Lliri Blau, Valencia, Spain

Tecnical Information:

Project: Lliri Blau, Bioclimatic Housing Complex

Year: 2003 (project) - 2005 (construction)

Area: 12.000 m2

Budget: € 13.000.000

Location: Massalfassar, Valencia, Spain

Architect: Luis de Garrido

The urbanization Lliri Blau is being known as the first class 100% Bioclimatic in Spain because it incorporates healthy, recyclable materials, criteria for sustainable construction solutions that promote energy efficiency and the use of automation technology.

Blau Lliri comprises 130 homes equipped with all amenities and facilities. In this set there are, commercial areas, offices, leisure centers, a nursing home and day care.

These homes are a European benchmark for green building and the environment that meet the sustainability criteria. By establishing a design process and a 100% sustainable and ecological construction strategy, the architect has defined a set of parameters and 40 sustainable indicators used to determine the sustainability of a particular construction.

In Lliri Blau this indicators have been faithfully followed, of which include: the use of recycled and recyclable materials, using materials which have required little energy as possible to be obtained, using materials that have generated the least possible amount of waste , local labor, natural materials, the building to think to be able to recycle once you have that down, that part or all of its materials biodegradable.

There was a carefully though: the perfect south orientation, spatial structure, program, architectural design, the arrangement of windows and channels of natural ventilation design gaps, so that, if only for its architecture, buildings tend to heat in winter and cool in summer without any mechanical system.

To enhance the building's bioclimatic performance, walls were used with 'Termoarcilla block', providing a high thermal inertia, and it is combined with hemp fiber and concrete block of 9.

This solution configures a breathable wall and prevents the heat exit to the outside. Also for the thermal performance of the building the prescriber has included use of roof gardens, greenhouses, frames with gates to allow the passage of air and thus, natural ventilation and thermal conditioning of the building.

Note that in these houses it was achieved a high energy efficiency. It is estimated that due to the level of insulation, thermal inertia and its bioclimatic component, buildings consume about 30-40% of what conventional buildings of the same size and characteristics consume.

There were also implemented the use of alternative energies. A good example is the hot water, which is generated by thermal accumulator supported by captors with night rate.

Notable Features of the complex:

·         Consumes only 40% of the energy needed by buildings with similar characteristics;

·         Ventilation and cooling natural system, based on cross-ventilation and channels that receive air from the north direction, and distribute for the houses;

·         Collects and uses rainwater for irrigation and filling out the tanks of the toilets;

·         All materials are 100% ecologic, qualified through 40 sustainable indicators identified for this purpose;

·          Bioclimatic buildings don't need air conditioned. They are perfectly oriented to north-south with a perfect form factor and shallow to allow cross ventilation. By its architectural structure and morphology tend to cool in summer and warm in winter;

·         Using solar and electric energy with night rate;

·         Healthy materials that don't emit harmful substances to our health;

·         Abundant use of wood (ecological reference material); 

·         No use of harmful materials for the environment.