The side gate of the National Palace, considered cultural heritage, which was damaged on March 6 by the impact of a CFE vanDuring the protests of a group of normalistas from the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Normal Schoolfrom Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, presents regular to severe local damage, although it retains its general structural stability. The cost of the repair is estimated at 700 thousand pesos, reported the INAH.
“It was a strong impact for the gate that did generate damage that affected its structural stability. However, it did not collapse, it remains vertical and is in place, although it has lost some materials and fractures. But all the damage it has can be compensated: All the elements are recoverable and some can be reinforced, because they did present a significant fracture,” conservative Ana Bertha Miramontes Mercado explained in a telephone interview with El Sol de México.
The specialist is responsible for the Conservation and Research Directorate of the National Coordination for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage. Body belonging to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), who will supervise the restoration work that will be in charge of authorities from the National Palace and the Federal Secretariat of Culture.
IMPORTANT HISTORICAL VALUE
With approximate dimensions of three meters high and 1.80 meters long, this gate located on Moneda Street has an important historical value, “in principle because it forms part of the historical monument in an integral way, which is one of the most used entrances. of the National Palace; but also because it could have been manufactured at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century,” according to the specialist, who stated that it is an object composed of two white cedar doors, which has presented different interventions over time. .
“The historicity of the historical monument tells us that (the gate) has been given constant maintenance in various historical periods and today. Due to the diagnosis that we are carrying out, we have seen that there are some grafts that are part of its different stages of maintenance and conservation,” said the restorer, who when asked if this gate had shown damage due to a specific previous historical event, mentioned that it did not. , because it is “naturally protected, as it is a side entrance.”
THE RESTORATION WILL BE ON SITE
Without giving a specific date for the completion of the restoration work, due to the management involved, the conservator assures that it will be in the short to medium term that it will return to its pre-impact state.
“We have noticed that the leaf on the left or east side needs to be dismantled, as well as the structural stabilization treatment that will be attended to immediately, so we hope it will be ready in a short period. We are used to supervising, supporting and advising projects that are developed in situ (on site), so that access can continue to be used in a controlled manner, and, of course, with the implementation of a temporary protection system, while the leaves work”, the specialist signed.
Due to the type of damage received in both parts of the gate, Miramontes Mercado said that it will be necessary to recover the original state of some malformations in the wood, as well as the recovery of the frame framing and the installation of grafts in some areas. After this work, protection treatments against pests will also be carried out, and the application of fire-fighting solvents, as well as varnishes that will ensure its conservation against inclement weather.
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Regarding the damage to walls and windows and ironwork in the frame of the entrance to the premises, Miramontes said that they require minor conservation work that will also be supervised by the INAH. Likewise, he mentioned that so far no further damage has been reported either outside or inside the facility.