In Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country, Spain), there are five apartment blocks from the

1960s and 1970s that are isolated but structurally sound—energy-inefficient but full of potential. Instead of demolishing them, we propose to maintain them.

Care Blanket is a modular facade system that envelops existing buildings with protective, functional layers. Cork and wood panels are dry-mounted to the walls without demolition. Balconies interrupt thermal bridges and expand living space. Roofs become productive platforms for solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and urban gardens. Ground floors are transformed into shared neighborhood infrastructure.

The approach works on five levels: city, district, neighborhood, building, and ecosystem—analyzing local conditions and taking tailored measures at each level.

Through collaborative co-design, technical renovation becomes a collective expression: standardized performance meets individual identity through a patchwork of cork, ceramics, recycled bricks, and solar panels.

The result: energy efficiency class A, with a 78% reduction in heating requirements and a decrease in CO² emissions to 8 kg/m²·year. No relocation—residents remain in place while prefabricated modules enable renovation within weeks instead of months.

Bustaldea becomes a prototype for the region's more than 500 disadvantaged neighborhoods: reproducible

Link to the Europan results page: https://www.europan-europe.eu/en/session/europan-18/results/by-sites/vitoria-gasteiz-es-1