Fuerteventura architects urge officials: “Use our expertise to create healthier places to live”

The third Fuerteventura Architecture Days, organized by the island’s Official College of Architects, are providing a platform for a necessary debate on territorial models, sustainability, and construction innovation. The forum, which concludes next week, seeks a constructive message for both politicians and citizens rather than confrontation.

During a conversation on La Voz de Fuerteventura on Radio Insular, Javier Gutiérrez, the College’s treasurer, and José Ramos, cultural board member, emphasized that architecture cannot be separated from the daily lives of the island’s residents. It shapes how we inhabit spaces, how municipalities grow, how we feel, and how territory is managed—“we even live inside it,” Ramos noted.

Because of this close relationship, they lament that administrations do not make fuller use of their technical expertise.

“We would like there to be more engagement,” they said, urging that the College receive the presence it deserves in public decision‑making.

A Planning Process That Moves Too Slowly

One of the College’s most striking diagnoses concerns municipal planning. The conclusion is that the island’s urban map is outdated.

“We’ll be politically correct and say it’s quite deficient.”

Puerto del Rosario approved its plan in 2017, but it is still based on the 2000 consolidated text—a law that changed just as the adaptation was released. The current Land Law dates from 2017, and no majorero municipality has approved a new general plan since then.

“The closest to doing it is Pájara, which I think is about to be released,” Gutiérrez explained.

Even more concerning is the situation in other towns:

“We have some municipalities… that are currently working with subsidiary regulations that are older than me, literally,” Ramos lamented, highlighting a reality that repeats across most councils whose urban tools are “on standby.”

Grow, but Grow Well

The interview also addressed population growth. The College stresses that growth is not optional—it reflects demographic and economic realities. What matters is how growth occurs.

“We believe Fuerteventura, within the Canary Islands, remains a fertile land… we have the possibility to grow,” Gutiérrez asserted. He warned, however, that the model must be oriented toward sustainability and territorial protection.

“Here… the trend is to conserve, and in some areas even to shrink.”

Architects argue for a balanced advance, leaving behind past practices that overloaded tourist zones on other islands. They point to a formula increasingly rooted in contemporary urbanism.

“Growth should be vertical, not horizontal.”

“The logic is not to consume more land, but to build upward and create quality urban spaces,” Ramos added, aligning with regulations and the need for a medium‑ and long‑term sustainable territorial model.

Housing: An Urgent Issue Requiring New Approaches

Housing scarcity was another focal point. The College warned of a structural problem: a shortage of skilled labor in an aging sector lacking generational renewal, coupled with soaring and volatile costs.

“There are people who can afford rent but can’t find it,” Gutiérrez said, emphasizing that the lack of housing pushes vulnerable profiles into precarious situations.

To address this, they advocate for industrialized, modular, and more efficient construction systems.

“There is an increasing trend toward those systems… it will be necessary to adopt them,” Gutiérrez defended. While acknowledging the logistical challenges of island life, they believe that innovation is key to reducing costs and shortening construction timelines.

A Message to Majorero Politicians

To conclude, the College’s representatives invited citizens to attend the days, which are open to the public for the first time, and called on authorities to make use of their expertise.

“Keep us more present. Use us for whatever you need and ask for advice whenever you can and want to,” Javier Gutiérrez stated, adding that the College does not seek controversy:

“We are here to help… we will not give any destructive criticism.”

José Ramos reinforced the collaborative spirit:

“If they do better, we do better. That way we’ll have a healthier island for everyone to live on.”