The Antondegi area in Donostia-San Sebastián has been selected among the nine Spanish sites that will participate in Europan 19. This decision incorporates its future into an international reflection and competition process for architecture, urbanism, and landscape, which brings together a total of 45 European sites. Antondegi's participation opens the possibility to study the design and development of an eco-neighborhood combining new housing, predominantly public protection housing, with high standards of architectural quality, environmental sustainability, mobility, and social cohesion.
This marks a novel experience for the Basque Government's participation in Europan, as, for the first time, the proposed site focuses on the urban planning of an entire neighborhood. Previously, the Department's initiatives centered on buildings, residential developments, or specific interventions on existing urban ensembles. Antondegi allows for an expansion of this work scale, jointly addressing issues such as housing, public space, mobility, services, green infrastructure, and the integration of the new development into its natural and urban surroundings.
The Antondegi area is located in the southern part of Donostia, near Martutene, and is one of the main areas for residential growth envisioned in the current urban planning. The General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU), approved in 2010, anticipates a residential development with an estimated capacity for around 3,000 homes, of which approximately 2,500 would be public protection housing.
The current PGOU coexists with a different proposal in the revision of the General Plan, which suggests declassifying Antondegi and preserving its rural character. This situation necessitates studying various planning alternatives and evaluating their urban, environmental, and territorial implications. Participation in Europan will allow for the exploration of an eco-neighborhood proposal and the generation of solutions that can serve as a basis for analyzing the area's future.
Antondegi's proximity to other residential areas in Donostia, particularly those in the Urumea valley, allows for its potential development to be approached from a broader territorial perspective. The relationship with Martutene, Txomin Enea, Antzita, and Sarrueta requires studying the connections between different neighborhoods, the continuity of public spaces, services, and mobility infrastructure.
In October 2026, the Antondegi Berdea platform, comprising seven organizations, publicly expressed its opposition to the residential development, calling for the preservation of the area's rural character, its environmental values, and its ecological connections. These concerns highlight the importance of incorporating a detailed environmental analysis into the design and planning work.
The international call for Europan 19 will open on March 1, 2027, with the proposal submission deadline on June 27 of the same year. The selected solutions will facilitate progress in the planning, feasibility, and potential development phases of the area.
