Along the banks of the Millars river, Vila-real (Castellón) grew during the medieval period, protected by a wall and four towers, of which the Motxa tower remains. From the second half of the last century, the city embraced the tile industry, becoming a prominent center for the production of ceramic flooring and coatings.

Throughout defining eras in Vila-real's history, noteworthy individuals or groups of workers have played pivotal roles in shaping those moments. These figures are emblematic, representing the achievements, values, and cultural heritage of the local community. They serve a crucial role in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of a municipality, acting as links between the past and the present. Their stories provide context and a deeper understanding of how the municipality has evolved over time, contributing to the local education system and shaping the cultural identity of the community.

Despite Vila-real having a long history dating back to the 12th century, its urban and demographic growth has been exponential in recent decades, largely driven by the ceramic industry in the mid-20th century. This industrial milestone is complemented by a sporting one, as Villarreal is a top-tier football team that stirs the emotions of a significant portion of its population. This reality has posed a challenge to acknowledging the diversity and quality of individuals who have significantly contributed to Vila-real's history.

The loss of local identity and heritage is a challenge prevalent in contemporary society. In the face of a consumer-driven and instant gratification culture, the values associated with historical heritage—preservation, authenticity, and the transmission of culture to future generations—stand in contrast. These values strengthen the sense of community, but they often compete with consumerist mentalities focused on individual satisfaction, novelty, and efficiency.

These challenges are integral to the objectives set forth in the development of PlanaLab_patrimonio. Furthermore, 'Living Heritage' was the theme of this year's European Heritage Days, emphasizing practices, knowledge, and skills passed down from one generation to another. Understanding how yesterday's heritage has become today's and how it can be safeguarded for future generations is crucial.

In a first phase of work, the history of Vila-real was presented through its street map. With the help of a large map of the city, it was possible to extract that "of the more than 350 streets and squares that are currently in the town, about 38% are named with  groupings or people. Of these, less than 14% are personalities from Vila-real, and, according to the gender perspective, the tribute to women or female groups in the form of street names is only 2%". In addition to historical figures, the students have also proposed to know the trajectory of contemporary personalities who are known in their professions.

The projects were executed using modern technologies readily available to the current generation, leveraging devices and programs used daily both in the classroom and among peers. This digital-savvy generation finds a natural medium of communication in these channels, allowing for the fusion of heritage and innovative means of dissemination.

Working in a digital format has enabled subsequent accessibility in a universally accessible digital space. For this reason, students have translated their work into English.

The project involved four secondary schools in Villareal with second-year ESO (Obligatory Secondary Education) groups, consisting of 12 and 13-year-old students. Over a trimester, they worked on history and language subjects alongside the prescribed curriculum, fostering competencies in the Natural, Social, and Cultural Knowledge area of the Ministry of Education.

This interdisciplinary project engaged various mandatory disciplines, with each teacher taking ownership of the theme (Vila-real personalities) and developing it throughout the academic year. While history seamlessly participated, other subjects such as technology (programming usage), language (narrative creation), languages (translations), biology, and sports were drawn in because personalities from their disciplines had made notable contributions to Vila-real's history.

For the work, we have asked the students to work on the more international side of their local characters, highlighting relationships without borders. One of the conclusions of the work has also been the possibility of replication in any European heritage community

 So, the presented works discussed an agriculturist explaining sustainable irrigation systems (drip irrigation), and the Arab heritage (irrigation channels) or religious associations transmitting traditions. The pan-European dimension of Vila-real's historical figures can be explored through relationships that transcend local borders, such as Francesc Tárrega, a renowned musician throughout Europe with his "Recuerdos de Alhambra," the contribution of Porcelanosa, or the involvement of pharmacist José Calduch (inventor of Suavina© and supporter of Vilarreal CF).

LINK TO FINAL RESULTS (TIMELINE): https://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/2018306/Planalab_patrimoni/