All new construction buildings are becoming the same building

It doesn’t matter that you live in Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Grenade, Malaga either Vigoto name just a handful of cities. If you take a walk through the majority of municipalities in Spain, it is more than likely to meet the same picture: white and black residential buildings. The chromatic sobriety taken to the extreme seems to send among the blocks of New construction. Even in rehabilitations in which the facades are formed. It might seem a simple fashion issue, but – without discarding that factor – reality is a lot more complex and rich in nuances.

So … why so many black and white buildings?

The trend is already Some time Besting, but it has spread to such an extent and with such force that today all cities can be found in (almost). Populous cities of the size of Madrid either Valencia. And others with less population, such as A Coruña, Cáceres either Grenade. If new construction promotions are reviewed, it seems that almost all have come out of the same Architecture study. Black and White Mandate. As in his day he did the caravista brick.

It is not necessary to leave home and travel the cities of the country to check it. Arrives with a look at the catalog of promoters such as Aedas Homes, Neinor Homes, Celere, Metrovacesa either Real estate habitat. There are exceptions, of course; But if we had to identify a trend in its portfolios and infographics is precisely that: the recurring use of whites, blacks and gray tones.

Tax, tastes … and much more

Made of tastes and fashions? It is an explanation. In 2023 the newspaper Herald He wondered Why in the neighborhoods of Zaragoza with a significant number of new buildings seemed to be repeated again and again the same picture: facades that combine white, black and dark gray. To clear the unknown he consulted with Grupo Lobe, behind one of the new buildings in the Aragonese capital that had opted for that combination: black, white and, where appropriate, an anthracite gray. And while the firm pointed to several factors, one of them is pure aesthetic.

“There is another issue that we consider that it is the taste of the people. We are clear that attracts black and white, or very dark gray,” Álvaro Van Horenbeke saidarchitect of the firm. “For other more unique projects, other tones are used, but in general this combination is easier for it not to become timeless.” Other voices in the sector talk about the desire to “Generate dualities”a commitment to white linked to Modern movement or the simple taste for black and dark gray, such as anthracite or RAL 7016.

That the commitment to black and white has spread so strongly does not respond to a simple issue of fashion or the search for an aesthetic as “timeless” possible. Black and white are not any chromatic options, as Van Horenbeke himself recognized. Aesthetic values apart, both are key in a strictly practical aspect: their behavior to reflect either absorb sunlight, which in turn influences temperature.

The use of white can be so strategic that there are university researchers dedicated to Find the variety more “pure” possible – the whiter white – to improve its ability to reflect and use it in paintings capable of cooling surfaces that permeate below environmental values. Moreover, there are still the curl there are scientists who They have theorized On the advantages that it would have for the planet covering 2% of the land surface of “ultrabranco”.

The architect Pedro Torrijos points another key to understanding the enormous popularity of black and white, which extends even to the reforms: the search for a more effective thermal insulation. The disseminator also remembers the great popularity of the SateThermal insulation systems on the outside that basically They consist in the installation of a thermal insulation on the outer walls of a building to improve thermal performance. By way of finishing Revoco or plates coatings with ceramics or stone can be used.

It does not condition black and white, but that is a bet that has gained popularity against more risky ones. “The promoters are conservative.”

There is an old adage that says ‘if something works … Why change it?’ That is another of the possible explanationseven simpler: if black and white buildings work in the market, why risk doing something that generates rejection?

From the collective Madrid projects They remember that in the sector there are large companies that bet on formulas and studies that are already known to them. “There are few promoters who do a lot of work. They do it a bit in series,” they ironize. Chromatic sobriety is also associated with minimalism, although Madrid projects recognizes that repeating a recurrent formula as happened in its day with bricks causes a risk: “saturation.”

“If you want to make a new image you can do it with brick and shapes, but it is normal to go to a more technological material. On the other hand, in Spain everything that has color sounds to social housing,” They pointed Three years ago since the Hisplelyt firm To the opinion of A Coruña. “In the end, 99% of the promotions look for something quiet, so they are sure that it will sell well. They only ask us for color and give some vidilla when we make students residences.”

To better understand the phenomenon, Madrid projects slides another even more striking concept: “Buildings cream cake”. The expression helps to understand the success that works in black and white have achieved. The idea is to lift simple buildings to which a layer is then added to “generate a certain volume feeling”, as is the case in pastry with the cream. “To give a more chic touch, these slabs are given,” they say from the collective before aiming their advantages for example to “hide” small windows or other details.

“It’s a beautiful finish,” they abound. The idea connects with another concept: that of “marketing architecture”. “These are neutral colors. With others that feeling of depth could not be generated. With black the holes are well hidden.” In the case of the reforms and rehabilitations of old buildings, it is also handed with plates with which the original design is not always respected.

There would be two other explanations of a much more practical nature: costs and a simple EFFICIENCY QUESTION. Not long ago The confidential He consulted To the architect Juan Coll-Barreu about the curious resemblance between the new construction works, in which white painting, dark lines, often without large terraces … his response is repeated … his response provides another approach that completes the painting.

“These constructive elements are the ones that are most repeated because they leave cheaper. It is because of the laziness of the system. They bring you a single piece and material and in the end everyone ends up doing the same. You just have to go to the Sima every year,” Coll-Barreau reflected: “Someone will tell you what people want, but it’s not true. It’s like when you buy shoes. You choose among those who show you.”

There are no constructions without materials. And they also play a fundamental role in the trend, such as remember Julio Touza, who slides that his improvement and the development of more sophisticated resources has allowed architects the possibility of using whiter on the facades, with the advantages that this offers. “When you have that dough in a residential building, you need to lighten it with some contrast, such as dark color bands.” The new materials have partially occupied the place of the bricks, which also face an extra challenge that also conditions the sector: the lack of qualified labor.

“People are very much. But people who are able to place things well do not exist as such,” I recognized A builder a The opinion: “It is one of the issues that most worries. The previous crisis expelled a mass of young people. And now the historical people in the sector have retired. There is a problem that makes us look for materials that depend less on a craft and more manufacturing in workshop. “

Images | Ribera del Calderón, Avantespacia, Aedas Homes and Neinor Homes

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*An earlier version of this article was published in July 2024