The most emblematic room del CírculoThe Ballroom is transformed once again into a space to combat the "heat island" effect that occurs in urban centers.

This summer the refuge proposes to stop: a defense of slow, shared and sustainable times.

The project has the collaboration of the Biodiversity Foundation (MITECO), Reale Foundation, TYPSA and the Madrid City Council.

July 10, 2025. The Círculo de Bellas Artes The Climate Refuge, a large green space designed to combat the high temperatures, has reopened and will be open until September 7th. It's a cool, welcoming space with abundant vegetation and areas for working or relaxing. During July and August, the Ballroom transforms into a haven of well-being, socializing, and creativity in the heart of Madrid. Admission is free and open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Convinced of the urgency of adapting to ever-increasing temperatures, especially in urban environments where the "heat island" effect occurs, el Círculo It creates a climate-controlled space, independent of consumerism and open to everyone. Through the shelter and the parallel activities organized around it, it continues its reflection on the climate emergency, one of the most pressing problems we face today.

This year, the refuge will also focus on concepts like pausing, slowing down, or stopping, advocating for alternative rhythms of life. Pausing proposes a slow and tranquil pace, the opposite of the frenetic pace of production and the demand to be constantly connected. It also questions work models that reward exhaustion and opens the debate on slowing down and caregiving. The refuge will serve to present time as a vital space, not as an economic resource.

With the aim of celebrating calm, rest, slowness, and the right to laziness, this year the refuge's lush vegetation is complemented by an installation that embodies this intention of STOP: a collection of sleeping platforms and rest structures we've dubbed the "Siestadrome," equipped with hammocks for reading, relaxing, or taking a leisurely nap. This space opens on Thursday, July 10 (16 p.m.) with a reading of Georges Perec's *Life: A User's Manual*, in collaboration with the Pérgamo bookstore, and an electronic music session by Massi Cassu, offering a sonic nap of deep listening.

A space has been permanently set up until September 7th with everything necessary to work comfortably from the shelter, water fountains, chess corners, reading and board game areas (with the collaboration of Tranjis Games) as well as the plant nursery, where you can leave your plants during the holidays, in the care of a team of professionals who will take care of their watering and maintenance.

Around the refuge, parallel activities will take place that subtly offer resistance to the demands of hyper-productivity. With the workshop “Textile Deconstruction,” led by Clara Macías (Saturday, July 12), we can cut, transform, and play with clothes we no longer wear. Leer es Sexy presents “Silent Spring, Cruel Summer,” a video creation about the eco-social crisis featuring texts by authors such as Rachel Carson and Naomi Klein, narrated by Taylor Swift. Isabela Lenzi, curator of the exhibition “We Are Roots” (in the Picasso Room)el Círculo), will conduct special tours of the exhibition. There will also be a discussion about cuisine thanks to a talk between Mikel López Iturriaga and María Sánchez, who will explore the evolution of gastronomy, examining habits, sustainability, and the future.

Literature will take center stage through collective readings, book presentations, and storytelling sessions. On Friday (July 11), Emma Ríos will discuss her graphic novel "Anzuelo" (Hook), along with Diego Salgado and Elisa McCausland. On Sunday the 13th, we'll hear "Berta's Magic Potion," a musical and eco-friendly storytelling performance. And on Wednesday the 16th, Emilio Santiago Moíño will present "Vida de ricos" (Life of the Rich), an eco-socialist proposal that envisions a desirable, collective, and sustainable life beyond collapse.

Por último, la Escuela SUR And the La Imprenta bookstore is organizing a very special reading party. It's a gathering for reading together: no screens, no rush, no noise. Just you and your book for an hour of reading together, followed by an open conversation about books, art, and whatever else comes up. It will take place on Wednesday, July 23, at 19 p.m.

The Climate Refuge del Círculo It is carried out with the collaboration of the Biodiversity Foundation (MITECO), Reale Foundation, TYPSA and the Madrid City Council.