Local architects invited to Hotel Estoril revamp tender

The project that aimed to revamp the old Hotel Estoril will no longer be awarded directly to the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira,” the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, has announced.
The secretary, who was speaking to journalists on the sidelines at the inauguration of the Nam Van Lake, added that the decision was “political” and was made personally by him.
According to Tam, the government’s new idea is to open a public tender allowing local architects to present projects for the venue. The high official told Radio Macau that the previous architect was “already informed in a general way” of the change and “will be invited to compete with local architects.”
The secretary added that he received “much advice and many  suggestions” and concluded that by applying the public tender procedure to this project, the process will also be “more transparent” and “local architects would be very pleased [with the idea].”
This decision comes about one year after the Secretary announced the choice of the world-famous Portuguese architect to lead the project, which aims to transform the venue into a center for creativity and a space for activities of local youth.
Two months ago and right after the decision made by the Cultural Heritage Council of the building having no architectural value worth preserving, Secretary Tam’s office announced that Siza Vieira would be in the territory between June and July this year to evaluate “in loco” the conditions of the project.