"During the first stage of the project, work was carried out on the square and the building's surroundings, including relevant landmarks dating from the time of the city's foundation. The building which is to accommodate the Government's Presidential Office is situated to the west of the square. It [is] an open-plan building envisaged to consist of large stone structures around the courtyard of what used o be Hamilton House, one of the most symbolic buildings of the old quarter of Santa Cruz. The building's volume and spatial layout are defined by its bearing structure and are characterised by the building materials. The whole solid structure is traversed by two axial spaces.
The central "crater-like" structure has a horizontal walk-way through it. The two axes cross each other, providing an atmosphere of a "meeting-place" and "a transparent visitor area", allowing interrelation between the building's various floors and natural light and air to come together in the restored courtyard. Stone plays a special role in the facing of the building. On the outside, the stone used for the building's façade is covered with scale-like layers of basalt rock from the south of Tenerife, while inside, different coloured blocks of stones [have been] placed in the building's most significant spaces. The stone [was] brought from other islands (stone from Tindaya in Fuerteventura was used in the assembly room, red stone from Gomera in the reception room…etc.).
Local artists from the Canary Islands have collaborated during the whole of the project and their work will be directly reflected in the construction and improvement of the building's design."
[Excerpts from the catalogue Artengo Menis Pastrana: Form + Matter, Aedes East, Berlin 2000, p.45-46.]