As part of the Green Seeds Raise Awareness Campaign, we want to highlight initiatives that show that climate action is not only about broad goals or public debate, but also about concrete projects rooted in place and carried by committed people. The example of Cal Guerxo, developed by Emmanuel Pawels, reflects this ambition perfectly: making inspiring and replicable practices visible to a wider audience.
Cal Guerxo is a renovation project guided by the Living Building Challenge and by a regenerative development approach. The aim was not simply to reduce the environmental impact of an old building, but to rebuild a healthier relationship between the home and the living systems that surround it. In that sense, the project addresses several climate and environmental issues at once: carbon emissions, energy, water, the health of occupants, and the connection between the built environment and local ecosystems. It goes beyond a logic of doing less harm and instead seeks to regenerate.
Located in the Pyrenees, Cal Guerxo transformed an old house into a place that seeks to give back more than it takes, built with natural and reclaimed materials, powered by the sun, and designed in harmony with its environment. In Green Seeds materials, the project is already presented as a strong example of environmentally respectful architecture and regenerative practice.
One of the most important aspects of the project is the involvement of young people. Emmanuel invited volunteers and young practitioners to take part in the renovation, giving them direct, hands-on experience in regenerative development. Their participation brought fresh energy, new perspectives, and a strong sense of stewardship toward the place. This is especially relevant for Green Seeds: it shows that young people are not only observers of the green transition, but can become concrete actors of change through learning, building, and experimenting.
The success of this initiative also relied on clear principles and a strong ethical framework. Emmanuel stresses the importance of a shared vision, shaped by the Living Building Challenge and regenerative development philosophy. This clarity helped align the work of everyone involved, from designers and builders to volunteers and collaborators. The project also emphasized systems thinking, continuous learning, and cooperation with local craftspeople who understood the ecological and cultural context of the region.
Like many innovative initiatives, Cal Guerxo also faced important challenges. One of the biggest was the gap between mainstream construction standards and regenerative practices, which are often less recognized or less integrated into dominant approaches. To overcome this, the project required capacity building, learning by doing, and identifying people who were aligned in values and purpose. This shows that successful climate action does not depend only on technical knowledge, but also on collective commitment and a deeper sense of meaning.
Through the Green Seeds campaign, we want to share exactly these kinds of examples to show that climate action can take many forms: agriculture, housing, biodiversity, education, and local mobilisation. What matters is the ability to connect environmental challenges with practical, transferable, and inspiring responses. Cal Guerxo shows that it is possible to rethink the way we build, live, and learn, while giving young people an active place in that transformation.
