Bioclimatic Building

Energy consumption is reduced and employees are provided with a better indoor climate. Those are the benefits of the design of the LINCE ASPRONA group building in Valladolid, Spain, where the architects have worked strategically to improve the bioclimatic performance. When creating sustainable architecture, the right materials make all the difference. Rockwool’s insulation solutions have helped make this example of bioclimatic architecture possible, improving its performance when it comes to both sustainability, fire safety and acoustics. Insulation material is used to a much higher degree than what is required, reducing the need for heating and air conditioning. Rockfon has great advantages with regards to the absorption of sound, which improves the building’s acoustics, while stone wool offers a high level of protection against fire and damp. Extra insulation gives better quality of life “Sometimes it costs extra to add more insulation material, but compared to the total cost of the work it does not require much extra and it is worthwhile, as in the long run our building will have higher levels of quality and comfort, ” says Emilio Miguel Mitre, co-founder at the architecture firm ALIA, Arquitectura, Energía y Medio Ambiente, S.L., designers of the LINCE ASPORA group building. Behind the 7000 m² NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Buildings) industrial and office building is the Envite Plan E consortium. The Envite project studies the bioclimatic behaviour of buildings and is basically concerned with demonstrating that thanks to highly energy-efficient construction people’s comfort and quality of life are improved, damage to the environment is reduced and money is saved. Stone wool creates bioclimatic architecture Stone wool from Rockwool has been used for both the interior and the exterior, while Rockfon ceilings have been applied in the building’s offices. ALIA already had many positive experiences with collaborating with Rockwool on other bioclimatic projects: “Rockwool is very strong on sustainability and we have worked successfully with them on bioclimatic buildings on several occasions. They offer an insulator that benefits both the environment and the indoor climate and also has the advantage of being a readily available commercial product,” Emilio Miguel Mitre says. Rockpanel defined design Not only was Rockwool products used throughout the building for decks, facades, interior partitions, flooring etc. Rockpanel Chameleon actually helped define the design. When the architects came across Rockpanel Chameleon they saw an opportunity to create an aesthetically unique building. The material changes colours depending on the light and the angle from which you look at it, in this case from blood red tones through to rust, copper and green. “It is very beautiful and everyone who sees it likes it a lot,” Emilio Miguel Mitre says.