2025 has been an intense and highly productive year for the CAVIAR research group. We have concluded projects, launched new initiatives, published articles and books, participated in conferences, and organised numerous activities to bring our work closer to both the public and the scientific community.
Projects: Closing Stages and Opening New Paths
This year, we successfully concluded the Gipuzkoa Nodal, project, which aimed to promote a territorial mobility network capable of functioning as a truly interconnected system. Thanks to this project, progress has been made towards a polycentric Gipuzkoa, recognising its true urban-territorial nature as a system of interrelated settlements.
In 2025, we also launched three new projects: ETXEADIN, ETXELAGUN and FOOD FOREST.
ETXEADIN (more information coming soon) is the continuation of the ETXELAGUN project, an innovative housing transformation model designed to reduce loneliness and increase the autonomy of older adults.
ETXELAGUN I adopts a multidisciplinary and inter-institutional approach and seeks to design the first ETXELAGUN home, conceived for longevity and to prevent and mitigate the risk of loneliness for its occupants. The home is designed to promote a full life project, enhance autonomy and the active enjoyment of interior domestic spaces, and integrate digital technologies. The first ETXELAGUN home will be constructed in Beasain.
FOOD FOREST, on the other hand, aims to develop a business model for Food Forests (FF) as a sustainable alternative for food production. The project also seeks to promote necessary legislative changes and establish institutional support for their implementation. To achieve this, we are creating a European network of community Food Forests (CFF) that implement educational programmes and collect data to drive change. This network will also strengthen social cohesion and address social, environmental, and health challenges related to food production and urban environments.
Publications and Scientific Output
Throughout 2025, we published 14 scientific articles, 4 conference contributions, 5 book chapters, and 1 book, consolidating our contribution to knowledge and strengthening our presence in both the scientific and social communities.
A particular highlight of the year was the defence of Xabier Barrutieta Basurko’s doctoral thesis, entitled “Design of Positive Energy Buildings, Energy Self-Sufficiency, and Photovoltaic Solar Integration”, which took place on 31 January 2025 at the Antonio Beristain Auditorium – Carlos Santamaría Centre, Donostia / San Sebastián (Gipuzkoa). The thesis was supervised by Rufino Javier Hernández Minguillón and Olatz Irulegi Garmendia.
Events and Outreach Activities
Over the course of the year, we promoted numerous activities and events. In February, we organised the Gipuzkoa Nodal Days and participated in the HariaK 2025 Ecosystem Meeting. In March, we presented the FOOD FOREST project to the public, and in April we delivered the first courses on Food Forests and permaculture in Artajona.
May was a particularly active month: we painted two collaborative murals in the Rochapea neighbourhood of Pamplona, participated in the 8th General Assembly of oPEN Lab, and attended the III Korale Community Rail Meeting 2024–28, among other events. In June, we held the FOOD FOREST Online Kick-Off Meeting and the PERSIST General Assembly PERSIST, while September saw the 1st FOOD FOREST General Assembly.
In October, we presented the KALELAGUN guide in Beasain and organised the exhibition Énergies légères: usages, architectures, paysages as part of the Biennial. In November, we continued with a busy agenda: Zientzia Astea, the Rochapea Energy Festival, a workshop at the housing units in Beasain, and new courses on Food Forests and permaculture in Artajona, consolidating the year with a full schedule of workshops, events, and activities that reinforced our commitment to quality of life in architecture and community engagement.
