Comunidad San Blas - Environmental philosophy

PURPOSE / ENVIRONMENT / ...

	PURPOSE To publicise its natural and cultural values for people to enjoy, fostering their sensitivity and respect for their setting. This mission adds a dissemination dimension to the leisure product and it translates into a series of activities that will reveal the values of the Environmental Reserve and the cultural values of the region.
	ARGUMENT The natural and cultural values of the Environmental Reserve have acted as inspiration to generate a line of work to be followed in the different aspects that make up the project, from the design of spaces and uses to the activities available. In other words, these natural values and the historical uses that have been made of them are the “argument” or the common thread around which the San Blas Environmental Reserve has been developed. The architecture for instance, is based on the form, colours and textures of the reserve. The landscaping has been done using only native plant species of the area. The interior decoration takes its inspiration from the terrestrial and marine geology, flora and fauna. These three aspects refer to the aesthetics of the buildings, the gardens and the interiors, but the inspiration of the natural and cultural values does not with the superficial level; it transcends to the sphere of knowledge, via the explanations that accompany the elements used as decoration and in the very cultural and leisure activities available.
	PHILOSOPHIE Linked to the “argument” of the project, the environmental philosophy takes the historic uses of the natural resources of the property as a model to follow in modern times. This is how it defends and justifies the use of alternative energies and the implementation of an environmental management system in the operation of the entire grounds. The design and zoning have taken into account two sustainability criteria: a first criterion of recovering and conserving the areas of natural and cultural value, and a second criterion of occupying the degraded spaces with actions that will enhance their value added. This means that the protected areas or areas of inherent interest are presented almost in their original, pristine state, where we have only cleaned them up, for instance of man-made remains like exotic species of vegetation, and to refurbish tracks and observation points and rest stops. Whereas we have taken actions to meet our goals of sustainability in the degraded areas.
	-STRINGENT SCIENTIFIC STANDARDS The natural and ethnographic values of San Blas were studied in depth thanks to the scientific geological, biological and archaeological studies that were conducted and the environmental diagnosis of the beach as part of the Co-operation Agreement signed with the University of La Laguna and by the AQA Group to make an in-depth study of the area. The result of this work, together with the historic study conducted, certified the natural and cultural value of the area and enabled us to base all our leisure and educational activities on scientific facts. This scientific documentary foundation is the spring that the different media that transmit knowledge about the place drink from, like the audiovisuals, the Historic Experience Tunnel, the interpretation hall/museum, among many others. But this does not mean that any of these are solely of interest to experts or connoisseurs. The information will be offered in the right kind of language in a way that will reach all kinds of audiences, with a view to promoting an attitude of respect for the environment in any visitor.
	MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM San Blas Environmental Reserve has implied the participation of many different professional profiles to develop it. That is why the team has always been a multi-disciplinary one, made up of men and women specialising in Biology, Geology, History, Geography, Archaeology, Agricultural Engineering, Museum Sciences, experts in special effects, communicators, composers, etc. apart from the architects, engineers, interior designers, landscapers, entertainers, etc. who took part in creating a conventional tourist hotel project. Co-ordination between teams takes on a special importance when so many different fields are involved, but even more so when all of them have to focus on a common “argument” or common thread.

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