Meeting of the TOP SEC Project.
The AMB hosted the Opening Site Visit of the European TOP SEC project last 24 and 25 November, a meeting that for the first time brought together the AMB, the project partners, the cities participating in the transfer — Petroupoli, Toulouse Métropole and Municipio IX of Rome — and the experts from the European Urban Initiative (EUI).
The meeting was an opportunity to explore in greater depth the objectives and lines of work of TOP SEC, an initiative that aims to rethink the future of nature-based roofs through a new combination of substrates made from biochar derived from organic waste, with the goal of developing more sustainable, efficient and irrigation-free solutions.
The AMB is currently carrying out pilot tests on the roof of an office building belonging to the Consorci de la Zona Franca. In this initial phase, various substrate combinations are being tested. Continuous monitoring — including temperature measurements, performance comparisons and other technical indicators — will provide evidence to guide the implementation of four large experimental nature-based roofs in the metropolitan area. The work on these roofs is scheduled to begin in summer 2026.
First Day: Institutional Framework and Exchange Between Cities
The first day opened with an institutional presentation by the AMB delivered by Elena Argelich, Head of the European Projects Office; Joan Miquel Trullols, Director of the Waste Prevention and Management Service; and Albert Gassull, Director of Public Space Services. Their contributions placed the project within the AMB’s strategic framework and highlighted its potential in the field of urban climate adaptation.
The day continued with several presentations aimed at contextualising the project. Núria Bagaria, TOP SEC Project Manager at the AMB, and Margarita Espinós, Architect at the AMB, presented the project, highlighting its objectives, innovative approach and ongoing lines of work. Afterwards, the EUI office and experts – Camille Degryse, Sandra Rainero and Leon Kapetas -outlined their role in the project and their contribution.
Later, the transferring cities — Petroupoli, Toulouse Métropole and Municipio IX of Rome — presented the reality of their territories, outlined their priorities, and shared their initial reflections on the potential replicability of TOP SEC in their municipalities.
The session featured contributions from Guillaume Dumas, Climatologist and urban planner, Department for Climate and Ecological Transition, Touluse Métropole; Samantha Jackson, Director Europe-International, Toulouse Métropole; Claudio Bordi, Head of the European Unit at Risorse per Roma; and representatives from the Municipality of Petroupoli: Elektra Bravakou, Head of the Department of Planning, Development and Organisation; Athina Kamariti, Technical Advisor; and Stefanos Karampelas, Technical Advisor.
In the afternoon, Noemí Martínez, TOP SEC Project Coordinator at the AMB, explained how the project was shaped, together with the needed coordination across different departments within AMB, and the search for delivery key partners. The project is nowadays backed by a solid working ecosystem.
This was followed by a participatory session facilitated by Cíclica aimed to deep dive into the transfer partners’ potential ecosystem for innovation. Ciclica is an architectural cooperative and one of the project partners, aimed at supporting the cities replicating the project to strengthen their local collaboration ecosystems, identify opportunities and establish an initial basis for joint strategies.
The day concluded with the official presentation of the TOP SEC logo by Alba Jiménez, TOP SEC Communications Officer at the AMB. The logo will represent all partners and brings a clearly transformative intention to the project’s visual identity.
Technical Dive into the Pilot Tests
The second day began with a technical session in which Cati Montserrat, agricultural engineer at the AMB, outlined the criteria that have defined the pilot tests: from the selection of plant species to the choice of the different types of substrates tested, as well as the possible solutions for promoting biodiversity on urban roofs. She also highlighted one of the main social challenges identified: although the project seeks to encourage the presence of beneficial insects and urban fauna, people living or working in the buildings often express concerns about sharing spaces with these living beings.
Afterwards, a technical visit to the pilot tests was carried out. Julià Coma, engineer and professor at the University of Lleida (UdL), provided an in-situ detailed explanation on the design of the different sections, the composition of the substrates and the behaviours observed in this first phase of the project.
After the visit to the pilot tests, the day continued with a series of technical presentations featuring the participation of Júlia Hereza, engineer at the AMB, and Marisa Hernández, CEO of Ingelia.
Hereza opened the session by presenting the selective waste collection system managed by the AMB, as well as the various projects currently being developed in the field of waste management and recovery. Hernández then offered an in-depth explanation of the process used to obtain biochar, the project’s key innovative component, emphasising both its potential and its strategic role in the transformation and sustainability of the sector.
The day concluded with a double transferring session conducted by Sandra Rainero, EUI expert, aimed to help them build the ground for the next steps in the adaptation and replication of the solutions of TOP SEC model.
A Space for Sharing Knowledge and Driving Innovation
The Opening Site Visit was a great opportunity to build a shared vision, exchange experiences and strengthen collaboration between the AMB, the partners and the cities exploring the replicability of the solutions on their territory. This meeting consolidates TOP SEC as an initiative with high transformative potential in the field of nature-based roofs and urban climate adaptation.