Tap Seac ‘Glass House’ to undergo repair works

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, has revealed the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s (IC) plans to revamp Tap Seac’s ‘Glass House,’ due to the building’s poor construction quality.
Mr Tam acknowledged that the structural integrity of the building “was not good,” and admitted that its continued vacancy is a shame.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Youth Affairs Committee meeting held yesterday at the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ), Mr Tam recalled that the ‘Glass House’ has experienced several construction problems, including rainwater leakages.
“The IC is now requesting the building’s renovation. [The building] will undergo renovation work which may take about a year,” he added.
The ‘Glass House,’ designed by local architect Carlos Marreiros, has been almost vacant and inactive since 2007, when its construction was completed.
Mr Tam was asked to elaborate on the government’s plans for the revamp of the Hotel Estoril. He recalled that the administration is hoping to develop the Tap Seac area into a recreational zone for Macau’s youth.
Mr Tam hinted that the government isn’t neglecting the needs of elderly citizens, but is simply prioritizing youth in this particular project, as many schools are located in the Tap Seac area.
The majority of Youth Affairs Committee members are in favor of Hotel Estoril’s demolition, said Loi Man Keong from the Collective Wisdom Policy Center. Mr Loi, a committee member at the Center, said that most of his colleagues believe that a new building should be constructed, but opinions differ when it comes to whether or not to preserve the mural.
Another committee member, Wong Kuok Wai from the General Union of the Neighborhood Associations of Macau, revealed that preliminary survey results showed that 40 percent of respondents support the plans to demolish the building.
The union launched a survey last month, gathering a total of 2,500 valid opinions from Macau residents.
Secretary Tam attended a Youth Affairs Committee meeting yesterday, where members discussed Macau’s current youth policy.
DSEJ’s Youth Department chief, Un Hoi Cheng, recalled at a press conference that an interdepartmental task group has been established to effectively implement policies for youth development.