La Tortuga is a former textile factory located in the heart of Canyamars, one of the three settlements that make up the municipality of Dosrius.
For decades, it was the economic and social engine of the territory: a workplace for many families, but also a space of shared memories and the construction of collective identity. Like many other factories in inland Catalonia, La Tortuga fell into disuse at the end of the 20th century, leaving a void in both the landscape and community life.

This project aims to breathe new life into this industrial heritage, recovering not only its physical structure but also its role as a central space for everyday life. Far from being a nostalgic operation, the transformation of La Tortuga into a new municipal facility is conceived as an opportunity to address—through proximity and collective work—the structural challenges of contemporary rural areas: equitable access to services, cohesion between scattered settlements, a sense of belonging, and the creation of spaces for care and coexistence.

The participatory process to define the uses and management model for the building’s second floor involved over 290 people—children, youth, and adults—through workshops, open activities, school-based engagements, and a final feedback session. The methodology followed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, prioritizing active listening, diverse perspectives, and respect for the site’s memory. In this sense, La Tortuga is not only being physically rehabilitated, but also symbolically redefined as a living and shared space.

The project places particular emphasis on gender perspective, sustainability, and accessibility, and defines four main thematic areas: culture, health, learning, and encounter. These are deployed through a proposal of open, flexible, and welcoming spaces designed for intergenerational use and diverse groups. La Tortuga will function as a climate refuge, a center for care, and an indoor public space active all year round.

As for the governance model, the project proposes a progressive structure combining municipal leadership with citizen participation. Through the framework called Closca (Shell), Moviment (Movement), and Essència (Essence), a dynamic management system is established that integrates regular programming, spontaneous use, and community governance.

With this project, La Tortuga becomes much more than just a facility: it stands as a symbol of the transformative potential of disused spaces and the power of heritage as a driver of the future. Its revitalization not only addresses the lack of facilities in Canyamars, but also helps to stitch together the territory of Dosrius and to build a more just, inclusive, and connected network of public spaces. At the same time, it highlights the legacy of rural Catalan textile factories—not only as spaces of collective memory, but as infrastructures with the potential to reshape the present and imagine new forms of community life.