Transforming the DNA of historic buildings
Barcelona boasts a multitude of charms related to its quality and lifestyle: pleasant climate, excellent communication, cosmopolitan atmosphere, extensive cultural and gastronomic offerings... and, of course, its buildings.
Because the City of Counts treasures a long and rich urban and architectural tradition recognized worldwide. Its historical works are a crucial part of its essence, and combining them with the current urban environment poses a great challenge: adapting its habitability to the required welfare standards, while maintaining a balance between past and present.
At Núñez i Navarro, we are well aware of the value of the city's historical and artistic heritage. For more than four decades, we have been contributing to its preservation and improvement through rehabilitation projects that add years to the life of each building, while enhancing their comfort and energy efficiency, without losing an iota of their original essence.
From the technical area of rehabilitation, the main goal of the refurbishment of a historic building is to limit the energy demand through an efficient design of the envelope, regenerating the facades, replacing the external joinery, and its glass. Also, by limiting energy consumption through efficient installations such as: Led lighting; the use of renewable energy in the air conditioning systems through aerothermal energy; thermal or photovoltaic solar panels; controlled mechanical ventilation for air renewal; and all this parameterized and managed by a centralized system that ensures more efficiency in the use and consumption of the building.
“In historic buildings that are listed as heritage sites, the challenge lies in equipping the building with cutting-edge elements, both in the envelope and in the facilities, that improve its performance to turn it into a contemporary building, while maintaining its architectural uniqueness. We prioritize achieving the highest energy rating in all the recovery projects we promote, ensuring the highest standards of efficiency and sustainability. As in Via Laietana 26, where a total energy saving of 27.90% has been achieved.”
Daniel Soria, Project Manager at Núñez i Navarro
This is, precisely, the case of Pier 07, one of the latest comprehensive architectural restoration projects that has been carried out at Via Laietana, 26 by the technical area of NN together with the architecture firm Alfredo Arribas.
When the opportunity arose to update the building, whose last renovation took place in the 90s, the project team clearly saw the possibility of maintaining its essence by giving a new change to the interior, mainly by creating larger openings in the load-bearing walls, thus bringing more light inside from the windows. This has resulted in 90% of the spaces having natural light.
In every rehabilitation, the goal is to improve the building within the possibilities it offers and the needs it presents.From the design phase, strategy, and construction process of the project, it is ensured to offer pleasant, safe, and healthy spaces. Using sustainable and natural materials, such as FSC-certified timber, low-emission materials, and products with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD); achieving the highest quality in infrastructure and digital inclusion; taking into account the improvement of both the health and well-being of the buildings and the people who inhabit them, contributing green surfaces, healthy and natural foods, good air quality, thermal, lighting and acoustic comfort, and reducing consumption by using renewable energies and highly efficient equipment.
“Obtaining LEED, WELL, and WIRED certifications has been a further step in enhancing the building's final features, both in the selection of materials used in the rehabilitation, which are natural and sustainable, and in creating high-quality indoor environments for the end user.”
Daniel Soria, Project Manager at Núñez i Navarro
Today, Pier 07, completely transformed into a smart building, has the three international reference certifications: WiredScore, which guarantees present and future connectivity; LEED Gold, which endorses leadership in energy efficiency and sustainable design; and WELL, a dynamic scoring system that allows to identify, measure, and monitor the features of built spaces that impact the health and well-being of its occupants.
Each of these certifications demonstrates that at Núñez i Navarro we ensure the optimal outcome of our restoration projects and that we carry them out carefully and rigorously.
