Santa Cruz is set to reinvent its present and urban future with the goal of “becoming a city of the 21st century,” remarked Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez yesterday. To achieve this, the sustainable designs of cities such as Malmö (Sweden), Paris (France), Bilbao, and Malaga (Spain) will serve as references, as they currently exemplify innovative planning within urban environments.
The mayor unveiled this objective during the launch of the I International Day Ciudad 360º, a forum that, in collaboration with the Cabildo and supported by the Government and the Moeve Foundation, will gather esteemed national and international experts this Thursday at TEA to discuss the capital’s opportunities concerning quality of life, resilience, and sustainability.
This event, which is free to attend with prior registration at the website www.ciudad360.Santacruzsostible.es, will take place from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, aiming to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and promote a more livable capital model that meets global challenges. It will assist in developing the Strategic Plan for the City and contribute ideas for the new General Plan for Ordination (PGO) 2030, which will encompass the refinery land.
Bermúdez expressed that “the intention is to integrate solutions to the urban challenges we face in the city. Therefore, regarding the refinery, it would be a grave error to replicate past models in the new city design. This meeting will provide us with innovative ideas.”
To this end, a total of 13 experts, including Carlos Moreno, José María Ezquiaga, Jon Aguirre, and Cecil Konijnendijk, will share their insights on urban design from large cities, which Santa Cruz aims to emulate. In this context, the Councillor for Public Services, Carlos Tarife, stated that “our municipality requires a comprehensive vision that considers everything from urban planning to climate change adaptation,” emphasising that this forum is “crucial.”
Additionally, Insular Innovation Councillor Juan José Martínez noted that “the purpose of this day is to envision the present and future of Santa Cruz, and we must approach it ambitiously, not just as a capital, but as an island.” Meanwhile, Belén Machado, the head of the Moeve Foundation, remarked that this will be the inaugural edition of an event “that intends to establish its presence in Santa Cruz.”
