The explanation, at least in many cases, lies with Endesa. These structures house equipment linked to the neighborhood’s electricity network, such as switchboards and installations needed for the power supply, particularly in areas that changed as La Almozara grew and became more urbanized. Not all of them would have served exactly the same purpose and, according to local residents, some have also ended up being used as storage spaces for tools and materials used by workers from Zaragoza City Council’s Parks and Gardens Department.
The variety of responses is, in fact, closely linked to the history of these small structures. Some residents explain that they were not all built for the same purpose and recall that some huts operated as public toilets for years. These facilities, however, were eventually closed after accumulating hygiene problems, unpleasant odors and even episodes of insecurity.
HUTS WITH MORE THAN ONE LIFE
"They used to be urinals that stank and you could not even go inside," one resident said, while others recalled that those former toilets looked very different from the way they do today. Some also claim that only a few of the structures were used for that purpose, while the rest were linked to electricity or park maintenance from the beginning. This mixture of memories explains why, decades later, they still arouse a certain curiosity among those who live nearby.
What does seem clear is that the huts are not exclusive to La Almozara. Residents point out that similar structures exist in other Zaragoza neighborhoods, such as Las Fuentes, Actur and El Gancho, although their designs and functions may differ. In La Almozara, meanwhile, some have remained linked to electrical installations, while others have taken on new uses over time.
Some have even stopped being purely functional features and become small pieces of the urban landscape. In fact, several years ago, artist and illustrator Vera Galindo transformed one of these huts with the help of Festival Asalto, as part of an edition devoted to sustainability. The artist herself explained at the time that it was an Endesa hut. Her intervention, filled with vivid colors, completely transformed an everyday feature that, for many residents, had been there "all their lives."
