The Diputación de Castellón's Ceramic Urban Regeneration Contest (CRU) has closed its project submission period with a total of 38 proposals received, marking the second edition with the highest participation since its creation. The jury, composed of representatives from ceramic entities and architecture professionals, has already begun deliberations to select the winning entries, highlighting the overall quality of projects that propose ceramics as the main material for transforming squares and streets.

A total of 43 municipalities submitted urban spaces as candidates, from which Aín, Argelita, La Jana, Les Alqueries, Llucena, Nules, Torreblanca, Vall d’Almonacid, Vila-real, Vilavella, Vistabella, Vinaròs, and Xodos have been selected by architects for the deliberation phase.

The Deputy for Ceramic Promotion, Vicente Pallarés, emphasized the high number of proposals and participating municipalities, stating that it "demonstrates the interest in regenerating urban spaces with the use of ceramics and also the commitment of this government team to promoting ceramic products." The aim of these projects is to improve degraded areas, transforming them into more habitable, accessible, and sustainable public spaces.

With a budget of 1,012,500 euros for this edition, each winning project will receive 37,500 euros for the drafting of the project and 300,000 euros for the execution of each of the three awarded works. The contest maintains its CRU General, CRU Plaza, and CRU 5M awards, valuing the architectural quality, suitability, utility, accessibility, and sustainability of the ceramic designs.

The winners will be announced on June 12th at a gala in San Vicente de Piedrahita, in Cortes de Arenoso, the location where the winning proposal from the seventh edition was executed. Furthermore, on June 19th, a regenerated space in Montanejos, resulting from the contest, will be inaugurated. The contest contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 11 and promotes the provincial ceramic industry.