as a heritage site, abandonment and lack of maintenance brought it to a state in which there was only one thing that could be done.