Lavapiés’ La Casa Encendida
MADRID, SPAIN—La Casa Encendida's ethos centers around fostering a space of openness and creativity within the community and this blog post will be about discovering how La Casa Encendida works as a platform for sustainability. Founded as a social and cultural project in Madrid's Lavapiés neighborhood, it’s an inclusive environment that combines artistic expression, social commitment, and educational development. I had the opportunity to ask the location representatives about several topics including the ways in which they act as a medium for social innovation in Lavapiés and I’ve culminated what they had to say in this post!
La Casa Encendida is a dynamic space that fosters social innovation through collaborative projects, promoting solutions to local challenges facing the Lavapiés neighborhood. It organizes initiatives that connect the community with artists, activists and experts in different areas, creating an environment for dialogue, co-creation and empowerment. Among the topics addressed are sustainability, gender equality, cultural diversity and social justice. An example of its projects is the Laboratorio de Innovación Ciudadana (Citizen Innovation Lab), in which solutions to local problems are developed in a participatory manner and using accessible technology.
The creation of workshops such as the “estación de reparación” (repair station) responds to its commitment to responsible consumption and circular economy. In these workshops, La Casa Encendida offers neighbors the opportunity to learn how to repair their own objects, from household appliances to bicycles or clothes, instead of throwing them away. Thus, it promotes the idea of extending the useful life of objects to reduce environmental impact and encourage a culture of reuse. La Casa Encendida also organizes discussions and activities on recycling, urban gardens and conscious consumption habits, involving experts and citizens committed to sustainability.
La Casa Encendida evaluates the impact of its sustainability initiatives through a variety of channels. At the local level, it measures community participation and observes how these activities encourage behavioral change towards more sustainable practices in the daily lives of Lavapiés residents. It also collaborates with researchers and external entities that help measure the environmental impact of its activities, such as waste reduction or energy savings. More broadly, it participates in social innovation and sustainability networks, sharing lessons learned and contributing to their expansion nationally and internationally.
I find it so inspiring to have this location close by in Madrid. In a cosmopolitan city, that is always hustling, I think it’s important to have a place where one can go to escape and engage in sustainable and educational practices.
