Case Study: nZEC - New construction of 32 dwellings in Calle Còrsega (Cibeles Project), Barcelona, Spain

Short Description

The building developed by the PMHB has obtained the highest energy rating, A. The promotion was designed by the architect team Exe Arquitectura Barcelona S.L.. The building has four underground levels, a ground floor and five upper floors, although the 32 homes for elderly are spread over just the four last floors. The homes size is 40 m2. The building has a total area of 6,356.07 m2 and a budget of € 4,877,937.26. The general objectives of the project were to provide adapted housing for the elderly in the city of Barcelona, but also safe houses, comfortable and integrated into the community, with the necessary support, both direct care (center staff) and indirect (remote assistance).The access to the dwellings is provided to those with fewer economic resources. This building is part of the European research project High Combi, which also has the participation of Austria, Italy and Greece. High Combi is a system that allows using solar energy to meet 60% of total heat demand of the building. That is, if the solar hot water demand is covered, the High Combi can use solar systems to meet the demand for heating and cooling. The system is based on the use of two technologies: solar systems and solar cooling systems.

Key Elements

Certification

The building developed by the PMHB is the first multifamily building in Barcelona that has obtained the highest energy rating, A.

Work with Residents

When homes are provided to users, a technical support is made ​​for future users with particular emphasis on energy efficiency aspects.

Environmental Design

The building has high solar fraction heating and cooling system with combination of innovative components and methods. It is a system that allows using solar energy to meet 60% of total heat demand of the building. That is, if the solar hot water demand is covered, the High Combi can use solar systems to meet the demand for heating and cooling. The system is based on the use of two technologies: solar systems and solar cooling systems.

Thermal Insulation

To reduce the energy demand, the building has a much higher insulation thickness than the one required by the legislation.

Ventilation

The building has a heat recovery ventilation system.

Heating and Hot Water

The building has high solar fraction heating and cooling system with combination of high efficiency boilers (previously explained) covering the hot water and the heating demand.

Cooling

The building has high solar fraction heating and cooling system with combination of cooling efficient systems (previously explained) covering the cooling demand.

Solar Thermal

Solar thermal is used in the solar fraction heating and cooling system with combination of innovative components and methods (previously explained).

Main Results

The drafting of the project was complicated by the complexity of the project it self (housing, parking and CAP). The development project was also complex because the Patronat entered in an European project (High Combi) later than the beginning and therefore they had to adapt the project. Finally, the adoption of centralized DHW, heating and cooling systems in public housing buildings added more technical partners, making the whole process more complex.

Lessons learned

We understand that the experience has been positive even to rule out some kind of solution to other similar buildings. The Patronat believes that, in multi-family housing buildings, it is better to work in reducing energy demand (passive systems), in installing ventilation systems with heat recovery and solar panels for DHW.

Additional Information

Cost

Contact person
Joaquim Pascual Sangrà
Email:    jpascual@bcn.cat
Telephone:    932918513