New European Bauhaus Prizes

Identify the award category for which this project is being submitted

Reconnecting with nature

Project title

Ecocabans Rías Baixas

Full Project Title

Ecocabans Rías Baixas

Please provide a short, catchy description of your project to be used in communication towards the public.

Eco-efficient cabins of our own design and construction made from recycled mussel raft wood after 25 years in the ocean, achieving the highest energy rating A, utilizing aerothermal energy, biomass and construction system

Where was your project implemented?

Spain

At which level is the project implemented (e.g., does the project cover the entire national level, one or several regions, cities etc?)

Local

Please indicate which city(ies)/village(s)

Pobra do Caramiñal
A Coruña,Galicia

Does your project address mainly urban or rural issues?

Mainly rural

Does your project refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?

It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)

Is your project fully completed?

Yes

Please indicate the date your project was completed

2023-07-22

Has your project benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?

Yes

Which fund(s)?

EMFF : European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

Has your project received an EU prize that included a monetary award?

Are you interested in participating in the ‘NEB Affordable Housing’ prize?

Yes

Is your project implemented in one of the EU MS?

Yes

Does the project provide sustainable, inclusive, and affordable housing solutions in line with the NEB values and principles?

Yes

Please indicate on whose behalf you are submitting the application

As an individual

Please provide a summary of your project, outlining the overall aim, target group(s), specific objective(s) and achieved outcomes in the context of the respective category you apply for

Create a design construction using recycled native materials that achieves the highest energy rating of A.

Please indicate the main themes of your project with 5 key words.

Eco-efficient

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Cabins

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Bioclimatic

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Raft

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Wood

Please describe the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context

This construction system using recycled wood and the use of clean energies such as aerothermal energy and biomass achieve thermal comfort with the highest energy rating in country A. Only 0.07% of buildings in Spain achieve the highest energy rating

Please describe the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context

Design and construction made from wood that grows for 25 years in the ocean on platforms dedicated to mussel farming. It integrates spectacularly into the landscape and enhances the customer experience in the environment in which it is developed

Please describe the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context

This type of construction and development allows for a new pathway that addresses two major challenges: access to housing or new construction and reducing the impact on the carbon footprint

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project. Please describe their role and level of involvement.

The project directly impacts the reduction of energy consumption, the increase of thermal comfort, landscape integration, and the use of recycled materials

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the project. Please describe their role and level of involvement. Please highlight what the added value of their engagement was

The design is by Ecocabans Rías Baixas, and the project was supported by GALP Nº5, which belongs to the Xunta de Galicia, and by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your project. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was

We observed that the raft woods are changed every 25 years because salinization gives them extreme rigidity and we decided to give them a second life by integrating them into the design of the bioclimatic cabins.

Please highlight the innovative character of the project, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the project

They are the first and only cabins in Spain with an energy rating of A, using clean energies such as biomass and aerothermal energy, while avoiding the use of highly inefficient energies like air conditioning and jacuzzi.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your project.

Focus on sustainable tourism that reduces the impact on the carbon footprint and increases it in the circular economy, with the development of a proprietary construction system.

Please describe which elements of your project could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and context. This may involve for example aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings etc.

Currently, through the startup accelerator Turislab of the Xunta de Galicia, we are developing a way to scale this efficient construction system.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the project addresses by providing local solutions

This solution addresses the challenge of mass tourism versus sustainable tourism with an impact on the local economy and a bidirectional experience.

Please give information on the results, outcomes and impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for. This includes also benefits from the project for direct and indirect beneficiaries

We have an energy consumption that is less than 400% of the market average in the sector, thanks to our own construction system.

Please attach at least 6 high resolution images (or other types of visual representations, if images are not possible) to your application.

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