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Euronews
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Euronews
The flood-busting ceramic paving taking on climate change
When floods hit the Valencia region last October, following torrential rainfall, they were devastating and deadly. A reminder, it's said, of how dangerous climate change has become. Spain, like other countries, is having to adapt to more extreme weather. And, in the Valencia region, EU-funded innovation has spawned a new solution, right under people's feet. The concept of footpath paving has been redesigned using ceramic tiles, placed and spaced on their sides, to maximise absorption of water into the ground. Experts say it wouldn't prevent the type of disaster seen last year, with the overflow of a river system, but would improve drainage capacity and reduce flooding risks when heavy rain hits urban areas. 'This permeability is achieved through interstices that remain between plate and plate, vertically,' explains Ignacio Andrés Doménech, Director, School of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic University of Valencia. 'In this case, these paving stones, supported by layers of gravel, will allow the percolation of water, its filtration through a porous structure, that will also provide benefits in terms of improving the quality of these waters.' The footpath design was originally developed as part of an EU-funded project, coordinated by the Institute of Ceramic Technologies in Castellón. It saw demonstration paving installed in the municipality of Benicàssim. More recently, a second initiative called Drainker, also EU-supported and managed by the Institute, has focused on refining and industrialising the concept, with a new experimental site in Castellón. Tests, carried out as part of its work, have shown that water can be absorbed at a rate of 10,000 litres per square metre, per hour. 'This project was really born for several reasons,' explains Yolanda Reig, Director General, Institute of Ceramic Technology. 'One was because of an excess in the stock of ceramic materials with low commercial value. It was born out of the need to collect rain and the need to stop excess heat in cities. We have managed to combine the three ideas to get to a product like Drainker.' Jorge Corrales, an architect at the Institute, added: 'There's a Spanish company that's been very interested and has decided to start industrialising and commercialising this product, which is currently available for use in both national and European projects. 'And, in the last few months, we've had meetings with different architectural studios and city councils, with the objective for incorporating this project into real projects in urban spaces.' The total budget for the Drainker project is just over €142,000. Around 60% of the funding has been provided by the European Regional Development Fund, with the remainder coming from the Valencian Government. 'On one hand, it opens-up a new line of business for the ceramic industry, which is a key part of Castellón's identity. On the other, it offers an innovative solution to help mitigate a serious challenge in our region: the impact of torrential rains,' said Juan José Cortés, General Director of Innovation at the Valencian Government. 'Unlike traditional surfaces such as asphalt or concrete, this system significantly improves drainage capacity, thereby reducing the risk of flooding.' He continued: 'Our geographic location on the western Mediterranean makes us especially vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Experts predict that both droughts and torrential rainfall will become more frequent and intense, so we must prepare to meet this complex scenario head-on. 'We will actively promote the installation of these tiles in public spaces, following expert recommendations. Furthermore, we are open to collaborating with other regions and institutions interested in replicating this kind of sustainable solution.'
Euronews
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Euronews
Drainker architect hopes ceramic paving will go Europe-wide
When floods hit the Valencia region last October, following torrential rainfall, they were devastating and deadly. A reminder, it's said, of how dangerous climate change has become. Spain, like other countries, is having to adapt to more extreme weather. And, in the Valencia region, EU-funded innovation has spawned a new solution, right under people's feet. The concept of footpath paving has been redesigned using ceramic tiles, placed and spaced on their sides, to maximise absorption of water into the ground. Experts say it wouldn't prevent the type of disaster seen last year, with the overflow of a river system, but would improve drainage capacity and reduce flooding risks when heavy rain hits urban areas. 'This permeability is achieved through interstices that remain between plate and plate, vertically,' explains Ignacio Andrés Doménech, Director, School of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic University of Valencia. 'In this case, these paving stones, supported by layers of gravel, will allow the percolation of water, its filtration through a porous structure, that will also provide benefits in terms of improving the quality of these waters.' The footpath design was originally developed as part of an EU-funded project, coordinated by the Institute of Ceramic Technologies in Castellón. It saw demonstration paving installed in the municipality of Benicàssim. More recently, a second initiative called Drainker, also EU-supported and managed by the Institute, has focused on refining and industrialising the concept, with a new experimental site in Castellón. Tests, carried out as part of its work, have shown that water can be absorbed at a rate of 10,000 litres per square metre, per hour. 'This project was really born for several reasons,' explains Yolanda Reig, Director General, Institute of Ceramic Technology. 'One was because of an excess in the stock of ceramic materials with low commercial value. It was born out of the need to collect rain and the need to stop excess heat in cities. We have managed to combine the three ideas to get to a product like Drainker.' Jorge Corrales, an architect at the Institute, added: 'There's a Spanish company that's been very interested and has decided to start industrialising and commercialising this product, which is currently available for use in both national and European projects. 'And, in the last few months, we've had meetings with different architectural studios and city councils, with the objective for incorporating this project into real projects in urban spaces.' The total budget for the Drainker project is just over €142,000. Around 60% of the funding has been provided by the European Regional Development Fund, with the remainder coming from the Valencian Government. 'On one hand, it opens-up a new line of business for the ceramic industry, which is a key part of Castellón's identity. On the other, it offers an innovative solution to help mitigate a serious challenge in our region: the impact of torrential rains,' said Juan José Cortés, General Director of Innovation at the Valencian Government. 'Unlike traditional surfaces such as asphalt or concrete, this system significantly improves drainage capacity, thereby reducing the risk of flooding.' He continued: 'Our geographic location on the western Mediterranean makes us especially vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Experts predict that both droughts and torrential rainfall will become more frequent and intense, so we must prepare to meet this complex scenario head-on. 'We will actively promote the installation of these tiles in public spaces, following expert recommendations. Furthermore, we are open to collaborating with other regions and institutions interested in replicating this kind of sustainable solution.' The EU-funded Drainker project, in Spain's Valencia region, has refined and industrialised a new design for paving. Instead of using concrete or asphalt, ceramic tiles are spaced and placed on their sides, to allow as much water as possible to soak into the ground, during heavy rainfall in urban areas. The project, also supported by the Valencian Government, is now ready for full-scale production. 'Drainker is a permeable path that is created thanks to the joining of different ceramic pieces, placed on their edge,' explains Jorge Corrales. 'This pavement has a series of raised surfaces that allow the pieces to be separated and allows us to obtain a multi-joint pavement, which favours the drainage of water into the ground.' Jorge stressed that one of the main characteristics of the product is its 'high drainage capacity,' highlighting that 'once installed, can exceed the permeability values of 10,000 litres per square metre, per hour.' 'To evaluate the permeability of this pavement, we carried out a test that allows us to measure the time it takes for the pavement to infiltrate a certain amount of water,' explained Corrales. A Spanish company is said to have started industrialising and commercialising the product, with efforts underway to get the new footpath design installed in urban spaces. 'We have designed a product and an industrialised process that allows companies in the ceramic sector to carry out full-scale production,' said Corrales. 'For us, it would be a success if this type of product could be incorporated into projects, both nationally and at a European level. And, above all, that they allow us to mitigate all the effects of climate change, and that they improve the management of rainwater in cities.' There's only a handful of situations where journalists, usually guided by strict rules of the trade, act like anyone else. Meeting the new pope for the first time at the Vatican City's modernist Paul VI Audience Hall became one of those events. Prior to Pope Leo XIV's entrance on Monday morning, the crowd representing the world press — filling out about half of the 6,000-seat aula — was restless in anticipation, dropping all pretence there was in the audience for any other presser. Some were busy tying flags of their nations to the safety railings — a couple of Peru ones, where the pontiff lived and ministered for decades, notably peppered the hall — while others impatiently lifted their phones to record the scene, just to give up moments later as nothing was happening, bar a few priests casually strolling across the immense podium. Several people brought babies, one of whom cried impatiently, picking up on the atmosphere. Then the pontiff appeared, stage right, flanked by members of the Swiss Guard in full regalia, and the crowd rose to its feet and erupted in a long applause. As he sat down, motioning to the audience to do the same, one section started applauding even more fervently. Everyone joined in once more. Someone shouted 'Viva papa,' triggering loud replies of 'Viva'. It was an entrance worthy of God's representative on Earth. 'Good morning, and thank you for this wonderful reception,' Pope Leo XIV began, seemingly surprised at the long, thunderous applause. 'They say when they clap at the beginning, it doesn't matter much.' 'If you're still awake at the end and you still want to applaud, thank you very much,' he quipped in English, before switching to fluent Italian. It didn't take the pontiff long to show he was not there to mince words, however. While he was cordial, the first impression was that he wanted to show he was a staunch champion of 'dignity, justice, and the right to be informed'. Free speech and free press are a 'precious gift,' he said, especially for us 'living in times that are both difficult to navigate and to recount'. And "we are the times," Pope Leo XIV added, quoting St Augustine, from whose order he hails. Interrupted by applause, Pope Leo XIV pressed on with what felt like a proper pep talk. 'Never give in to mediocrity,' he said. Journalistic work was 'a challenge we shouldn't run away from,' he urged. Be responsible with AI, he insisted. He spoke up for imprisoned journalists, much to the approval of those present. But mostly it was his insistence on truth instead of partisan divisions that rang out the loudest in today's world, judging by another thunderous applause. "The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war," the pontiff emphasised. The pontiff finished his speech with a short prayer, blessing the journalists instead of opening the floor to questions. The faithful among the press made the sign of the cross, an "amen" echoing as the pontiff proceeded to greet those present in the front rows. Pope Leo XIV walked down the central aisle to shake hands with others, followed by dozens, if not hundreds, of cameras — an exit as impactful as his entrance just half an hour earlier. Was it a sermon? Maybe in part. Others would more likely liken it to the appearance of a rock star. But the pope's debut address to the press mostly showcased why the former Cardinal Robert Prevost was so quickly elected by his peers — and by the Holy Spirit, or acclamation, as the rite says. His words made the journalists in the room feel like their job was more important than his, as the leader of the Church counting 1.3 billion Catholic faithful, ever will be.
