The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) announced completion of renovation and conservation works at the Taipa Houses-Museum at the end of August. According to a statement issued yesterday by the IC, the work undertaken included painting the exterior walls, repairing windows and door frames, and the installation of lighting in areas surrounding the buildings. The work is now complete and three of the houses will be open to the public from this Saturday, October 1, with free admission.
Built in 1921, the five Portuguese buildings of Taipa Houses-Museum were originally the residences of senior civil servants and Macanese families. In 1992, the five houses were recognized as buildings with architectural value. After restoration, the government transformed them into museums under the name of “Taipa Houses-Museum”, which were opened to the public in 1999.
The renovation project for the houses was recently involved in controversy, when the plan to implement a Portuguese restaurant and other facilities in the site, previously announced by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, was dropped.
The decision taken by the interdepartmental group was based on “a significant number of opinions from concerned citizens about the possibility of such a project affecting the surrounding environment.” As such it was decided to “suspend the plan keeping the original function of the building as a touristic interest house.”
The Taipa Houses-Museum will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed on Mondays).
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