Architect tells guests seeing inappropriate gargoyle to seek help
An architect's installation of copper rain pipes into historic gargoyles at Spain's oldest hotel has sparked outrage, with critics calling it obscene and the architect dismissing them as psychologically troubled.
A controversial renovation at Spain’s oldest hotel has sparked widespread ridicule after an architect installed copper rain pipes directly into the backsides of historic stone gargoyles, creating what critics describe as an obscene and disrespectful alteration to the 16th-century landmark.
The architectural modification to the Hostal dos Reis Católicos in Santiago de Compostela has drawn fierce criticism from residents, conservation groups and historians who say the design makes the carved waterspouts appear to be sexually violated, according to New York Post.
Fernando Cobos, the architect responsible for the project, has dismissed the backlash and suggested his detractors need psychological evaluation rather than architectural consultation.
If you see a sodomized gargoyle where there is a spout, there is not much I can do, Cobos stated during a recent lecture at the Galician architects’ association, as reported by the Times of London.
He went further, declaring himself an architect rather than a psychiatrist, and maintaining that critics simply have perverted minds for interpreting his work as suggestive.
Historic Building Subjected to Questionable Design
The renovation involved 16 gargoyles on the ornate late-Gothic structure, which previously served as a hospital and now operates as a luxury hotel. One particularly controversial stone carving depicts a naked man in a crouching position with a copper pipe protruding from his rear end as rainwater flows through it.
Images of the modified gargoyles circulated online in April, triggering immediate outrage and mockery from heritage advocates and the general public alike.
Cobos defended his approach as the least problematic solution to address severe rainfall damage affecting the building’s stonework. The historic structure overlooks Santiago de Compostela’s world-famous cathedral and stands as one of four heritage landmarks in the immediate area.
Officials Consider Reversal
The local heritage association has joined conservation groups in condemning the modification as both an eyesore and an act of disrespect toward an important cultural monument.
Facing sustained criticism, Galician regional government officials have announced they are considering alternative drainage solutions, including the complete removal of Cobos’s copper pipe installations.
Cobos acknowledged that water diversion could be accomplished through other means, though he warned such changes would come at significant expense and potentially harm the building in different ways.
The architect has characterized the entire controversy as ridiculous, maintaining his position despite widespread public disapproval of what many consider an inappropriate and crude alteration to Spain’s oldest hotel.
With information from New York Post
