URWAN Pilot Building in Cuba Inaugurated as a Living Laboratory for Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Water Management

On 7 August 2026, the URWAN Pilot Building in Cuba, Alentejo, was officially inaugurated, marking the completion of an innovative intervention focused on climate adaptation, urban regeneration, and sustainable water management. 

Developed within the URWAN – Urban Regenerative Water Avant-garde(N) project, the intervention transformed a former pre-primary school into a demonstration space for Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) addressing key environmental challenges in the region, including water scarcity, rising temperatures, and the need for more inclusive and climate-resilient buildings and urban spaces. 

The building integrates several Nature-Based Solutions, including a constructed wetland for water treatment and reuse, a rain garden, rainwater collection and infiltration systems, a green roof, and landscaped areas. These infrastructures contribute to improving thermal comfort, promoting biodiversity, and reducing the consumption of potable water. 

One of the most innovative features of the intervention is the building’s ability to produce and reuse water locally for non-potable uses, demonstrating how circular economy principles can be applied to water management in territories affected by prolonged drought. 

The building now takes on a new community role as Espaço C – Centre for Social Innovation and Sustainability, conceived as a living laboratory for environmental education, awareness-raising on efficient water use, and the demonstration of sustainable practices. The space will support activities involving municipalities, public entities, citizens, and schools. 

The inauguration brought together institutional representatives, project partners, and the local community, with presentations, exhibitions, a guided visit to the building and its Nature-Based Solutions, and moments celebrating regional culture. The opening marks a new phase for the pilot building as a space for learning, demonstration, and community engagement around climate adaptation and sustainability.