Revitalization Project of the Wulff Hotel as a Social and Economic Catalyst in Parras de la Fuente, CoahuilaOriginal title: Revitalización del hotel Wulff en Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila, Mexico: Detonador social y económico de la zona.
Original title: Revitalización del hotel Wulff en Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila, Mexico: Detonador social y económico de la zona.
Student Thesis:
Student thesis
Thesis
The Old Wulff Hotel, a building of significant historical value located in the Plaza de Armas of Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila, Mexico is in a severe state of deterioration after more than three decades of abandonment. Its advanced decay not only compromises its preservation but also highlights the lack of interest in heritage conservation and the fragmentation of the social fabric in the region. The building’s imminent ruin calls for urgent intervention for its rescue and adaptive reuse.
Based on comprehensive research, supported by interviews with the Secretariat of Tourism, the Secretariat of Economy, the Coahuila delegation of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and the town’s official chronicler, two main issues were identified: the absence of an ethnographic museum to document and preserve the history of Parras, and the lack of a permanent space for the sale of local artisanal products. According to the guidelines for Pueblos Mágicos, having an ethnographic museum is a fundamental requirement, which Parras currently does not fulfill, thus putting its designation at risk. Moreover, local producers and artisans lack a permanent marketplace, limiting their economic activity and forcing them to travel to other municipalities to sell their products.
In response to this situation, the revitalization of the Old Wulff Hotel is proposed through its transformation into an ethnographic museum dedicated to the history of Parras de la Fuente, along with an artisanal market providing a stable space for local producers. This project will not only contribute to the preservation of historical heritage, but also strengthen cultural identity, boost the local economy, and reinforce the connection between the Plaza de Armas and the museum through the pedestrianization of the surrounding streets, thus fostering social cohesion and urban integration.
Based on comprehensive research, supported by interviews with the Secretariat of Tourism, the Secretariat of Economy, the Coahuila delegation of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and the town’s official chronicler, two main issues were identified: the absence of an ethnographic museum to document and preserve the history of Parras, and the lack of a permanent space for the sale of local artisanal products. According to the guidelines for Pueblos Mágicos, having an ethnographic museum is a fundamental requirement, which Parras currently does not fulfill, thus putting its designation at risk. Moreover, local producers and artisans lack a permanent marketplace, limiting their economic activity and forcing them to travel to other municipalities to sell their products.
In response to this situation, the revitalization of the Old Wulff Hotel is proposed through its transformation into an ethnographic museum dedicated to the history of Parras de la Fuente, along with an artisanal market providing a stable space for local producers. This project will not only contribute to the preservation of historical heritage, but also strengthen cultural identity, boost the local economy, and reinforce the connection between the Plaza de Armas and the museum through the pedestrianization of the surrounding streets, thus fostering social cohesion and urban integration.