Casa Amarilla, Puerto de la Cruz

Casa Amarilla is a 19th-century, two-story country house in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, best known as the headquarters of the world's first research station dedicated to the scientific study of great apes. The building holds the status of Bien de Interés Cultural (Cultural Heritage Asset) in the Historic Site category, granted by decree of the Canary Islands government in May 2005.

Why is this place scientifically significant?

Between 1913 and 1918, Casa Amarilla housed the Anthropoid Station of Tenerife, established on the initiative of the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin. The choice of Tenerife was deliberate: the island's proximity to Africa made it easier to bring in animals, its mild climate suited the chimpanzees kept there, and its transport links made the site practical for German researchers traveling from Europe.

Who conducted the research at Casa Amarilla?

The station was led primarily by German psychologist Wolfgang Köhler, one of the leading figures of Gestalt psychology. It was within the walls of this house that the observations and notes were compiled which later formed the basis of his landmark work, "The Mentality of Apes." The book left a lasting mark on twentieth-century science, influencing not only psychology but also philosophy, anthropology, primatology, and ethology.

What did the experiments involve?

Köhler studied the cognitive abilities of chimpanzees, focusing on how the animals solved problems that required insight rather than trial and error — for instance, using sticks to reach bananas placed out of arm's reach, or stacking boxes to climb toward a reward. These observations challenged the purely behaviorist understanding of animal learning dominant at the time, introducing the concept of sudden insight, or the "aha moment," as a distinct cognitive mechanism.

What condition is Casa Amarilla in today?

Despite its formal heritage protection granted in 2005, the building has fallen into ruin over the decades. Casa Amarilla appears on the Red List of Heritage (Lista Roja del Patrimonio) maintained by the organization Hispania Nostra, which tracks sites at risk of disappearing due to neglect, lack of restoration funding, or ownership disputes. Local journalists and historians have repeatedly warned that a house of such scientific importance continues to deteriorate despite public interest in its fate.

Can visitors tour Casa Amarilla?

The building currently stands in a state of ruin and does not function as a museum or tourist attraction — it remains mainly a point of interest for those following the history of science and for local initiatives working to preserve Puerto de la Cruz's heritage. The location itself, set among the town's typical seafront architecture, still allows visitors to view its distinctive 19th-century exterior from the outside.

Frequently asked questions

What was the Anthropoid Station of Tenerife? It was the world's first research station dedicated to the systematic study of great ape intelligence, operating out of Casa Amarilla from 1913 to 1918 on the initiative of the Prussian Academy of Sciences.

Who studied chimpanzees at Casa Amarilla? The lead researcher was Wolfgang Köhler, a German psychologist and one of the founders of Gestalt psychology, author of "The Mentality of Apes."

Does Casa Amarilla have heritage protection? Yes, since May 2005 it has held the status of Bien de Interés Cultural in the Historic Site category, granted by the Canary Islands government.

What condition is the building in now? Casa Amarilla is in an advanced state of ruin and appears on Hispania Nostra's Red List of Heritage as a site at risk of disappearing.