Demolition in Palma: Bennazar House from 1926 Is Being Demolished

The demolition begins: A piece of city history is lost

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On the morning of 09/09/2025, construction noise reached Calle 31 de Diciembre. Scaffolding, barrier tapes and an approved demolition notice: the house dating from 1926 by architect Gaspar Bennazar is being removed. Whoever passes by today sees more workers than tourists, more dust than flashes of historic details.

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Why the decision is controversial

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The owners plan luxury apartments with additional stories on the site. On a notice, the builder promises to restore the classical facade “authentically” again. A formulation that gives many residents little comfort: “A reconstruction is not the same as the original substance,” says a neighbor who has lived on the street for decades.

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The heritage protectors of the ARCA association had filed an objection earlier. Their argument: the house is part of Palma’s architectural diversity and should not yield to economic reasons alone. The city administration, however, justified the permit by stating that the building is in poor condition and was not officially classified as worthy of protection.

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What the situation on the ground feels like

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Around 10 a.m., a few people stood by the barrier, speaking quietly, some shaking their heads. A café opposite continued serving bocadillos; life in Palma goes on, even as a timber-framed fragment disappears. An elderly man noted: “In the past we knew every corner; today one only knows brands.”

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The debate touches two levels: protecting the building itself and the question of what city structure we want to preserve. Luxury densification against historic substance — this is a conflict that is being fought anew on many streets of the island.

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What to expect now

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The building authority and the owners say they will rebuild the facade; material samples and historical photos should help. Practitioners know that reconstruction can take years and often remains visibly different. For ARCA, the result is a precedent. The organization has not ruled out further legal steps.

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For residents, the question remains how long the construction will last and how the character of their neighborhood will change. Some hope that at least the street silhouette will be preserved. Others fear that in the future historic facades will more often be rebuilt merely as backdrop — and the true heritage will be irretrievably lost.

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In short: the demolition is a signal. It is a loud, dusty signal that in Palma re-ignites the discussion about building, preserving and affordability.