Sagunto Primary School

Participatory approach

• Unveiling and engaging neighbourhood social networks and resources
  A mapping of existing social associations and resources in the neighbourhood was carried out. This mapping allowed participation in several worktables and monthly sessions, where the project was made known and its progress was reviewed, including the vision of the socio-educational agents both at the level of design suggestions and problem forecasting. These agents were important both in making the project known to the neighbourhood and in introducing the voices of other communities into the design.

• Engaging the school community
  Democratic Society and Basurama orchestrated a participatory process with the goal of involving the entire school community, with a primary focus on the students. In coordination with the school administration, a structured programme of weekly sessions was established to facilitate collaborative analysis and reimagining the school and its surroundings.
  
  The itdUPM translated the foundational concepts to tangible design guidelines, with the guidance provided by the school administration and the city council.

• A Sustainable Urban Oasis: Tailored Design for Youthful Well-being and Biodiversity Revival
  The design is finely tuned to meet the needs of the younger, particularly those of school age. It encompasses spaces for gathering, intimacy, shaded areas and various permeable pavements aimed at mitigating the heat island effect. Additionally, the project integrates greenery to reintroduce biodiversity to the neighbourhood.

• Close collaboration among public bodies
  The success of the project hinges on seamless coordination between the Climate Change department of the municipality, the District board and the school managers.

What already happened ?

• Environmental and social analysis
  Gea 21, Surcos urbanos and the UPM’s research group ABIO conducted comprehensive urban, climate, and social analysis. The assessments aimed to identify both opportunities and limitations, providing a foundation for informed decision-making.
  
• Workshops with the children
  Basurama orchestrated a series of workshops within the school community utilising a micro-intervention methodology. This approach was instrumental in comprehending and evaluating the existing dynamics of space utilisation, identifying key issues that warranted improvement. A notable focus was directed towards the student’s entrance and exit area, serving as a primary social hub for the school community, but characterised by excessive solar exposure at midday. Collaborating with Basurama, the children ingeniously devised a temporary roof for this space, offering immediate relief, with future plans to replace it with a green roof.
  
• The project design
  Leveraging insights derived from the workshops, design guidelines and the environmental and social analysis, equipo.exe architecture studio, orchestrated by itdUPM, designed a project for the schoolyard and the surrounding area. The design encompasses green spaces, topographical features, permeable pavements and biodiversity, shaping a comprehensive vision for the transformation of the site.
  
• A new school fence
  In the summer of 2023, a transformative change took place as the old concrete wall was replaced with a visually permeable fence, creating a completely different ambiance between the school and the neighbourhood. This alteration marks a notable shift in the perception and interaction of the space. As part of the ongoing project, the naturalisation of the surrounding area is slated for completion in 2024.
  
• Impact assessment
  The project includes both ex-ante and ex-post evaluations, utilising environmental and social indicators to comprehensively assess the anticipated and realised effects of the initiative.

The new fence

Future situation