Opengela has mobilised 176 million euros in direct investment over three years to benefit 4,888 people through the regeneration of vulnerable neighbourhoods in the Basque Country
- The LIFE22-CET-BIRTUOSS project, which implements the Opengela programme, has promoted the renovation of 2,125 homes and their urban surroundings. Today, it shared its findings at a closing event held at the University of Alcalá de Henares.
- The Opengela network has grown from two pilot offices to 25 operational offices in 28 vulnerable neighbourhoods across the Basque Country and has established a model that serves as a European benchmark.
- The TorreUrizar housing complex in Bilbao functioned as a ‘living lab’ during this period, with solutions being trialled in the neighbourhood through the participation of local residents.
The European LIFE22-CET-BIRTUOSS project, carried out by a consortium of 14 public-private organisations led by the Basque Government’s Department of Housing and Urban Agenda, has released its findings today following three years of work. This marks the successful completion of the process of consolidating and scaling up the Opengela programme, the network of neighbourhood offices that supports citizens in comprehensive urban regeneration and renewal processes in the Basque Country.
The initiative builds on a process that began in 2019 with a previous European project, known as HIROSS4all (funded by the Horizon 2020 programme), which enabled the launch of the first two Opengela pilot offices in Txonta (Eibar) and Otxarkoaga (Bilbao) and validated an innovative model of comprehensive support for local communities. Building on that pioneering experience, BIRTUOSS has driven the network’s expansion across the region to reach 25 operational offices in 28 neighbourhoods across the Basque Country, thereby consolidating a stable structure dedicated to urban and energy regeneration.
The results and lessons learnt from this initiative were presented by Ana Telleria, Director of Neighbourhood Regeneration and Urban Agenda at the Basque Government, during the project’s closing event, held as part of the Sostenibilidad XL conference organised by the Green Building Council Spain (GBCE) at the School of Architecture of the University of Alcalá de Henares.
Results exceeding targets
The final project data show that all the strategic indicators defined at the start of the initiative have been achieved beyond expectations. The Opengela network has grown over the past three years with the opening of 21 new neighbourhood offices, more than double the ten initially planned. Furthermore, the actions carried out by the network have resulted in the refurbishment of 2,125 homes and directly benefited 4,888 people.
From an economic perspective, the project has attracted total direct investment of €175.96 million, well above the €120 million initially envisaged.
The environmental results also highlight the impact of the measures implemented. The initiatives undertaken have led to annual energy savings of over 25,480 MWh and a reduction in emissions of 4,924 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
The project has also created 38 direct jobs linked to the activities carried out as part of the initiative. Work has also been done on nature-based solutions to mitigate the urban heat island effect in neighbourhoods.
TorreUrizar: a living lab and neighbourhood participation as the key
The project’s main experimental space has been the TorreUrizar ‘living lab’, located in the Irala neighbourhood of Bilbao. This historic residential complex, built in 1919 by Ricardo Bastida and comprising 264 homes spread across 25 doorways, has served as a testing ground for innovative solutions relating to universal accessibility, energy efficiency, urban renaturalisation and the integration of renewable energy. And always with the active participation of the local community.
The work carried out has included improvements to thermal insulation, the refurbishment of roofs and joinery, the installation of a photovoltaic system, and work on outdoor spaces to reduce the heat island effect and improve the environmental quality of the surroundings.
The initial comparative results obtained in TorreUrizar thus confirm the positive impact of the renovation. Monitoring carried out in 26 homes shows that, following the work, the average indoor temperature during the winter has risen from 18.8°C to 20.4°C, significantly improving living comfort for residents.
Furthermore, one of the key lessons learned from the project has been the importance of placing people at the heart of rehabilitation processes. The Opengela model has demonstrated that ongoing communication, close support and the building of trust are crucial factors in driving complex initiatives in residential settings.
The initiative carried out in TorreUrizar reflects this social dimension of the project. Throughout the process, 4,789 people have been assisted, more than 2,000 door-to-door information visits have been carried out, and 21 neighbourhood meetings have been held – all of which have strengthened the community’s involvement in decision-making.
The experience gained during the project underscores the need to combine technical solutions with strategies for active participation, attention to vulnerability and institutional coordination in order to ensure the success of urban transformation processes.
A well-established network serving local communities
The European project has driven the roll-out of the Opengela model across the region through a network of one-stop shops offering technical, financial, administrative and legal advice, supporting homeowners’ associations from the initial enquiry right through to the completion of the works.
These offices also facilitate coordination between public authorities, professionals and community representatives, streamlining complex processes and encouraging decision-making by local communities.
The model is based on a combination of multi-level governance, multidisciplinary teams and personalised support, with a particular focus on vulnerable neighbourhoods and those who face the greatest difficulties in undertaking rehabilitation processes.
A model with a European focus
The project’s findings suggest that neighbourhood offices or one-stop shops can play a decisive role in accelerating the renovation of Europe’s housing stock and helping to meet the European Union’s climate and energy targets.
Key lessons learnt include the importance of multi-level governance, institutional coordination, the existence of multidisciplinary teams, attention to situations of vulnerability, and public participation throughout the process.
Experience in the Basque Country also shows that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for all areas. The effectiveness of regeneration programmes depends on their ability to adapt to the social, urban and organisational characteristics of each neighbourhood, whilst maintaining stable frameworks for collaboration and technical support.
Consequently, the recommendations arising from the project include strengthening one-stop-shop networks, developing regulatory frameworks to facilitate their implementation, and consolidating funding mechanisms to enable the roll-out of such models at national and European level.
Participation in the Sostenibilidad XL conference has enabled us to share these results with institutional representatives, professionals and organisations from across Spain and Europe, helping to promote a model that is already regarded as an international benchmark in the field of comprehensive urban regeneration.
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