The rehabilitation works of the Mirador building, dating from the 16th century and considered a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) since 1893, have brought to light a section of the 3,000-year-old wall of Zaragoza, which can be seen and touched inside the building, which is now enjoying a new life as the Edificio Mirador de Zaragoza Art Centre (CAEMZ).
The rehabilitation of the property was an artisanal process that lasted five years, with each stage of debris removal and restoration being carried out by hand. In the basement is the wall tower in an extraordinary state of conservation. This discovery has generated considerable interest among architects and archaeologists, since it is the only wall cube found inside a very old building. Next to the tower is a work by the Huesca artist David Latorre, a cube made with Roman silt, donated to the Viento del Norte Foundation. In this same space, the discovery of oil tanks and part of the Roman wall stands out.
The basement thus becomes one of the three spaces of the building that reflect the history of Zaragoza. Given the interest generated by these discoveries, technical conferences on the foundation walls of Caesaraugusta are being organized, to deepen the analysis and study of this building, its historical content and its integration with the rest of the walls.
The building was acquired with an uncertain value regarding future discoveries. The person responsible for this rehabilitation was the Zaragoza architect Carlos Moros, who explains that “now we want to democratize these important archaeological discoveries, and that this striking part of the ancient Roman wall can be seen up close and touched by all audiences.
Zaragoza Mirador Building Art Center
The CAEMZ is located at 177 Coso Street and is designed to be a cultural center, with a special focus on architecture, photography and cultural activities. The Mirador building, classified as a Property of Cultural Interest, is integrated into the Monastery of the Resurrection of the Order of Canonesses Regular of the Holy Sepulchre.
The official opening of the CAEMZ will take place on Friday, September 20, and will mark the beginning of its operation with a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Statute of Aragon. This unique exhibition consists of a collection of 35 lithographs made by hand, using a turkey quill and a special typography from the 6th century, which tell the story of the Reconquista until the approval of the Statute. These lithographs have already traveled through Aragon, Catalonia and Madrid 40 years ago and now find their permanent home in the ZMAEM. This collection has already been donated to the Viento del Norte Foundation, which manages the basement and ground floor of the Mirador building.
The upper floor will be used for temporary exhibitions. On this level, visitors will be able to enjoy a screen measuring 20 linear meters by 2.40 meters high, ideal for the projection of large-format audiovisual samples and digital art.
