La Casa de la Palestina

PROJECT: The House of Palestine is a unique building in Huaquechula. Built in the 18th century, it stands out for its composite arches and interior moldings, and is located right next to the famous former Convent of San Martín de Tours. This will be the setting for our conservation, restoration, and enhancement project, in which we are collaborating
with local and regional authorities. This is further enhanced by the exchange of best practices that will take place through various partners. Our goal is to revitalize this historic building and return it to the cultural activities of this community, with the possibility that it will soon house a site museum. In doing so, we are contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage, as well as improving the quality of life for the residents of Huaquechula.

ACTIVITIES: Volunteers will participate in the registration, conservation and restoration work of the front wing of the House of Palestine, within the Enhancement Plan that is proposed as a continuation of the work carried out after the 2017 earthquake. The exercises include architectural surveying, inventorying the clay tiles and cobblestones on the floors of the building's bays, and their restoration, practicing traditional construction methods. They will also learn to slake quicklime, prepare mucilage from nopal cactus mucilage, and make and apply lime paint. Participants will practice the conservation and restoration of adobe walls, thus rescuing the traditional uses and customs of this community. They will also participate in other crafts, such as installing wooden doors for the building, including their guards and moldings, guided by artisans and restoration professionals. The volunteers are a central part of all these
tasks, where they will learn and develop their personal and professional skills.