HOW TO TURN THE RENOVATION OF A FAÇADE INTO A REFERENCE
The renovation of a residential complex in the city centre of Vigo (Galicia, Spain) has become an architectural reference in the city.
In mid-2017, a block of flats built during the 1980s in the coastal area of RíasBaixas in Galicia showed dire problems, which required immediate and comprehensive refurbishment. Sixteen months later, technicians, property owners, and residents recognised the value ofthe chosen architectural solution: a new ventilated façade clad with Trespa® Meteon®.
The three-tower project had several issues that needed to be solved.The first was to secure the detachment of facing bricks on the exterior. The second, was related to the water leaks and moisture condensation caused by thermal bridges, which happen when there is a difference in temperature between a warm interior and a cold exterior such as occurs during the hard winters of northern Spain.
“A refurbishment and clean-up of the facade was carried out to solve the first problem, while the remaining two issues were solved by implementing a ventilated façade solution,” explains the technical architect in charge of the project, Iván Martínez Ferreira.The undertaking, he says, “has ceased to be a building with problems and has become a reference in the area due to the finishing and construction solutions that were chosen, according to local residents and other technicians.”
Trespa® Meteon® panels were used for the refurbishment. More than 5,000 m2 of Uni Colours panels were needed in Pure White, Silver Grey, Mid Grey, and Anthracite Grey to improve the thermal envelope of the building and to create a new ventilated façade that would serve as an elegant and aesthetic solution, thanks in part to effects createdwith Metallics Urban Grey.
“The Trespa®panel was selected due to the quality of its finish and its durability, since the project included a lot of surface area and the property owners wanted to avoid maintenance problems in the future,” emphasised the Galician architect. Installer Luis Alfredo Castelo, from Tecniagal, echoes this in his own statement: “Seeing the state of this material over the years through other remodelling projects in nearby areas was decisive; interested parties were able to verify in person the panels’ colour stability that, after fifteen years, still looked like it did on the first day.”
Castelo has been installing Trespa® cladding for almost 30 years for different projects all over Galicia and he has first-hand knowledge of the main benefits which are enjoyed by those who selected this architectural solution. The 105 residents of the three-tower complex in Vigo support his claims, since they have not only shown their satisfaction with the obvious aesthetic modernization of the property and, as a result, the community, but also praise the increased real estate values and improved energy efficiency.
Ventilated façades provide insulation and createanairflow that prevents humidity and benefits to indoor temperatures. This has allowed to improve the energy grade for this residential complex by one letter grade, both in terms of the consumption of primary non-renewable energy as well as carbon dioxide emissions. According to calculations from an external audit made, a 35% energy savings were recorded, in comparison with consumption before the refurbishment. The reduction allowed for owners of the tower blocks to opt for a subsidy of 30% for the project that was provided by Inega, the Energy Institute of Galicia.
“Residents arenoting daily the reduction in energy consumption, since insulation provides a comfortable temperature both during the summertime and during the winter. Now, at the start of the coldest season of the year, the majority of homes can avoid turning on their heating,” says the installer.
At the same time, independent valuation studies carried out by property owners verify an increase in the value of the properties. “The investment made has allowed for revaluation of the homes, bringing about an important amortization of the project, first due to energy consumption savings, and second due to sales value,” underscores architect Martínez Ferreira.
Aside from emphasising the solution provided, the architect also recognises that participation and perfect execution from the installation company was crucial in the ultimately successful result of the project. This satisfaction with the result was also voiced by Tecniagal’s administrator: “The absence of complaints during the execution of the project was reinforced by generalized contentment with the design.” “The result is a unique and modern building that brought a notable revaluation for this housing complex in Vigo,” says Castelo.
