Work on an existing building to cut its energy demand and emissions: envelope, windows, heat-recovery ventilation and electrification of building services.
Definition
In Spanish prime housing the starting point is usually an early-1900s apartment building or an eighties villa: plenty of character and an envelope that leaks heat everywhere.
The right order is insulate, seal, ventilate with heat recovery, and only then size the HVAC. Doing it backwards produces high bills and oversized equipment that never pays back.
Related entities
Passivhaus: An international ultra-low-energy building standard based on continuous insulation, airtightness, absence of thermal bridges and heat-recovery ventilation. (Linked · Shared pages · Cross-mentioned)
Turnkey project: A contracting model where a single party takes on design, permits, construction, furnishing and final handover of a space that is ready to use. (Linked · Shared pages)
Barcelona: The studio's main base and the European city with the highest density of heritage-grade modernista housing: Eixample, Sarrià, Pedralbes and the upper city. (Linked · Shared pages)
Indoor air quality: The set of parameters — CO₂, PM2.5, volatile organic compounds, relative humidity — that determine whether the air in a home supports or degrades the health of its occupants. (Linked · Shared pages · Cross-mentioned)
Construction management: The function that turns a design into built reality: planning, contracting trades, quality control, certifications and handling of on-site surprises. (Shared pages)
Natural materials: Stone, solid timber, lime, linen, wool and brass: mineral or plant-based materials that age into patina instead of degrading. (Shared pages)