PAX Patios de la Axerquía: rehabilitación de casas-patio vacías a través de procesos cooperativos (revista PH, IAPH)

The article “PAX Patios de la Axerquía: rehabilitación de casas‑patio vacías a través de procesos cooperativos” appears in revista PH (Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico), published February 2019. It is authored by Gaia Redaelli, an architect and PhD researcher who has contributed extensively to heritage‑led urban regeneration. The paper documents a cooperative‑based strategy to revive empty courtyard houses (patios) in the historic centre of Córdoba, Spain, aligning with the Council of Europe’s Faro Convention (2005) on the social value of cultural heritage.

The PAX‑Patios project adopts a bottom‑up governance model that brings together neighbourhood residents, technical experts, cooperative housing organisations, and ethical banks. The process involves: identifying vacant patio houses; establishing a local housing cooperative; negotiating use‑rights or cession with owners; designing and executing rehabilitation respecting architectural authenticity; and securing financing through ethical banking. The approach integrates material restoration (e.g., traditional lime plaster) with social co‑creation, fostering inter‑generational participation.

By densifying the historic fabric and revitalising the traditional “green‑cell” network of courtyards, the initiative reduces urban heat island effects. Field monitoring by University of Sevilla researchers recorded temperature drops of 6–12 °C in rehabilitated patios, demonstrating tangible micro‑climatic benefits without active cooling systems. The reuse of existing structures minimises construction waste and embodied carbon, contributing to broader Mediterranean climate‑adaptation goals.

The cooperative framework creates local micro‑economies by involving social enterprises and community‑led businesses in the rehabilitation and subsequent management of the patios. Residents gain affordable housing, while the cooperative model generates employment for craftsmen and facilitates access to ethical financing. The project also supports cultural tourism through curated visits to restored patios, balancing economic vitality with heritage preservation.

The paper situates PAX‑Patios within the Faro Convention’s emphasis on heritage as a living resource, not merely a relic. It references European scholarship on gentrification, social housing, and participatory urban governance (e.g., Lees, Slater & Wyly 2010; Redaelli 2018). The strategy has been showcased at the XV Biennale of Architecture in Venice and recognised by the Office of Social Economy of the Madrid City Council as a best practice.

PAX‑Patios collaborates with multiple public and private entities: the Córdoba City Council, the Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico, the University of Córdoba, the University of Sevilla, Faecta, and the Council of Europe. Ethical banks provide financing, while local neighbourhood associations co‑design the living arrangements, ensuring that the social fabric remains central to the regeneration process.

• Publication: revista PH, Issue 96, February 2019, pp. 13‑15.
• Author: Gaia Redaelli (architect, PhD).
• Year of project co‑foundation: 2018.
• Temperature reduction in monitored patios: 6–12 °C.
• Number of cooperatives formed: multiple local housing cooperatives (exact count not specified).
• Funding: secured through ethical banking, details not disclosed.
• Recognition: presented at Venice Biennale, endorsed by Madrid’s Office of Social Economy.

The PAX‑Patios model offers a replicable template for pan‑European cities facing vacant historic housing stock and gentrification pressures. By merging heritage conservation with cooperative housing, it aligns with EU sustainability objectives, promotes social inclusion, and demonstrates measurable environmental gains. The approach underscores the potential of community‑driven, ethically financed regeneration to create resilient, affordable, and culturally vibrant urban neighbourhoods.