The Intermunicipal Community of Central Alentejo (CIMAC) held two demonstration workshops in the Horta das Figueiras school (Évora) for policy makers, municipal technicians, managers and members of the school community on 23 November 2023. These workshops are part of the transferability action C5 of the LIFE-myBUILDINGisGREEN project.

A total of 48 people participated in the workshops, divided into 28 people in the morning session and 20 people in the afternoon session.

According to the programme, the demonstrative workshops included an initial session and welcome by the Intermunicipal Secretary, Dr. Jerónimo José, the Head of the Environment and Development Unit, Eng. João Sardinha, and the Director of the Severim de Faria School Group, Dr. Ana Isabel Pires Fernandes.

Andrea Gonçalves (Architect at CIMAC) then gave a brief presentation of the LIFE-myBUILDINGisGREEN project, followed by a site visit to explain the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) being implemented, their concepts and objectives, construction methods and expected results.

Throughout the visit, the participants had direct contact with the NBS being implemented at the school, namely the prototype for the creation of a green roof using a steel cable structure with climbing vines, and the mBIGWTray and mBIGToldo prototypes for the realisation of the green roof and the façade respectively. There were several moments of discussion on each solution, addressing the challenges that arose during the project, both in the design and implementation phases, as well as those that arise with the maintenance that such solutions require.

Andrea Gonçalves explaining how the plant façade prototype will look after planting © CIMAC

The two demonstration workshops held in this pilot building allowed the project, the works and the solutions applied to be presented. Considering the number and profile of the participants, it is expected that these workshops will have a multiplier effect on the knowledge and replicability of the NBS in the territory of Central Alentejo, as a measure of adaptation to climate change.

The initiative also resulted in local and regional news, which will help to make the project known to other audiences.

Image of the Horta das Figueiras school days before the planting vegetation in its NBS © CIMAC

For all news and events related to the LIFE-myBUILDINGisGREEN project, we recommend following the project’s Twitter and LinkedIn channels.