The award acknowledges the dedication of this team of volunteer architects in various civil protection operations. Recent interventions include the Valencia DANA (cut-off low), the storm system that affected Grazalema and Málaga, and a tsunami simulation in the province of Cádiz. Their technical expertise has been crucial for assessing building damage and supporting emergency services.
CACOA emphasizes the exemplary nature of this initiative, which combines volunteering, public service, and cooperation with Civil Protection, highlighting the significant social role of architecture. The GAVE group originated in 2011 after the earthquake in Lorca, demonstrating the need for organized professionals for emergencies.
The model has expanded to other Andalusian provinces. In Cádiz, GAVE participated in the tsunami simulation last November, in collaboration with Emergencies 112. Its implementation in the province was driven by the Official College of Architects of Cádiz and the current president of CACOA, Isabel Suraña.
Their first real intervention in Cádiz occurred after the intense rains that hit the Grazalema and Ronda mountain ranges, where the team collaborated with the Málaga group in damage assessment.
Currently, GAVE comprises about 30 volunteer architects from the Official College of Architects of Cádiz. Although its structure is organized from the province, its scope of action extends throughout Andalusia and, through coordination mechanisms, also nationally and internationally, with availability for missions abroad.
The group continues to strengthen its response capacity by incorporating new professionals, improving protocols, and developing specific training actions to provide effective technical support to citizens when most needed.
