Homes that hardly consume energy – making an equivalence, they can end up using like a cigarette lighter -, that ensure habitability during heat waves without the need for a massive supply of electricity and that contribute to the well-being of those who live in them. They are not unicorns; They exist and their construction is not even one euro more expensive compared to the conventional building model. The key to these houses is the use of bioclimatic architecture, a way of doing things that goes much further than mere energy efficiency. Javier Neila, doctor of architecture and emeritus professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, explains what it consists of: “This architecture takes into account the characteristics of the climate where it is located, protecting itself from the negative aspects of that climate and taking advantage of the positive aspects.” Its objective, he says, is to reduce energy consumption and improve the thermal and environmental comfort of the people who live in these buildings. “There is a respectful and functional relationship with the climate and the location,” continues Laureano Matas, general secretary of the Superior Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain (CSCAE). Houses that adapt to the climate of the place where they are built have the answer to almost all the problems that the Spanish residential park suffers today: waste of energy, little or no thermal comfort, humidity, lack of ventilation or lack of natural light. In this way of planning buildings, the solar path, winds, humidity, orientation and building materials are taken into account. “What we do is design the buildings based on these climatic conditions so that they are able to make the most of the natural resources of the place and be able to convert them into free energy to supply the building,” says Miguel Díaz, partner at Ruiz Larrea Arquitectura, a studio headed by César Ruiz Larrea and a pioneer in sustainability that has signed countless projects, such as the Madrid 0’0 development, in Torrejón de Ardoz, and Adelfas 98, in Madrid. It is about, says Díaz, “turning the climate into architecture.” Adelfas 98, bioclimatic building in Madrid, by Ruiz Larrea.Lucia GorosteguiHow? “Solar radiation can be captured through correctly oriented glass openings, night ventilation can be used, and these energies can be stored in the constructive and structural mass of the building,” says Neila. And if these passive strategies were not enough, they would be complemented with highly efficient active systems (aerothermal, photovoltaic). The foundations of this way of making homes are in traditional architecture, along with cutting-edge techniques and materials. We are talking about adobe walls, Andalusian patios, Galician galleries… «They have historically been the response to the local climate with the available resources,» explains Matas. Furthermore, he adds, “its fundamental principle is specificity and adaptation to the context, radically differentiating itself from standardized and replicable building models.” A scourge in these times when all buildings are built more or less the same, even if the climate is different. And if counseling doesn’t help or it’s rehab, there are options. “We can improve the microclimate and thermal behavior by acting in layers,” says Matas. Incidentally, this bioclimatic architecture is the only way to meet European energy requirements. “The help in the fight against climate change and decarbonization is very clear, because if energy demand can be brought to zero, CO2 emissions from that consumption would be eliminated,” says Neila. We must not forget that one of the great pillars to decarbonize is construction. At the same time, the minimum energy demand “reduces the vulnerability of the people who live there to price volatility and actively combats energy poverty,” says Matas.
Ignorance
Homes whose DNA includes bioclimatic design are advancing, among other things, because the update of the Technical Building Code (CTE) for 2026 focuses on the transition towards buildings with almost zero energy consumption. And that is only possible with this architecture. “There is more and more sensitivity to doing it well from an energy and environmental point of view,” considers Neila.
Madrid 0’0 Torrejón, by Ruiz Larrea, almost zero energy consumption homes in Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid). Lucia GorosteguiHowever, and despite its obvious advantages in terms of comfort, savings and sustainability, bioclimatic architecture has not achieved the expected mass adoption, due to the persistence of structural and cultural barriers in the construction sector. «The misperception of the cost continues to act as an initial brake. Although the evidence shows that the extra cost can be minimal or nil and the amortization rapid, the initial decision is based on the immediate construction price, not on the life cycle cost,» believes Matas. Professor Neila insists that this architecture does not have to be more expensive “when the appropriate orientations and appropriate conventional materials are used.” It can become more expensive “if we want higher quality in the gaps, we significantly increase insulation or we want to produce energy with mechanical systems, but it is always cheaper in the long run.” And he warns: «In the long term we will not be able to afford that they are not due to the depletion of resources, climate change and biodiversity. Architect Miguel Díaz is optimistic. «The ideal breeding ground is being created. We are in a generation committed to sustainability, and even more so in Europe.» The studio of which he is a partner is one of those that is one step ahead by promoting bioclimatic architecture 2.0, that is, one that also integrates high technology. «We are making buildings with a positive balance, which are those that are even capable of generating energy for others. This involves ensuring that the envelopes are energy capturers and can divert them to the grid or to other surrounding areas,» explains Díaz. «Buildings will be great generators of energy if we do things right,» he continues. That is, this architecture is no longer based only on passive tools – envelope, thermal mass of the building – but also on active strategies – technologies and renewable energies – «We are experiencing a revolution in terms of technologies that we also have to learn to use,» comments the partner of the studio. Ruiz-Larrea. For example, artificial intelligence allows us to predict what the climate will be like and how these buildings will behave. Another step forward in this race is to conceive projects with a holistic vision: “We are designing the building throughout its life cycle, from the moment the first screw is born until the last screw dies,” according to Ruiz Larrea’s partner. The next regulations will be along these lines: it is no longer just about how much the building consumes while it is being used, but also about the carbon footprint of the materials used and their transportation. As Laureano Matas says, “the final goal is to design for a low environmental impact throughout the life cycle of the building. Bioclimatic design actively prioritizes the use of local materials or materials with very low environmental impact, which not only minimizes the carbon footprint and reduces logistics costs, but also facilitates reuse and recycling.”
