Rebuild's second edition thanks to industrialization, sustainability and tech

This article was written and published in Spanish and has been translated into English via Google Translate. Click here to read the original article.

The industrialization of housing, the use of new materials and construction processes and the commitment to technology are some of the proposals to address the “historical aversion to changes” of the real estate sector.

Wood to build, software to design real estate, home automation for homes and, above all, industrialization. These are some of the proposals presented by Rebuild with the intention of revolutionizing the construction sector and, consequently, real estate. "Our industry must turn the page on this historical aversion to change," said David Martinez, President of Rebuild and CEO of Aedas Homes, at the inaugural conference.

Historically reluctant to change, the real estate sector makes self-criticism. The evolution of the automobile industry or the banking sector, among others, evidences the continuity of Spanish real estate. "We must improve efficiency, quality and reduce costs, and this can only be done through innovation," he added.

The industrialization of housing is responding to this trend. Some developers such as Aedas Homes or Vía Célere have already launched their first industrialized housing developments, but Carlos Lamela, President of Estudio Lamela, believes that this type of property should cover most of the residential park. For this, the architect claims the investment by the administrations and the involvement of the private sector.

Industrialized housing is the most obvious solution to unite evolution, cost reduction and improvement of efficiency and quality. However, “the new materials and processes also allow us to better face the challenges,” according to David Martínez. Proof of this is the commitment of the company Egoin, responsible for engineering, manufacturing and assembly of wooden structures. The company has built buildings of up to seven heights made with this material and values ​​its advantages.

“Wood construction reduces assembly times and environmental impact,” says Ager Lejarreta, the company's commercial technician. "Wood is compostable and absorbs carbon dioxide," he adds. A 973 cubic meter wooden building, for example, absorbs 780 tons of CO2, according to the company.

The platform for the sale of construction materials used Mat Map also opts for alternatives to brick. The company offers an insulator produced with cork from burned forests and another made with straw. "We are committed to sustainability and reduce the waste material generated by the sector," said Estefanía Vivancos, responsible for the company's suppliers.

Sustainability and respect for the environment is also the bet of Hortalia, manufacturers of wood products for the garden and urban agriculture. Initially focused on planters, the company receives more and more requests to create “green roofs” with the aim of giving utility to the roof and, at the same time, have a positive impact on the environment, according to the company's Commercial Director Albert Terrades

Technology is undoubtedly another of the great trends in the sector. Dassault Systems was born in the 80s as the spin off of an aviation company and now is dedicated to selling software and enterprise management platforms. “We want people to see a building as an object,” says Juan Manuel López, Marketing Director of the company.

According to López, working with software would allow "to modify design parameters and see how they impact the entire project." In addition, it could create “digital twins” of buildings and even, in the long term, reproduce homes thanks to 3D printers.

The Aktech proptech is another example of the application of technology in real estate. "The value proposition of the company lies in offering intelligent access management, eliminating the need to use any additional device to the mobile phone," said Nicolás Salame, CEO of the company.

Industrialization, sustainability and technology are the backbone of this second edition of the Rebuild, which has more than 9,000 registered. The space, of 15,000 square meters, houses 200 brands, among which are Grohe, Porcelanosa, Roca or Titan. The company, by the way, has launched its first paintings described as “biosotenibles”, both for façade and for interiors, within the framework of the National Congress of Advanced Architecture and Building.

This article was written and published in Spanish and has been translated into English via Google Translate. Click here to read the original article.

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