The historic Cine Variedades, an architectural heritage site and iconic building in San José, finally begins its restoration after ten years of waiting. On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, the Directorate of Cultural Heritage began the first stage to rehabilitate this culturally significant space in Costa Rica’s capital.

The start of the restoration was attended by Lynder Sánchez Fallas, director of the Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Raciel del Toro Hernández, director of the Costa Rican Film Production Center, and a team from the company Red Sistemas, contracted to carry out the initial work. During the building inspection, the team assessed the facilities and coordinated the protocols for work, safety, and resource management to begin the restoration.

First stage of restoration and its cultural significance

Cine Variedades
Cine Variedades
Cine Variedades

Today we mark a very important milestone for the Cine Variedades, since today begins the first stage of intervention of this building declared architectural historical heritage. In this first stage we have contracted the company Red Sistemas, for an amount of ₡89 million colones and with a delivery time of two months.

Lynder Sánchez Fallas, Cultural Heritage Director

The restoration project consists of three stages and is planned to be completed in 2026. In the first stage, occurring in November and December 2024, repairs will include replacing roof coverings, improving the support structure, and installing a thermo-acoustic system. In addition, an intumescent coating will be applied to the wood to make it fire resistant. These interventions seek to preserve the historic value of the building while adapting the facilities to current safety standards.

A space of renovation for Costa Rican cinema

Raciel del Toro, director of the Centro Costarricense de Producción Cinematográfica, said that the restoration of Cine Variedades represents a milestone not only for the Ministry of Culture and Youth, but also for the Costa Rican film industry.

The recovery of this space, where many Costa Ricans learned to love cinema, will allow it to become in the near future a place for the premiere of national cinema and a space for the formation of new audiences with a diverse and attractive programming.

Cine Variedades: second and third stages of the project

By 2025, the second stage of the restoration will include the conservation of the internal and external façade, the replacement of wooden structures in poor condition, the elimination of non-original deteriorating elements, and the implementation of fire safety measures, such as the installation of fireproof coatings. Overall, these works seek to restore the historical integrity of the Cine Variedades and ensure its preservation for future generations.

Sensorial Sunsets