COL3NATUR
Re-naturalization of buildings, playgrounds and school roads for the Adaptation to Climate Change
TheCOL3NATUR project addresses the common challenge of contributing to climate change (CC) adaptation and resilience through the re-naturalization of school buildings, playgrounds and roads. The SUDOE region (Spain, South of France, Portugal and Andorra) faces extreme climatic conditions of temperatures and heat waves, together with other impacts from fires or torrential rains, which makes the incorporation of nature-based solutions (NBS) have a proven beneficial impact. However, their implementation is not being carried out with the necessary speed, robustness and efficiency, due to the severity of the climate and the lack of adequate tools.
The innovative aspect lies in the incorporation of NBS in the 3 levels of educational environments with digital and demonstrative methodologies, and in industrialization as an engine for a greater and better adaptation to CC. The direct beneficiaries of the project are the transnational collaborating and associated partners, the educational community, the competent authorities, and society as a whole.
Objectives
design of assessment methodology and digital tools applied to the efficient re-naturalization of schoolyards for the reduction of climate change impacts with a pilot case (applied in 15 rural and urban schoolyards) with pre and post programs of study and analysis, in typical conditions and in extreme events and scenarios.
Develop, implement and demonstrate with a pilot case (applied on 6 networks), a methodology at village or neighborhood scale for the design of a GIS mapped network of safe and temperature-adapted school roads and other benefits.
To promote the design and development of prefabricated and industrialized components with nature-based solutions for implementation in building envelopes, playgrounds and school roads. The methodology will contemplate amultidisciplinary, transnational and optimized design for the different climatic conditions of the SUDOE region.
Principal Investigators
BIOMA Institute researcher team
Ana María Sánchez-Ostiz
BIOMA Institute and ETSA
Juan José Pons Izquierdo
BIOMA Institute
Enrique Baquero
BIOMA Institute
Ainhoa Arriazu Ramos
BIOMA Institute and ETSA
Jesús Miguel Santamaría Ulecia
BIOMA Institute
Duration:
01/06/2025 - 31/05/2028
Financing and financing entity:
392.758,4 - INTERREG SUDOE
Location:
Networks of schools in Spain, Portugal and South of France (SUDOE Area)
core topic
WHY IS THIS project NECESSARY?
The SUDOE territory - which encompasses the regions of Spain, southern France and Portugal - is facing increasingly severe climatic challenges, especially related to high temperatures, heat waves, fires, calima, torrential rains and droughts. These conditions severely affect the population, especially the most vulnerable groups such as children, and jeopardize the health, well-being and environmental quality of educational environments.
Despite the growing consensus on the importance of nature-based solutions, their implementation is still slow and limited due to the lack of effective technical and methodological tools. In addition, many administrations recognize the need to naturalize school environments, but do not have replicable resources or models.
COL3NATUR responds to this need by offering digital tools, innovative methodologies and pilot experiences that allow prioritizing, designing and implementing effective re-naturalization actions. The project also contributes to reducing territorial inequality, favoring rural schools that tend to have fewer resources.
WHAT SOLUTIONS IS THE COL3NATUR project STUDYING?
COL3NATUR studies and applies various nature-based solutions (NBS) with amultidisciplinary, digital and industrialized approach , structured in three main lines:
1.Re-naturalization of schoolyards: 15 schoolyards are worked on, with interventions in 3 of them, applying vegetation, shade, natural drainage, and adaptations that improve thermal comfort, learning, play and air quality.
2design of safe and fresh school road networks: 6 urban and rural networks are studied, with specific interventions in 3 of them, incorporating vegetation, permeable pavements and shaded rest areas, promoting pedestrian mobility and wellbeing.
3development of industrialized building components with nature-based solutions: Prototypes of prefabricated elements are designed for facades, roofs, patios and paths, optimized for the different climates of the SUDOE, in order to accelerate the implementation of green solutions at scale. All these solutions are supported by digital tools developed in the project, such as simulations, GIS analysis and pre-design models, and are validated with technical and participatory programs of study .
how does this project affect society?
COL3NATUR has a direct impact on multiple levels of society:
- Educational community: students, teachers, families and school staff of 15 centers directly benefit from healthier, safer and climate-adapted environments. In addition, well-being, performance and educational equity are improved.
- Neighborhoods and neighborhoods: School paths are transformed into cooler and safer spaces, also useful for elderly or mobility impaired people, improving quality of life and social cohesion.
- Local administrations: They obtain methodologies, tools and replicable examples to address climate adaptation from a comprehensive and evidence-based perspective.
- Academic and industrial sector: The exchange knowledge, the training of new professionals and innovation in sustainable building materials and systems are promoted.
In final, COL3NATUR contributes to making our cities and towns more resilient, healthy and sustainable, and does so by focusing on children and school spaces as drivers of environmental and social transformation.