Student Team wins Europan 18 with Sustainable Transformation Concept for Northern Spanish City
An interdisciplinary team of fresh graduates from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar was honoured for their »Care Blanket« submission at the renowned European competition Europan 18. The design impressed the jury in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country, Spain) with its clear, socially, ecologically focussed strategy for renovating apartment blocks from the 1960s and 1970s.
The award winning team includes Egor Gaydukov (Integrated Urban Development and Design graduate), Agustín Azar (Integrated Urban Development and Design graduate) and Uliana Zhomnir (Master of Architecture graduate). The team was supported by Nicolás Schusterman (Bachelor of Architecture student at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella / Universidad de Buenos Aires).
A Compact, Effective Renovation Concept
»Care Blanket« proposes a modular façade system that improves the energy efficiency of existing buildings through resource-friendly, prefabricated elements. Wood and cork panels improve insulation, new balconies add outdoor space, and roofs are outfitted for solar energy and collecting rainwater. The ground floors are meant to be used for communal infrastructure for the neighbourhood. The approach can be scaled, applied on both a building level and a neighbourhood level, and actively involves residents in the design process.
Big Ecological Impact with Minimal Intervention
The project achieves energy efficiency class A, reducing heating requirements by 78 per cent and cutting CO₂ emissions down to 8 kg/m²·year. Thanks to dry installation, residents can remain in their flats during the renovation and the construction period only lasts a few weeks.
The result is a model neighbourhood for over 500 similar housing estates in the region – an example of how existing buildings can become the starting point for socially equitable and climate-positive urban development.
About EUROPAN
Europan is one of the most important international idea competitions for emerging architects and urban planners under the age of 40. Every two years, teams develop innovative solutions for specific locations in European cities. The 18th competition was held under the slogan »Living Cities« and focussed on sustainable, resilient, and community-oriented urban strategies.
Further information on the competition and prize winners can be found at: https://www.europan-europe.eu/en/session/europan-18/results/by-sites/vitoria-gasteiz-es-1