The inauguration of the first residential complex in Aragon with the Passivhaus standard places the region at the forefront of sustainability.
Aragón is becoming a first level sustainable architectural focus. We have seen recently how a new exhibition of contemporary architecture is being executed in real size and now we have attended (on January 31) the inauguration of another architectural landmark in the region, specifically in its capital. This is the second residential complex with Passivhaus certification in Spain (the first is the Thermos building, in Pamplona), the first in Aragón.
Its name: Residential Scenia. Its size: 13,576 square meters. Youroccupation: 26 community dwellings in a three-storey building above ground level. Each house has an average area of 150 square meters inside, have direct communication with open and closed porches (with glass), to enjoy the outdoor space in summer and winter.
The company behind this magnificent work is the Lobe Group, which has opted for the highest comfort parameters. These parameters are supported by three criteria: quality, sustainability and innovation. To meet the second requirement, that of sustainability, the company is relying on the Passivhaus standard, the most demanding known, whose claims are to create buildings with almost zero energy consumption.
Thus, from the conception of the project the principles of the Passivhaus Institut, the highest authority in passive houses in Europe, were applied. The Vand Arquitectura company, based in Madrid, was the guarantor that the property met all the requirements for the Passivhaus Classic certificate. In other words, it has a demand for heating and cooling energy less than or equal to 15 Kilowatt hours per square meter, a demand for primary energy less than or equal to 120 kilowatt hours per square meter and an air infiltration less than or equal to 0 , 6 renewals per hour at 50 pascals (Pascal: pressure unit).
Pablo Carranza Navarro, Director of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency of Lobe explains: “We have tried to apply the principles of the standard in the simplest way possible in a construction with usual technical solutions of concrete structure and brick enclosures. In addition to the basic principles of the standard, other general criteria of passive design for the climatic location of Zaragoza have been applied, such as an adequate orientation of the building, large windows and collector galleries to the South, terraced flights for sun block and a ventilated facade finished in color white very beneficial for the summer period that have contributed to a good result of the energy balance of the building ”.
Fighting climate change must become a priority for different groups, whether public or private. However, from the Platform they indicate that buildings are responsible for 40% of the total energy consumed by the Globe, hence the importance of acting effectively in this sector. A Passivhaus-certified building guarantees savings of up to 90 percent in air conditioning, comparing it with a conventional building (if we understand by conventional a building constructed without passive standards), it also reduces the carbon footprint (prize).
The principles on which the Passivhaus certification is based are five: thermal insulation of high thickness (or efficiency),, high performance windows and glass absence of thermal bridges, ventilation with heat recovery and absence of air infiltration to respond to health criteria required by the regulations. These five points should be part of the DNA of building designers, there is no excuse for not doing so (that’s it, I said it).
But Residencial Scenia is more than a passive building. It is a real estate commitment that offers its clients the possibility of choosing the design of their home. For this they propose four environments: Venezia, Berlin, San Sebastián and Cannes, each with different interpretations of what a home is. So if you decide to buy you have a greater variety of choice. To give you an idea, prices range between 398,000 and 518,000 euros (plus I.V.A., of course).
Constructively we talk about wide spaces, high ceilings, underfloor heating/cooling, motorized blinds for the comfort of the tenants, high-efficiency lighting with Led’s (always led’s) and PVC exterior carpentry with high thermal and acoustic performance, with multilayer glass of low emissivity. Each apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen (including appliances), with bathrooms that offer flown furniture, large mirrors and screens, and designer faucets.
Like any luxury development that boasts, Residential Scenia makes available to the tenants an extensive private parking, with two parking spaces per apartment. It has a swimming pool for adults and for infants and paddle courts, the sport of fashion. The Lobe Group plans to design, build and certify all its real estate projects under the Passivhaus standard. And they plan to build in Madrid, Valencia and Zaragoza about 1,500 homes in the next three years … You have to be vigilant!