"Five Years Rebuilding an Island," the university's publication that compiles ideas for the future of La Palma

Bioclimatic housing for those affected by the volcano, a future headquarters for the National Volcanological Center, a multifunctional center for senior citizens, an international uni campus y with plans to establish itself in Los Llanos, and a convention and exhibition center in Santa Cruz de La Palma. These are the proposals developed by 250 students from the School of Architecture ( School of Architecture ) at the University of Navarra to envision the future of the island of La Palma following the 2021 eruption of the Tajogaite volcano.

What began five years ago as an “ professor ” exercise linked to an emergency “ status ” has evolved into the publication *CT Lab La Palma*. Five Years Rebuilding an Island is a book that brings together the projects developed by students over the past few years. The presentation of the publication—which arose from the partnership agreement between the University and the El Paso City Council, and which soon expanded to the island-wide level with the addition of the La Palma Island Council—is being held this afternoon on the island of La Palma, coinciding with the eve of the fifth anniversary of the volcanic eruption.

“Through these pages, the academic community leaves the classrooms of Pamplona to merge with the reality of La Palma, demonstrating that the university is a living laboratory of ideas, a driving force for critical thinking, and an agent of transformation capable of offering tangible solutions wherever the region needs them most,” explains Sergio Rodríguez, president of the La Palma Island Council, in the foreword. 

From the workshops to the community

In the midst of natural disasters, “architecture is, by definition, a service, but at times, the need to attend —to come to the rescue, to respond—manifests itself with the force of a cry. That is when the student learns and the professor teaches: when there is no alternative, when it is imperative to respond,” notes Carlos Naya, director of the School of Architecture at the University of Navarra.

Over the past five years, students have not limited themselves to working in the classroom; rather, they have made several visits to the area affected by the volcano, which has allowed them to gain firsthand knowledge of the region’s reality and tailor their proposals to the actual needs of the island and its inhabitants. “While roads continue to be opened on La Palma, areas buried by lava are being redeveloped, homes are being built, and the necessary resources are being mobilized to restore normalcy, in Pamplona, students have been developing ideas to revitalize the island through architectural solutions,” explains Asier Santas, a professor at the University of Navarra.