For years the prefabricated houses were the ugly duckling of the house. Now the Basque Country believes that they are its salvation

The Basque Country wants more housing. And it has A plan to get it: Bet on prefabricated constructionsa model that over the last years has gained weight in the real estate sector but that – that –They recognize From Euskadi – it loads with the negative image that still has the “prefabricated” among part of the population. To clear doubts, knock down prejudices and above all make clear its institutional commitment, last week the Basque Government presented its’White Book of industrialized social housing ‘.

“It is essential to knock down biases,” claims.

Housing deficit. The Basque Country needs more housing. Or so those responsible, which recently estimated that the current construction rhythm is insufficient and the region loads with a deficit of some 1,500 annual houses.

The problem is not only that gap between the creation of new homes and demand, but to what extent it influences a market that, according to idealist data, has seen how in a matter of only one year the prices of sale rose almost 7% and those of rent 8% In Euskadi.

Prefabricated housing2
Prefabricated housing2

… and “structural deficits”. A few days ago, speaking precisely about the real estate market, the Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda of the Basque Government, Denis Itxaso, warned of another very related “deficit”: the one that drags the industry itself. “The construction sector has structural deficits, such as lack of labor, challenges related to training and professionalization and a higher speed in construction processes,” he reflected.

The relationship between the two problems is evident: the lags in the industry affect their ability to increase the offer and satisfy a residential market. “The challenge that represents the scarcity and housing failure requires balance the market with the greatest offer,” The regional head advocates of urban agenda. In his opinion, Euskadi must endow “his own strategy.” And precisely for that reason a few days ago the Executive presented A document: his ‘White Paper of Industrialized Social Housing’.

What strategy is that? The book and the act during which it was presented – in which Itxaso and the director of the Public Society for Protected Housing Promotion participated Visesaamong other positions related to the sector – served to give a track of where the Basque Country wants to go.

His government looks with special interest the “industrialized” buildingsreal estate that are created with previously manufactured pieces in a ship instead of following the traditional method of lifting walls and forged in situ.

“The way to reduce deadlines”. During The presentation From the manual, held in Bilbao, there was talk of sustainability, digitalization, security, improvement of working conditions, inclusion and also a formula that allows the sector to “respond to the housing and labor deficit”.

“The ‘White Book’ includes examples of good architectural practices, highlighting how the use of industrial processes should be the way to reduce execution deadlines and minimize environmental impact,” the Basque Executive ends in Your statement About the act. Along the same lines, the Visesa director pointed out that industrialization is “fundamental” to build “quality housing”.

Issue of challenges. Not everything is facilities and clear path in the future of prefabricated housing. During the event there was also talk of “the administrative, financial and regulations barriers that still persist” and the important role that the public administration plays, especially “assuming the role” of promoter. However, if there was a challenge for industrialization in which the accent was accent in Bilbao was another, one other than bureaucratic obstacles or difficulties in getting credit: the image.

Perhaps more modular houses are seen today than a couple of decades ago, but the big question, especially if we want to strengthen its weight in the sector, is … What concept do we have of them? “One of the main challenges is citizen perception towards what is considered ‘prefabricated’, often associated with lower quality or provisionality,” admits the Basque Government in Your statementin which curiously only that word is used once: “prefabricated.” Itxaso himself assumes that he “demolish preconceived biases and ideas.”

Of the theory … To practice, there is. Visesa He spoke too of the development of about thirty protected homes in Sopela-Asu, in the province of Vizcaya, using precisely “industrialized construction processes.”

In the sector, prefabricated, industrialized, modular solutions are also expanding time … and although in Spain they still suppose A modest part of the sector, in other nations, such as the Netherlands, Germany or the United Kingdom, they have managed to get a respectable presence. Some construction companies trust that in a few years industrialization is a significant part of their income.

In their favor they do not only have the impulse of the Basque Government, which for another part has already seen On other occasions His commitment to industrialized homes. At the state level the PP has been in favor also to promote this kind of buildings to stop The housing problem In Spain, following the example of countries Like Australia.

Images | Wikipedia and Aedas Homes

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