Solidarity and empathy were the 'friendly' face of the pandemic era. There are those who defend that these relationships are still latent and intend to bring them to light. This is the case of 18 students from the accredited specialization Urbana del Degree at programs of study of Architecture of the University of Navarra, who since January 9 have been working on the activation of a community care network with the project 'Melodías de balcón: cuidándonos a unos a otros' (Balcony melodies: taking care of eachother).

"It is a participatory project that seeks to reactivate and make visible the networks of solidarity and support that came to light during the pandemic and that also in times of normality should be essential to improve community life," explains architect Catalina Pollak Williamson, who has directed the activity together with Esperanza Marrodán, professor at the School of Architecture, and with the support of neighborhood associations.

Devices on balconies

To put test the project was chosen the old town of Pamplona, specifically the streets Descalzos, Mayor, San Agustín and Calderería, where students made a work door to door to meet those neighbors who needed financial aid or wanted to offer it. The project consisted of a series of visual and sound devices that, installed on balconies and facades, make people visible and connect them physically and at a local level. 

On January 14, Saturday, at partnership with the neighborhood, the students verified that the prototypes worked properly. From then on, the neighbors were in charge of deciding whether or not to use this solidarity communication system.