COV&ODS_AÑO2/EXPO. IS_LAB/LAL

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ENERGIZING LA ALDEA DE SAN NICOLÁS
A CASE STUDY FOR A SUSTAINABLE INTEGRATED SOLUTION
“Energizing La Aldea the San Nicolás” is a project theme that develops the IS_
LAL/LAB laboratory by ULPGC. The laboratory is called “Islas como laboratorios
del Antropoceno”, in English “Islands as laboratories of the Anthropocene” and
this specific version of La Aldea de San Nicolás is a case study that was given
to be developed in the context of a Territorial Planning course. The project aims
to create a plan that supports the implementation of the existing area with ideas
and concepts coming from different fields of expertise ranging from economics,
logistics, environmental management and more. Different solutions apply in this
territory and mix together to provide the best fits.
The paper provides a report of the project that has been carried out individually
between March and May 2021. The main program is to reconsider the current layout
of urban and urbanizable spaces, develop a strategic territorial model, re-order the
village strategic level and develop a chosen sector from an individual proposal.
The name choice of “Energizing” for this project plays on the multiple meanings
of the verb “to energize”: the idea is to bring life to La Aldea de San Nicolás, a
municipality of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and doubles the concept for energy
as resource, as energy is a key concept for the 21st Century. Additionally, as it is
visible in the logo of the laboratory, the final link connecting the circle of highway
of the entire island is about to be completed and it is a great way to remember
that electricity runs in circuits too, as two opposite poles need to be connected
and energy needs to be let flow freely, similarly, in La Aldea people and goods will
be free to flow.
This project will is to analyze the current situation of the territory on the environmental,
economical, connectivity and social level, then to suggest a model that is able to
provide solutions for current issues and immediate future necessities. This can be
considered a case study for territorial planning and transportation use to improve
and modernize the conditions of an existing semi-rural area with low density of
population. Starting from the concepts of Anthropocene era, globalization and