Achieve climate neutralization of the construction sector by 2050. This is the commitment that has been acquired at the European level and one of the topics that has focused the debate of the experts during the second day of the Barcelona Housing and Rehabilitation Forum (FHAR).
Currently, construction is responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions and 95% of buildings in Catalonia built since 1980 would suspend energy efficiency. A starting point that undoubtedly requires the effort and involvement of all agents, from the administration to the professionals of the sector or the citizens themselves.
A path that goes through the search for innovative constructive solutions both in new buildings and in rehabilitation projects, incorporating the experience of architects, builders and industrialists and relying on technological advances and new construction techniques to achieve more sustainable projects, with greater energy efficiency and that promote the decarbonization of the housing stock of cities.
The debate also referred to the impact that the improvement of housing efficiency can have in different areas, beyond achieving the objectives of decarbonization. Thus, the effect on people’s health, accessibility or improvement in structural safety, are also key elements that must promote improvement actions in terms of sustainability in the housing sector.
To talk about all these aspects, the FHAR has brought together the following experts: Lluïsa Cendón, head of urban innovation at the Bit Habitat Foundation of the Barcelona City Council; Jordi París, partner architect at Paris Camps Arquitectura; Licinio Alfaro, head of the Sustainable Construction Department at ITeC; Marta Benedicto, founding partner of Cierto Estudio; David Juarez, architect at Straddle3; Daniel López, coordinator of Works of the Projects and Works Department of IMHAB and Greta Tressera, architect and international consultant in carbon-neutral and resilient cities; in addition to the journalist Oriol Carreras.
Technical visits to bring different constructive realities of the city closer
The morning of the second day has been focused on technical visits to some public housing developments. Thus, through three different routes with specific combinations, the participants have been able to learn about some of the most representative current projects in different construction areas.
Specifically, it has been possible to visit the industrialized construction promotions of Casernes J (c/Fernando Pesoa, 53-57); Marroc (c/ Marroc, 180-182) or Lola Iturbe (c/ Lola Iturbe Arizcuren, 13), where new construction techniques have been applied that allow to streamline processes and reduce the environmental impact. It has also been possible to visit the Botella rehabilitation project (c/ Botella, 16), where a building of 11 public homes for social rent, 2 premises and 4 offices has been fully operated.
But one of the visits that has generated the most expectation has been to the promotion of new construction of Illa Glòries (pl. Glòries, 2-4-6), where 238 houses of official protection have been built in four blocks, each of them developed by a different drafting team, which will be awarded soon.
Presented the first ‘Quaderns d’Habitatge’, focused on the new housing law
The FHAR has also served as a framework to present the 1st edition of ‘Quaderns d’Habitatge’, the new monographic publication promoted by the Barcelona City Council through the Municipal Institute of Housing and Rehabilitation of Barcelona (IMHAB).
This first edition focuses on the new housing law, so some of the authors of the articles have been invited to discuss the topic. During the debate, the impact of the new law on the market (both public and private housing) has been highlighted, as well as the voices against the norm for wanting to intervene housing and how, with this intervention, what is intended is precisely to correct the deviations from the market.
Carles Donat, co-director of the Barcelona Metropolitan Housing Observatory; Griselda Fernàndez, director of Public Park Management Services at IMHAB; Pablo Feu, lawyer specializing in housing; and Joan Ramon Riera, Housing Commissioner of the Barcelona City Council: moderated by the journalist Laura Sangrà.