Last updated: November 2021
The Urban Environment Observatory Building (OMAU) was built in Malaga as part of the URB-AL 1998 project, it is a construction planned for environmental conservation and includes an ecological cover for the use of rain water in the supply to the structure's watering system. (Ref 2, 3)
Source: Ref. 6
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Institutional green space
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Environmental education
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: service sectors
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Other
Project objectives
The Urban Environment Observatory Building aims to give continuity to the following elements (Ref. 1):
- the territory and configuration of the city
- the management of natural resources
- social cohesion and economic development
- the city government and citizen participation
- environmental indicators monitoring, knowledge exchange, and the URB-AL Program
Furthermore, the building is designed to reflect the nature of the URB-AL Program (an EU program), through the optimal use of natural resources, especially energy. (Ref. 1)
Implementation activities
Building Design/ Construction/ Operations:
- Built in municipal plot of 2000m2, located at the top of a rocky ledge between the Mediterranean Sea and the Morlaco Park (ref 1,2)
- Reuse of constructed materials and moved earth that existed on the lot to reduce resource mobility and use. (ref 1)
- Use of halogen-free raw materials and absence of fiber and non-degradable materials (ref 2)
- The building was built with an orientation of North to South in order to minimize the energy use with ventilation throughout the different seasons, bioclimatic qualification. (ref 1,2)
- An ecological cover was used for water collection and reuse (ref 3)
- Use of rainwater in irrigation systems for outdoor spaces (ref 2)
- Construction of green roofs (ref 3, p. 155) with rainwater collection (ref 3, p. 120)
- The lawn space serves as an ecological cover that collects rain water for its re-use in the watering system (ref 3, p. 185)
Building Offers:
- Held training courses (ref 1)
- Host conferences and educational programs about themes related to the environment. (ref 1)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Researchers/University
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- EU body
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The OMAU is an entity of the City of Malaga, and the building houses the offices of the City Council services and the European Programs Service (ref 5)
The local Agenda 21 is cited as the main framework for which the center continues its activity in Malaga. (ref 1)
It consisted of a team of independently hired consultants, but its funding for such hiring was suspended by the city in 2016 for irregularities in an audit. (ref 4)
The building is host to the URB-AL program (an EU project), and as so has an affiliated team but not city-government workers. (ref 5)
The CIEDES Foundation carries out the project (ref 5)
Architects of the building (ref 6)
The construction and funding of the project comes from the local government and EU funds from the URB-AL Program. (ref 5)
URB-AL Network: 219 cities from Europe and the Americas organized several meetings and the exchange of experience, as well as the implementation of 12 projects along the network. (ref 1)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The indicators followed at the OMAU are those of the 2006 Agenda 21, which combines indicators designed by the city and indicators set by the United Nations. (ref 1))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The local Agenda 21 is cited as the main framework for which the center continues its activity in Malaga. (ref 1)
)
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Improved waste management
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Other
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. OMAU. (2017) El Proyecto. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
2. OMAU. (2017). El Edifio. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
3. Ayuntamiento de Malaga. (2016). Infraestructuras Verdes de la Ciudad de Malaga:Guia de Buenas Practicas. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
4. La Opinion de Malaga. (2016). Urbanismo suspende la bolsa de trabajo para el Omau a los tres meses de convocarla. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
5. El Observador. (2016). El OMAU es un bluf, no existe. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
6. OAM Arquitectos. (2005). OMAU. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
2. OMAU. (2017). El Edifio. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
3. Ayuntamiento de Malaga. (2016). Infraestructuras Verdes de la Ciudad de Malaga:Guia de Buenas Practicas. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
4. La Opinion de Malaga. (2016). Urbanismo suspende la bolsa de trabajo para el Omau a los tres meses de convocarla. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
5. El Observador. (2016). El OMAU es un bluf, no existe. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
6. OAM Arquitectos. (2005). OMAU. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 22 September 2020].
Source: Ref. 6
Source: Ref. 6
Source: Ref. 2
Source: Ref. 2