María Nieves Febles Benítez, dean of the Official College of Architects of Tenerife, calls for coordinated long-term planning for Santa Cruz de Tenerife to adapt to climate change. She proposes more trees, fewer cars, and regulations tailored to the Canary microclimates.
The dean of the Official College of Architects of Tenerife, María Nieves Febles Benítez, has urged the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation strategy that integrates all urban planning, mobility, and green space initiatives. In an interview, the Canarian architect warns that climate change is no longer a future scenario but a present challenge that requires joint and long-term planning.
Febles believes that the capital of Tenerife has made progress in the right direction in recent years, especially in managing urban greenery, but maintains that these initiatives will only be effective if they respond to a common strategic framework. "Not as isolated actions, but embedded in a global strategic framework," states the dean, who calls for a "roadmap" that sets objectives and establishes how the various measures should relate to each other.
Among the specific proposals, the architect advocates for the planting of canopy trees to increase shaded areas, reduce street temperatures, and improve the comfort of public spaces. She also supports reducing the prominence of private vehicles by pedestrianising streets and enhancing public transport. "We need to give cars less presence in cities, we need to pedestrianise streets," notes Febles, who believes that this transformation would allow for "more space for trees, as well as more space for neighbourly coexistence" and promote the creation of natural climate refuges.
The dean acknowledges that this is a "paradigm shift," but insists that administrations must start adopting such measures in the medium term. "In terms of urban planning, I believe there is still much to be done," she adds.
Another of Febles' distinctive proposals is the need for urban regulations adapted to the climatic reality of the archipelago. The architect believes that the current Technical Building Code has represented a significant advance, but understands that it still does not fully address the specificities of the Canary Islands. "The Canary Islands have very specific characteristics that should be studied," she indicates. In her view, it is not the same to build on a northern slope as in a southern area of an island, nor do buildings respond the same way depending on humidity, wind, or solar exposure.
Therefore, the dean proposes developing specific studies on the Canary microclimates that allow for the adaptation of construction solutions to each territory and optimise investment, especially in public housing projects. Incorporating these climatic conditions into building design would improve their thermal performance and allow for a more effective response to episodes such as heatwaves.
Febles also focuses on the residential stock built before the implementation of the Technical Building Code, when insulation requirements were much lower. In her opinion, rehabilitation must become a priority because "the first step is to invest in the building envelope." Improving facades, roofs, and insulation reduces energy consumption throughout the building's lifespan and enhances interior comfort without relying solely on climate control systems. Only once the thermal performance of the building has been optimised, she adds, does it make sense to incorporate other solutions such as efficient climate control systems or renewable energy.
The dean of the Architects' Association of Tenerife concludes that climate adaptation cannot be limited to isolated actions. Planting trees, pedestrianising streets, or creating climate refuges are positive measures, but they must be part of a common strategy with defined objectives. For the residents of Santa Cruz, this could translate into a future with shadier streets, less traffic, and more efficient buildings, better able to withstand extreme temperatures.
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