ArgentinaHealth · Heat waves
In Córdoba, Argentina, heat waves affect the wait time of public transportation users, especially older adults and people with disabilities. Shelters 360 is a pilot project promoted by young FAUD-UNC students that adapts a bus stop by incorporating a green roof, sunshades and vertical modules with vegetation, with the aim of reducing the heat island effect and improving the accessibility of the space.
In Córdoba, Argentina, heat waves affect the wait time of public transportation users, especially older adults and people with disabilities. Shelters 360 is a pilot project promoted by young FAUD-UNC students that adapts a bus stop by incorporating a green roof, sunshades and vertical modules with vegetation, with the aim of reducing the heat island effect and improving the accessibility of the space.
Argentina faces growing climate threats in a context of weakening environmental policy and budget cuts. Heat waves went from 20-40 annual events in the 1960s to around 80 in the last decade, with higher mortality in people under 15 and over 84 years of age, and urban heat islands aggravate the risk in low-income neighborhoods with poor infrastructure.
Reduce the effects of heat islands at public transport stops, reducing the risk of heat stroke in older adults, people with disabilities, pregnant women and children. Guarantee universal accessibility and improve waiting conditions and urban safety in the intervened space.
Adaptation of an existing public transport stop using adaptive modules, including a roof module with vegetation and thermal insulation, vertical modules with sunshades and walls vegetated with vines, and complementary active acclimatization modules. The design was developed in a participatory way, with work tables and co-design together with municipal actors, companies and users of the stop.
The main beneficiaries so far are public transportation users at the Boulevard Chacabuco pilot stop, Córdoba, with a focus on older adults, people with disabilities, pregnant women and children. The stop connects with 20 to 30 neighborhoods through 8 bus lines, expanding its potential reach.
Young people are the protagonists of this project. Students of Architecture (FAUD-UNC) and Electronic Engineering (FRC-UTN) designed and technically developed the prototype, participated in co-design tables and in the site survey, and articulated with municipal actors and companies.
So far there is no quantitative data since the prototype has not yet been physically implemented (there was only one pilot). The results achieved are qualitative: strategic alliances with the Municipality of Córdoba, universities and local companies, participatory definition of the pilot site and the design of the module, and learning from the young team on interactional articulation, public management times and interdisciplinary work in territorial practice.
Agostina Manzanelli (+54 9 3515 057142); LucianaRepiso; Cristian Sanmartino; Camila A. Carrasco; Alejo Greppi; Daira Nair Purulla; Emilse Reinoso; Lucas Andino, Diego Corzo from FAUD.
Mixed
In the city of Córdoba, the urban heat island effect intensifies heat waves, aggravated by high building density, the scarcity of green spaces and the sealing of the ground with asphalt and concrete. This increases the perceived temperature in public spaces such as transport stops, increasing the risk of heat stroke in older adults, people with disabilities, pregnant women and children during waiting times.
Since December 2023, the national environmental area went from ministry to undersecretary, and its budget was reduced by nearly 80% in real terms, from 0.12% to 0.03% of national spending by 2026, according to FARN. In 2024, the country withdrew its delegation from COP29. In this context, provinces, municipalities and universities have a growing role in the implementation of local adaptation measures.
The project combines financing from Bloomberg Philanthropies (Climate Action and Youth Fund), with support from UCLG and Johns Hopkins University, and the technical contribution and inputs from ORFEDA SAS, FINDER and BIOCOOL. The FAUD-UNC coordinates the project together with the Municipality of Córdoba (CorLab and departments of Disability, Architecture and Green Spaces) and the UPC and UBP universities. The La Esperanza Cooperative and the Por Igual + Foundation provide territorial articulation and social inclusion.
The project was facilitated by the close support of CorLab, the mixed financing model and inter-institutional coordination through work tables and co-design. As conditioning factors, the municipal administrative times to intervene on public roads, the coordination between the university course agenda of the young team and the technical development, the own rhythm of the search for external business support, and the challenge of effective participation of the users of the pilot stop emerged.
Training of young people in climate leadership and interdisciplinary work, through the University Climate Bootcamp Program. Incorporation of vegetation in public space, providing shade and urban biodiversity. Strengthening links between the university, the municipal State, companies and the community, promoting citizen participation and social appropriation of the intervened space.
The team explicitly states the intention that the design be replicable in other cities. Its modular nature facilitates adaptation to different stops and urban contexts, but scalability depends on having financing, coordination with municipal governments, availability of local recycled materials and favorable public management times.
The participatory design seeks to promote the social appropriation of the space by the community and the stop users, which could sustain care over time. The use of recycled materials and low maintenance modules (green roof, sunshades) aims to reduce future costs.
Climate shelters: young people in action from the FAUD against climate change: https://revistas.unc.edu.ar/index.php/tecyt/article/view/50681/51531; Learn about the 17 projects selected to be implemented in the Innovate for Climate Challenge!: https://corlab.cordoba.gob.ar/conoce-los-17-proyectos-seleccionados-para-ser-implementados-en-el-desafio-innovar-por-el-clima/ ; Environmental funds fall to 0.03% of the budget in Argentina, according to a report: https://www.abc.com.py/internacionales/2026/06/04/fondos-ambientales-caen-al-003-del-presupuesto-en-la-argentina-de-milei-segun-informe/