The Basque Country is a region rich in culture, history, and a strong sense of identity. Located in northern Spain, cities like Bilbao embody the region's unique ability to blend tradition with modernity. Once shaped by its industrial past, the Basque Country has undergone a remarkable transformation, with a renewed focus on urban regeneration in recent years. This transformation has taken a bold step forward, with a focus on one of the most critical areas for the region’s future—housing. However, this time, the transformation goes beyond simply renovating residential buildings. The region is embracing a forward-thinking approach to urban regeneration and energy efficiency. The goal is clear: to create neighbourhoods that reflect the Basque Country's commitment to an inclusive society and a greener future, with every resident involved.
The Housing Renovation Challenge
The Basque Country faces a significant challenge in its housing sector. Approximately 30% of its housing stock—around 300,000 buildings—requires urgent renovation. A large proportion of these buildings were constructed before 1980, making the Basque housing stock not only the oldest in Spain but the oldest one in all southern Europe. Many of these homes suffer from poor energy efficiency, accessibility issues, and outdated infrastructure. Addressing these challenges is essential for improving living conditions, reducing energy consumption, and combating energy poverty, which affects around 9% of the population.
In response to these pressing issues, the Basque Government launched the Opengela programme, a pioneering initiative designed to simplify the renovation process for homeowners and residents in multi-family buildings through a One-Stop-Shop (OSS). This service centralises support, offering residents guidance on technical, financial, and administrative aspects of renovations. The Opengela programme was built through two EU-funded projects. The first phase, funded under the Horizon 2020 programme from 2019 to 2023, laid the groundwork for the initiative. The second phase, funded by the LIFE programme, is the BIRTUOSS project (2023–2026), which builds on the initial success by focusing more intensively on energy efficiency, sustainability, and social equity. It shifts the focus from individual buildings to entire neighbourhoods, aiming for large-scale urban regeneration.
Key Milestones Achieved in the First Half of the BIRTUOSS Project
Several key milestones have been achieved as the BIRTUOSS project progresses, particularly in scaling up the model from individual buildings to entire neighbourhoods.
Expansion of the Opengela Network
The Opengela network has expanded to include 25 neighbourhoods, offering renovation services to 6412 residents across 2788 homes. This expansion signifies a strategic shift from focusing solely on individual building renovations to addressing the comprehensive needs of entire neighbourhoods. By operating at this broader scale, Opengela facilitates extensive urban regeneration, delivering tangible benefits to entire communities.
On average, each neighbourhood has achieved energy savings of approximately 62,83% of GWh per year and a reduction of 85,78% of tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. These significant improvements underscore the effectiveness of the Opengela programme in promoting sustainable urban regeneration.
In 2025, three new Opengela centres are scheduled to open, further extending the network and enhancing accessibility to renovation services across additional neighbourhoods in the Basque Country.
Figure 1  Building in the Otxarkoaga Neighbourhood, Bilbao: Before the Opengela Renovation Rosario Vallejo Ilarduia | Figure 2  Same building during refurbishment Rosario Vallejo Ilarduia |
Figure 3  Building where the Txonta Opengela is located before being refurbished. Eduardo Ortiz de Arri | Figure 4  Same building after refurbishment Eduardo Ortiz de Arri |
Operationalisation of the Torre Urizar Living Lab
The Torre Urizar Office has been transformed into a dynamic Living Lab, serving as a pivotal site for testing and refining urban regeneration strategies. This initiative is distinguished by its participatory approach, actively involving residents in the decision-making process to ensure that renovations meet their needs and preferences. As Rosario Vallejo Ilarduia, representative of Viviendas Municipales de Bilbao, explains "The main objective of the Opengela team is to provide close, continuous, and rigorous support on urban regeneration to every person in this neighbourhood." Through collaborative workshops and meetings, neighbours have played a crucial role in identifying and defining changes, including the installation of lifts and the ongoing renaturalisation processes within the buildings.
These developments exemplify a comprehensive approach to urban regeneration, focusing on energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and community engagement. The Torre Urizar Living Lab not only showcases physical transformations but also fosters a sense of ownership and pride among residents, contributing to the overall well-being and cohesion of the community.
Figure 5
Official Designation of the Managing Entity
In December 2024, the Basque Government officially designated the Department of Housing and Urban Agenda as the managing entity for the Opengela programme. This strategic move ensures centralised management of the entire neighbourhood regeneration process, facilitating a streamlined and coordinated approach to large-scale urban transformation. Importantly, this arrangement is designed to sustain and enhance the Opengela's impact beyond the conclusion of the BIRTUOSS project, ensuring the long-term continuation of its objectives.
Comprehensive Communication Strategy
A robust communication strategy has been developed, engaging residents and stakeholders through regular updates, social media, and newsletters. The focus has shifted towards promoting neighbourhood-wide participation, ensuring that all residents are informed and involved in the transformation process.
Financial Tools and Social Mechanisms for Vulnerable Homeowners
Opengela team does not directly provide financial assistance but offers comprehensive support to homeowners, specially to the vulnerable ones, by helping them in the consecution of public aids (both granted by the Basque Government and the municipalities, and even European Commission in some cases) and guiding them through other available financing options for home renovations. This includes access to information on accessible loans and assistance in navigating financial processes, ensuring that all residents can undertake energy-efficient upgrades. By facilitating this access, Opengela empowers individuals to improve their living conditions, contributing to the broader regeneration of entire neighbourhoods.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Urban Regeneration in the Basque Country
As BIRTUOSS enters its second phase, Opengela programe is set to expand its impact in the Basque Country, building on the successful integration of neighbourhoods into the office network and the operationalisation of the Torre Urizar Living Lab. Central to this expansion is the establishment of a comprehensive governance framework for the Opengela programme. This framework will delineate financial management processes, including fund allocation, reporting obligations for city councils, and oversight responsibilities, ensuring transparency and efficiency. Implementing a unified, hierarchical, and strategic management structure at the regional level is deemed essential to achieve consistent results while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to local needs. While implementing this governance system presents challenges, it is essential for long-term success and sustaining the programme’s impact, empowering Basque citizens to shape their future.
Details
- Publication date
- 16 May 2025
- Author
- European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency