The government delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, called architects and administrations to “shoulder the shoulder” to respond to a state problem such as housing. He did so during his speech at the event for the 50th anniversary of the Official College of Architects of Galicia (COAG) in Santiago de Compostela, in which he encouraged professionals to continue working in this line.
The delegate took advantage of his speech to recognize the work of Galician architects and professionals linked to the guild such as Santiago Martínez ‘Chago’, recognized with the prize ‘Architecture for a better world’, which they presented to him at the gala. “The Government and the architects share that objective of improving people’s lives and, obviously, housing plays a fundamental role in that strategy, to the point that we bet on making it the right as it is included in the Constitution,” said Blanco.
In this regard, he highlighted milestones such as the approval of the first Housing Law of Democracy or the 467 million euros transferred to the Xunta (89% of the 526 million euros committed) to increase the housing stock in the community, betting on the construction of 1,400 flats for accessible rent and the rehabilitation of 18,000 properties. He also mentioned the effort that the Government is making to value the historical heritage and gave as an example the Hostal de los Reis Católica, which hosted the event.
“We do it because we have a strong political will to respond to a state problem such as housing,” said the delegate, who recalled that on that path the architects have the Government and the funds of the Recovery Plan as their best ally.
“In our hands is the possibility to project and model the society we want. A society made up of healthy and happy people for whom access to housing is no longer their main concern,” he concluded.