'PANOT' arrives in Barcelona, the ultimate commitment to sustainable urban mobility
A new promotional sign adorns the display window of the store located on the ground floor of the Illa Augusta by Núñez i Navarro building. It's a sign that makes a clear statement of purpose, displaying a name, ‘PANOT’, along with the tagline ‘the smart mobility’ and a call to action that leaves no one indifferent: “Be part of the transformation of carbon-free cities. Will you join the change?”.
This is just a small preview of what will soon become one of the most innovative and committed projects to sustainable urban mobility in Barcelona. The creators are Didac Sabaté and Álvaro Ovejero, who were previously involved in marketing projects and in the industrial and financial sector, respectively, and who have now decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship and start their own business from scratch. Today we talk with them to learn a little more about PANOT.
When asked about their new professional venture, we discovered that it is a decision full of conviction, integrity, and responsibility: “We believe in a new culture of urban mobility. A culture based on more efficient, cleaner, and healthier cities. More sustainable. And that's why we created PANOT, to help accelerate a process of change that is already underway. Nevertheless, this path must be undertaken together, hand in hand. That's why we make a call to action, so that with collective effort we can achieve the goal of living in a better and more sustainable world”.
An absolutely commendable desire that they intend to pursue to the end, because, as they themselves say: "both of us are driven by the knowledge that we can be part of the change and actively contribute to it. We understand that we can leverage all our know-how to help boost the new culture of urban mobility. And as Richard Buckminster rightly said, 'Don't try to change a system, build a new one that makes the old one obsolete'".
The goal that both aim to achieve with this project is clear: "to lead the transformation of carbon-free cities and to leverage our strength as a lever to generate a positive impact on the planet and its citizens. What do we believe is the most efficient way to achieve this ambitious goal? Undoubtedly, the achievement of our purpose involves creating a sense of community, whose collective strength can overcome all the obstacles that arise along the way".
Of course, the name of such a well-thought-out project has not been chosen at random and holds a good deal of symbolism. Its selection is motivated by the very history of the city's tiles:
“El panot, la flor de cuatro pétalos, icono de la ciudad de Barcelona y que se puede observar en muchas de sus baldosas, fue diseñado a principios del siglo XX, para resolver un problema urbanístico que sufría la ciudad. La lluvia solía convertir en un barrizal todas sus calles, a consecuencia de una mala pavimentación que convirtió a Barcelona en Can Fanga, la casa del barro. Este icono representa para nosotros: innovación, transformación, compromiso y diseño. Y al igual que el panot del siglo XX, nuestro proyecto también tiene el objetivo de resolver un problema urbanístico. En este caso, nuestra misión es reducir la densidad de vehículos motorizados que circulan por nuestras ciudades y que son la principal fuente de contaminación”.
And the fact is that the data they have chosen to reflect in their presentation poster are highly alarming: currently cities consume 75% of the world's natural resources, produce half of the planet's waste, and generate 70% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Regarding whether there is a real level of awareness about the urgency of making a definitive change towards sustainable urban mobility, the answer from both is emphatic: "Now we do. Both citizens and companies know that it is time to act decisively. Moreover, companies are aware that they play a key role in transforming our future, being agents of change that can promote more sustainable mobility through the implementation of innovative measures. We have no doubt that society is aware. However, we want to help turn words into actions". And in this scenario, smart mobility, as they explain, leads the role of "driving smart mobility choices to make an impact on society".
The path to achieving carbon-neutral cities, which may sound like a utopia to some, is for them an urgent reality: "Sustainable mobility is no longer a trend, but a necessity. This shift in mindset is possible, in part thanks to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. We are seeing that both governments and companies are promoting ambitious measures that undoubtedly help to accelerate the path towards carbon-free cities".
To facilitate the reduction of carbon emissions, as pointed out, we can also adopt a series of changes at an individual level: “Each of our individual decisions has an impact on our planet. We all as individuals have the power to change, and mobility is a very good start. Transport is responsible for more than 30% of CO2 emissions in the EU, with cars being the main polluter. In this scenario, sustainable mobility is our great hope”.
A consistent project in which all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. The Illa Augusta building by NN, which houses their new premises, breathes efficiency and sustainability in every detail. In fact, it is a new eco-efficient residential complex, designed based on the best energy efficiency technologies available in the market (water optimization, thermal performance, intelligent architecture...). Because for the founders of PANOT, the coherence between the chosen location and the values of their company was a fundamental aspect: "For us, this was a key factor when choosing a space. Coherence is one of our most important values, and each and every one of the decisions we make should be aimed at generating a positive impact. It's clear that if we want to lead the transformation of carbon-free cities, we must start by being sustainable in our own home.".
Among the features of the premises, location is one of the most valued: “we were looking for a space in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi neighborhood, located in the upper area, the fifth district of Barcelona and one of the greenest in the city and gateway to the Collserola natural park, the most important lung of Barcelona. As easy as it may seem, the task was not simple, since we were looking for a place where we could transmit this new culture of sustainable mobility. A living, multidisciplinary space that could serve as a showroom, work area, and even as a meeting place where we could all continue to explore the future of mobility together. When we saw the premises of Núñez i Navarro, we both agreed that this space should be our flag ship”.
And they add: "we love its location. But equally important is the fact that we can rely on the best energy efficiency technologies, with magnificent natural lighting and an open space that will give us a lot of flexibility when designing an ecosystem that is adaptable to the different needs of the project".
Both Álvaro and Didac have been working on the launch for over a year and, although they are very eager to share it completely, they will still make us wait a little longer: “September is the date we have set to unveil PANOT”. And there we will be, because this is undoubtedly one of those essential events that will change many things in Barcelona.
By the way, Happy World Bicycle Day!
