The Madrid City Council, through the Empresa Municipal de la Vivienda y Suelo de Madrid (EMVS), will start the construction of the first fully industrialized wooden housing development in the capital, specifically in the district of Barajas. Work is expected to begin in the next few months and be completed in the last quarter of 2025. This initiative, called Iberia Loreto 1, stands out for its commitment to sustainability and innovation, as the use of wood as the main material contributes to reducing the impacts of climate change, in line with environmental and sustainability guidelines at the European, national, regional and local levels, according to the administration.
The Iberia Loreto 1 project represents a municipal investment of 9.7 million euros and provides for the construction of 52 homes with two, three and four bedrooms, including parking spaces and storage rooms. These units, intended entirely for affordable rental, will have a monthly cost that does not exceed 30% of the family unit's income.
This pioneering project in the Community of Madrid follows the example of European cities such as Eindhoven or Berlin, where the construction of industrialized wooden buildings is already well established. The choice of wood as the main material is not only a statement of ecological principles due to its capacity for recycling and CO2 absorption, but also guarantees a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to concrete.
The choice of wood as the main material is not only a statement of ecological principles due to its capacity for recycling and CO2 absorption, but also guarantees a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to concrete.
Project characteristics
The development will be based on a CLT cross-laminated timber panel structure for floors and load-bearing walls, with a SATE façade system. It will be complemented with metal stairs in the interior patios and industrialized bathrooms, as well as prefabricated concrete structures for the basements, which will allow a faster execution of the work. In addition, Iberia Loreto 1 will have the energy certification A, incorporating high efficiency air conditioning and ventilation systems.
The industrialized methodology of the project will reduce construction times by up to 40% compared to traditional methods, which means a significant acceleration in the availability of social housing. The simultaneous contracting of project design and construction facilitates a more integrated and efficient process, eliminating the need to design roof or ground floor porches to further streamline the process.
The simultaneous contracting of project design and construction facilitates a more integrated and efficient process, eliminating the need to design roof or ground floor porches to further streamline the process.
The delegate of Housing Policies and president of EMVS Madrid, Álvaro González, emphasizes that "in addition to its numerous environmental advantages, this type of construction allows us to increase the supply of public housing, since its construction is faster, without increasing costs". González also emphasizes the benefits for end users, who will enjoy efficient and comfortable housing, and highlights the positive impact on the creation of qualified employment and the emergence of companies linked to the sector.
In line with EMVS Madrid's commitment to efficiency and sustainability, the municipal company currently has 28 developments underway with a total of 2,380 new homes, all with energy certification A. This approach is also reflected in the Carabanchel 34 development, the first public housing building in the Community of Madrid with Passivhaus energy certification, reaffirming the municipality's commitment to the avant-garde and sustainability.
