Casas de los Sánchez-Ochando

Casas de los Sánchez-Ochando (English: Sánchez-Ochando's houses) are a group of houses in the municipality of Santa María de Guía de Gran Canaria. They exemplify vernacular architecture, the traditional domestic architectural style of the "well-to-do class" of the Canary Islands. Two specimens remain.

History 

In the early 19th century, the land was owned by Alonso Riverol's family. Two centuries later, the land was passed to the Sánchez-Ochando family. 

The land spread across family members via inheritance. Some became the property of Juan del Castillo Westherling, who was then Count of the Vega Grande de Guadalupe. The set was colloquially known as 'Casa del Conde' (English: House of the Count).

The houses were known and highlighted in the Historic Set of the City of Guía, because of how they remained assets of one family, the proximity of the buildings, and as a representation of two models of stately homes from the 17th century. The surnames of its inhabitants included Vetancourt, Riverol, Merino, Falcón, Aríñez and Bilbao.

The house that closes the alley barracks was started in the 17th century. Its facade presents the characteristic typology of manor houses of Gran Canaria, in which a stone frame joins the main door with a window located, with windowsill and cornice as decoration. It typically has four drainpipes.

The front of the house is covered with a four-sided roof, while a wide gallery balustrade supported by jabalcones is visible from the Las Huertas area.

This building has testimonial value to a past mode of construction, but it is abandoned. The quarry frame has been painted the same color as the cloth of the facade, an aesthetic decision that doesn't reflect traditional construction. In addition, in 2019 a bank of contemporary architectural style was built in front of the house, which contributes to the loss of the place's cultural context.

Marqués del Muni street house 
This house gives Casa Condal the nickname to the whole. When cornering, the typological contrast between the secondary facade facing the west (with a wide wall whose only decoration is two rows of windows and the frontis that obeys the neoclassical taste of the openings perfectly arranged in their placement, as well as in the stonework frames that surround them and the elegant cornice that crowns the building on its side of the old street of La Cruz.

A striking forged blacksmith shop, with classic vegetal and faunal decoration, is located in the railings of its six windows and on the balcony.

Like the previous house, it is in deteriorated condition. E.g., the wide balcony has completely disappeared.

Gallery

References

Notes

Bibliography 
 González-Sosa, Pedro  Contribution for a history of Gran Canaria Guide . City Council of Santa María de Guía, 1985.
 Martín Rodríguez, Fernando Gabriel  Canarian domestic architecture  Classroom of Culture of Tenerife, 1978. 
 Quintana Andrés, Pedro C  A look at the past  The City Council of Santa María de Guía, Government of the Canary Islands, 2006. 
 González-Sosa, Pedro  Guia of Gran Canaria: History of the City Council and the buildings that were institutional headquarters . Edit: City Council of Santa María de Guía and Island Council of Gran Canaria. The 2001 year
 Martín Ruíz, Juan Francisco  The northwest of Gran Canaria. A study of Historical Demography (1485-1860).  Exuma. Commonwealth of Cabildos de Las Palmas Culture Plan, 1978.
 Several Authors  Tourist Guide of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of Santa María de Guía de Gran Canaria.  Ayto. De Sta. Mª de Guía, 2009.

Category: Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in the Province of Las Palmas
Category: History of the Canary Islands
Category: Tourist attractions in the Canary Islands
Category: Buildings and structures in Las Palmas