In the city of Toledo, the headquarters of the Official College of Architects of Castilla-La Mancha (COACM) played host to a critical event focused on “Rehabilitation. For a livable and accessible building.” This initiative aimed to raise awareness about the urgent need to update Spain’s aging building stock to meet contemporary requirements. The event, which enjoyed the collaboration of the 2030 Observatory of the Superior Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain (CSCAE), Saint-Gobain company, ONCE Foundation, and the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), highlighted the significance of accessibility in these rehabilitation processes.
The day-long event, which drew interest from both the general public and architecture students, unfolded in two sessions. The first part featured a series of lectures in the auditorium, tackling various issues related to the rehabilitation and accessibility of buildings. The second session involved a practical workshop held at the facilities of the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences of the UCLM, in the iconic San Pedro Mártir building.
The event kicked off with remarks from Elena Guijarro, second vice president of the CSCAE, who underscored the importance of the 2030 Observatory in its mission to integrate these concepts across architectural colleges nationwide. According to Guijarro, this effort aims to create more inclusive, safe, and sustainable urban environments, involving stakeholders from institutional to social sectors.
A highlight of the day was the talk by Mari Angel López Amado, director of the 2030 Observatory, who revealed that over 60% of Spain’s building stock requires significant transformation. This is essential not only to meet current needs but also to achieve the European Union’s environmental goals for 2050. López Amado also mentioned the existence of a Network of Support Offices for Rehabilitation, designed to help citizens and professionals in the comprehensive improvement of neighborhoods and cities.
Speakers included experts like Javier Cremades, an architect specialized in accessibility, and Carmen Mota, a doctoral architect. Cremades emphasized that accessibility should be viewed as a quality attribute that benefits all of society. Mota, on the other hand, warned against surface-level solutions, insisting on the need to address urban issues comprehensively.
To wrap up the discussion, architects Javier Alguacil and Luis Moreno shared their experience with the rehabilitation of the Hospital del Rey in Toledo. They stressed the need for cross-cutting accessibility and active reuse in contemporary architectural designs.
The event concluded with the reaffirmation of the proposal to create a ‘Book of the Existing Building’. This document would serve as a guide for the comprehensive evaluation of buildings, ensuring interventions that offer lasting solutions rather than mere patches, promoting a holistic view of housing improvement.
