Taipa Houses-Museum revitalization project ready by the end of next month

The renovation of the five Taipa Houses-Museum as announced by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, has finally begun.
The works are expected to last for approximately one month, costing a total of MOP6.4 million, the president of Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), Ung Vai Meng, announced yesterday afternoon in a press conference that sought to provide further details on the project.
Ung justified the revamp as a project that will promote Portuguese and Macanese culture. In addition, he noted that these venues have never been subject to major repairs or renovations.
The purpose of the renovations is to provide a fresh look and include new elements while also “maintaining the atmosphere and feeling of the museum complex,” said Ung.
The works, having a confirmed end date in September, will target the outer and inner walls for repair and repainting, as well as restore windows , renovate furniture  and oversee the installation of floor lighting.
As the IC president noted, the renovations have four goals: to maintain the comfort and attractiveness of the space; to introduce Portuguese and Macanese traditional cuisine; to improve walking routes and  include cultural and creative industry  elements; and to seek cooperation from external entities.
In order to fulfill those goals the IC will cancel the entry fee that until recently was charged for visitors of the museum complex. One of the houses will display cultural and creative products, specifically the works of young local creators. Another will seek the cooperation of the consulates of several countries in order to showcase exhibitions and events.
The director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Helena de Senna Fernandes, stated that “we are also seeking the cooperation [of groups and residents] for small projects regarding performances that would be in line with the project. Namely   for music, folk dance and sketching activities, among others, [that] will [strengthen] the Portuguese atmosphere,” adding that the MGTO will take charge of the space’s promotion.
As has been previously publicized, one of the chosen methods for this cultural promotion is through gastronomy, with the inclusion of a restaurant in one of the houses that will serve Portuguese food and drinks.
As Fanny Vong, the president of the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) said, the institute  will be in charge of supervising the food and beverage element, insuring that all runs as planned.
“We will introduce suitable operators and we will also manage their performance,” she said.
When questioned on the choice of operator, Vong said, “[It] is not yet confirmed,” but she affirmed that “the theme [of Portuguese cuisine] will be a must.”
Vong also clarified that the house to be transformed into a restaurant venue already  possesses a large number of facilities since “it was planned from the start to be that way.” She remarked that the aforementioned idea to have a restaurant in the houses-museum comes from the 1999 original project that was never implemented.
This food and beverage  venue will occupy an additional multi-­purpose space within another of the five houses, which was envisioned to include a Portuguese cultural art display. With regards to the concession for the restaurant, Vong stated that there are three options being considered: “public tender, direct attribution or consultancy method.”
Vong also said that the venue will commence operations “as soon as possible after the renovations works are completed.”
Ung clarified that out of the five  houses, aside from the two that will be used as food and beverage venue and supporting space, three will be signposted for other purposes: one for showcasing cultural and creative products; another for exhibitions and activities; and the final one will remain as a display of a traditional Macanese house.
When questioned if the repurposing  of the house formerly dedicated to the Portuguese regions will be a substitution of Portuguese cultural heritage with food and beverage products, the president of the IC remarked that “Portuguese cuisine has an important role in the creation of local culture,” highlighting also that there will an increase in the area of the museum dedicated to this end. “When before we only two houses dedicated to Portugal and to Macau, now there will be three,” he said.
His comment suggests that this alteration was a decision reached by consensus together with the Portuguese consulate-general in Macau, other Portuguese associations and local cultural authorities. The current way of presenting the Portuguese regions “doesn’t make sense anymore,” he added. “It was too outdated.”
When questioned on the expected results of such an initiative, the director of MGTO said, “it is expected to increase the number of visitors of that area by 10 to 15 percent,” remarking that the council formed to implement the project is not targeting large tour groups, but is instead focusing on individuals and small groups.