Category: Architecture Alicante

Arquifach, Architecture Alicante

Arquifach, Architecture Alicante, has more than 46 years of experience in the construction, architecture and urbanism sectors. In addition, its professional team is specialized in different fields of architectural design, construction, planning, pathology reports, valuations and advice in general.

Arquifach, offers these services with the greatest seriousness and professionalism possible. Always supported by the work of a human team that remains always available to the client. Always to develop a job that fully satisfies you.

Your team has architects in Alicante and the entire Costa Blanca available to the client. Dedicated to design perfect homes along the Costa Blanca and in each and every one of its beautiful municipalities and towns.

COSTA BLANCA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS

Real Estate Investments on the Costa Blanca: Why buy a house on the Costa Blanca?

Costa Banca is located in the province of Alicante in the southeast of Spain. It is a privileged place due to its geographical and climatological characteristics that make it attractive for great investment possibilities by residents and tourists. Many of our clients are encouraged to create their dream home, being aware that it is also an opportunity to immerse themselves in real estate investments on the Costa Blanca.

Evolution of Costa Blanca real estate investments

Therefore, the cost of real estate in that area has increased over the years. According to the report published by pisos.com, the average sale prices in Costa Blanca have increased 3.2% in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the same period the previous year; followed by rents.

Similarly, statistics from the Ministry of Development of the country show that the homes sold during the first half of the year in the province reached a total of 2,797 million euros with an increase of 23% compared to the previous year.

But this increase has not prevented Costa Blanca from being an active investment market, as can be seen in the official data provided by the Ministry of Development with respect to real estate transactions which increased 16.8% during the first semester of 2018 compared to the same period of the previous year.

Volumen of Costa Blanca real estate investments

In this regard, in the province of Alicante, specifically in the Costa Blanca area, a total of 23,256 real estate purchase and sales transactions were registered during the first half of this year.

What is looking for a byer on the Costa Blanca?

All homes in the Costa Blanca area have a contemporary and modern design. Realtors also offer the possibility for the investor to design and build their dream house on demand or to acquire only the plot.

Buyer profile

Another important factor that can be seen in the statistics of the Ministry of Development is that a high percentage (40 to 45%) of the buying and selling processes were made by foreign buyers, from residents of any European country to North Americans.

The target of potential investors to buy land and/or build houses in the Costa Blanca area is defined in people between 50 and 55 years old who are about to retire.

Why choose the Costa Blanca to live?

When a person retires, they look for peace and quiet, living in a place that allows them to fulfill their goals, having a pleasant climate and mainly having an economic stability with which they can live comfortably.

For many years now, Spain has been one of the main countries that take into account retired people from both Europe and North America to retire to spend their last years of life. This was demonstrated in the 2018 Global Index of Annual Retirement quoted in the American magazine International Living, in which Spain ranks 9th.

This preference towards Spain is caused by its good climate and the quality of life that the country offers. Some of these inhabitants become residents and begin by renting of a house and then make an investment in the sector of their preference, some in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona and others in smaller sites such as Alicante

In this sense, one of the favorite sectors to inhabit is the Costa Blanca, named after the Mediterranean coast in the province of Alicante, located southeast of Spain, which in addition to having good weather, beaches and other outstanding geographical aspects, it also allows citizens to have a better quality of life due to its good services.

Regarding the profile of retirees who come to Spain to find their home, the majority are women between 65 and 70 years old, married or widowed, with good health conditions. In addition to this, people over 80 have some dependency. In relation to income, these retirees mostly live with the monthly installment stipulated in the public pension.

This attraction of Spain as a favorite destination to retire specifically in the Costa Blanca sector makes it a real estate investment option, with great possibilities for investors to allow these people to buy a plot and build their house.

Alicante architecture studio: Arquifach, takes care of your project

Contact Arquifach, architecture studio Alicante , without obligation. If you are thinking of retiring on the Costa Blanca, you have comprehensive services in the construction of new single-family homes or tourist apartment buildings. It has the support of a specialized team on the Costa Blanca. Arquifach covers the entire project, from design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and general advice.

13 December, 2018
HIGH-TECH ARCHITECTURE: Architectural Studio in Alicante
Nowadays, technological and digital evolution have transformed society. Nobody could have imagined in the past that we would become practically technified. This evolution covers all areas: health, education, industry and food, among others. In this sense, architecture has also had a progressive advance, giving rise to new trends where the structure, facilities, enclosures and other construction systems, become the protagonists. It is called High Tech architecture.

High-Tech Architecture Definition

Due to this evolution and idea, a new architectural style arises during the 70s combining architecture with high-quality technology called High Tech which aims to capture an industrial appearance in all designs and constructions using industry-specific resources specially to make roofs, walls and floors.

This trend sought to stand out against modern architecture through the multiple elements of construction used and which were the protagonists of the works, such as stairs, elevators, lighting systems, steel material and glass.

High-Tech Architecture Characteristics

The characteristics of this type of architecture have changed over time, among which we can mention:
1. Use and exhibition of industrialized materials such as houses with glass and steel walls very common in this style; therefore, materials are the main protagonists of this style.
2. It arises from the movement of late-modernism with the influence of rationalist architecture.
3. For interior design, industrialized family objects are used. For example, containers that are transformed into vases to place some flowers.
4. It is based on some themes of modern architecture but reforming and reworking its own identity based on current trends.
5. The facades in these buildings have a metallic and bright appearance.
6. Its main exponents were: Renzo Pano, Richard Georges and the Pompidou Center.
High-Tech Architecture Foundations

The main foundation of the High-Tech architecture is that both the structure and the details in the construction process are made of technological materials, integrating glass, stainless steel, among others with the facilities, taking into account the lighting, the walls, roof, floors, etc.

The technological evolution allows to be in a constant search and research on the new materials (steel, polycarbonate, aluminum, glass, etc.) and theirs uses, thus achieving the promotion of technological development

High-Tech Architecture: Emblematic Examples

George Pompidou Center

One of the first High-Tech architecture constructions is the George Pompidou Center, located in Paris, designed by architects Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano and opened in 1977. This style can be observed from outside the construction, because its facade has several exposed tubes and structures. Betting on the most extreme brutalism can be seen as the steal structure steals the role to the skin of the building, which is in the background.Technological materials mentioned above: glass, stainless steel and gerberet pieces (as a tribute to engineer Gerber). Protagomismo of the conduits of ventilation and air conditioning, the systems of illumination, the elevators to the sight and the stairs.

Arab Center of Paris

Another of the emblematic works of Hight Tech architecture is the Arab Center of Paris, built in 1987 by the architect Jean Nouvel, like the previous one, the High Tech style stands out in its façade since it has technology to control the entry of the sun’s rays. It was created by France and the States of the Arab League to promote and disseminate Arab culture and to build a place for meetings and exchanges in order to strengthen cultural and social ties between both countries. It is a synthesis of Western and Middle Eastern architectural concepts. Our façade is double architectural duality through geometric Arab patterns in the form of mobile diagrams, simulating a camera.

The Museum of Tomorrow

The Museum of tomorrow located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. It also applies High Tech style predominating in its roof which is cantilevered in the form of wings, scattered over almost the entire dock. The 9,200 square meters of water mirrors form the base of the building and that are complemented by the water of the bay.

* Article notes:

Photograph of the Museum of tomorrow by Rodrigo Soldon Souza
7 December, 2018
Destinations to retire: architecture studio in Alicante

It has often been said that the Mediterranean coast has something special, maybe that’s why it is the destination chosen among many retirees. Many of them come from northern European countries. This week in our blog we will analyze the reasons why many people choose the Mediterranean Coast and specifically the Costa Blanca as destinations to retire.

What are they look for in their ideal destination?

The weather: decisive to choose between destinations to retire

It is known to all that climate has an effect on people, both physically and psychologically. There are studies that show the negative effect that can have on our health some weather phenomena such as rain or heat stroke.

How is the climate of the Mediterranean Coast?

Rainfall is not frequent, and winters have mild temperatures. The average temperature is 20 degrees Celsius. More specifically on the Costa Blanca, temperatures are mild throughout the year. Sun lovers are in luck since it has an average of 320 sunny days per year. The rains are scarce, for that reason it’s said that it’s the best climates of all the Mediterranean Coast. It may be because of its magnificent climate and quiet villages, that Mediterranean coast is the destination chosen by many retirees from the countries of northern Europe, mainly Germany and the Netherlands.

Entertainment

It is said that Spaniards have a more relaxed lifestyle, and it may be true if we ignore the vortex of the big cities. It’s about the combination of relaxation and a great entertainment offer. That offer is a mixture of its innumerable sites of cultural interest and its different shows (theater, dance, concerts …). For many of the Europeans who already enjoy the Costa Blanca as a destination for retirement, the biggest attraction in Spain is its friendly and relaxed lifestyle. Spaniards are very social people who like to share time in bars and squares.

Gastronomy

One of the reasons to choose Spain as a destination to retire is its gastronomy. Because Spain is a country to savor. Each zone has its own typical dishes enriched with local products. Wine and olive oil are our hallmarks. Traditional cuisine and signature cuisine are compatible and accessible. All made with products from the land.

Quality of healthcare

The Spanish health system is in the top ten worldwide according to a report published in the magazine The Lancet in 2017 where the health of more than 125 countries was analyzed. One of the advantages of being European is having the right to enjoy Spanish public health (we will explain in what conditions in future posts). The well-known training and quality treatment offered by Spanish public health professionals is well known.

Countries selected as best destinations to retire

It was the International Living magazine that placed Spain as the 7 best country to retire. Among his reasons he cited kilometers of beach and weather. Not only that, Spain is appreciated for its roots and cultural interests.

Alicante architecture studio: Arquifach, takes care of your project

Contact Arquifach, architecture studio Alicante , without obligation. If you are thinking of retiring on the Costa Blanca, you have comprehensive services in the construction of new single-family homes or tourist apartment buildings. It has the support of a specialized team on the Costa Blanca. Arquifach covers the entire project, from design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and general advice.

28 November, 2018
Architectural Studio in Alicante: Restoration of historical buildings

Restoration of historical buildings is important to keep our culture. Historical buildings, as their name suggests, are constructions that are part of the history of a country, province or community, for which reason they are considered a heritage. They were built by our ancestors by means of materials and rudimentary techniques that allowed them to build an architectural work.

Why carry out rehabilitation of historic buildings?

In addition to their historic value, these buildings are also a key factor in the economic development of the area where they are located because they become tourist attractions being visited by both locals and tourists due to their historical meaning and the majesty and details they have.

However, owing to their antique construction as well as the environment in which they are located (areas with weather variations and high humidity), their infrastructure may weaken due to the degradation of the materials with which they were built, resulting in the appearance of cracks or fissures.

Diagnosis for the rehabilitation of historic buildings

Therefore, it is necessary to restore the historical building. To do so, the first step is to make an initial diagnosis of the current conditions of the infrastructure. This diagnosis must be made by qualified personnel, given the importance and value of said construction, and must account for the materials and techniques used, the weaknesses found and what is proposed to restore it. It should be noted that efforts must be made to maintain the original construction materials in order to preserve their historical value. These elements must be reinforced and protected and only the structural elements that are considered necessary must be replaced, either due to their deterioration or weakening.

Another important element to consider at the time of the restoration is the façade, because it is the main face of the construction, whose essence and shape must be kept in order for the construction not to lose its historical quality. That is why the staff should try to do the relevant restoration without changing the original façade and only by making the necessary reinforcements as well as the replacement of very weak structural elements.

Arquifach is one of the architecture studios in Alicante and in general throughout Costa Blanca in charge of the restoration of works and historic buildings. It was founded more than 50 years ago and has highly skilled and qualified professionals in different areas of architectural design and construction.

Rehabilitation of historic buildings made by Arquifach

Among the projects carried out by the professionals of the Arquifach’s group of architects on a historical building is the exterior and roof restoration of the St. Peter The Apostle Church located in Polop de la Marina. In this work, they took into consideration the initial needs, the diagnosis made and the legal regulations to restore this type of constructions by maintaining its quality as a historical building.
In this sense, an integral service was provided according to the principles established by Arquifach which, based on the diagnosis and historical review carried out by the staff, allowed them to restore and recover the image or main façade of the historical building. To do so, elements or materials that were sensitive to temperature changes and humidity in the area were replaced, which allowed the fissures that caused leaks to be corrected.

Likewise, other aspects were considered for restoration design, such as the accessibility of the building, the comfort inside which is given by its functionality, as well as the control of all aspects that allow the completion of the work successfully. It is necessary to emphasize that all these restorations must be carried out in compliance with the legal regulations in force that protect historical sites.

All in all, the restoration of historical buildings is one of the most rewarding tasks for the professionals once the entire project is completed because, in addition to preserving a heritage with so much value for a community, it allows them to be part of history because they were members of the team in charge of the restoration.

Arquifach: Architectural Studio in Alicante, takes charge of your project

Contact Arquifach, architectural studio in Alicante, without commitment. It has overall services in the construction of new single-family homes or tourist apartment buildings. It has the support of a specialized team on the Costa Blanca. Arquifach covers the entire project: its design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and general advice.

Photo: Author Werner Wilmes con licence.

16 November, 2018
Architecture Alicante: Obtaining the energy certificate of your home
Obligatory nature of the energy certificate

If you are thinking of selling, buying or renting a property, please note that a regulation was established by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism as of June 1, 2013, which mandates the energy certificate, which is a report that contains several energy aspects of the property, specifying its consumption.

The content of this report is summarized in a label of energy efficiency similar to those of electrical appliances. It should be mentioned that if the person who wants to do the operation does not have the certificate will be legally punished through the payment of fines ranging from 300 to 6,000 euros.

However, there are exemptions for some dwellings such as: monuments, religious places, buildings under two years old, non-residential building areas, non-residential parts of buildings, homes with less than 50 m2, buildings used in industry or agriculture and buildings with less than 4 months of use.

How to obtain the energy certificate

For this reason, these are 5 simple steps to follow in order to obtain the energy certificate of your home
1. 1. Find a qualified technician.
    The Energy Certificate must be drafted by a trained and authorized personnel. The choice of the company of professionals to hire is left to the user’s authority. To this end, each community has a competent body where the user can go and being provided with the registration of authorized technicians to perform the certification. For example, in Madrid the accredited body is the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines as well as the Association of Engineers where there is a list of certified personnel.
  2. Ask the technician for a quote and an appointment.The cost of the Energy Certificate is not legally established, but is calculated according to the supply and demand existing in the market in that period. This situation has led to inconveniences because technicians sometimes request an amount of money for carrying out a positive certification or simply do not charge under the condition that the recommendations in said certification are made by them.
    That is why it is necessary for each community to apply the necessary controls to identify inconsistencies in the report. These errors are informed to the home owner who will have a stipulated period of time to make the corrections or relevant allegations to change the rating. If you get a good rating from the technical staff, your house will be revalued.
    Therefore, before requesting an appointment to the technician, check several budgets to choose the one that best suits you, and then request an appointment for the dwelling to be inspected. But an average a cost of 250 or 300 euros is stipulated, depending on the size of the property.
  3. Inform the Autonomous Community about the certificate.After the technician drafts the Energy Certificate report, you must inform the competent body in your area in order for the Regional Government to review it and subsequently validate it. The Regional Government is in charge of controlling that both the previous evaluation and the rating were correctly carried out.
    This action can be taken personally or by another person. It is worth mentioning that each community has established fees that must be paid off to be executed.
  4. Obtain the registration number.After a few days (2 or 3 working days) the energy label is obtained which shows a summary of the Energy Certificate, specifying the rating obtained regarding the efficient and rational use of energy in the house through a scale that goes from A (best performance) to G (worse performance) as well as a color that distinguishes them. Likewise, the label contains the assigned registration number. That is, the house is certified and registered in the competent body.
    Autonomous communities must create a registry with the properties and their rating, assigning each one their registration number. It is worth noting that the Energy Certificate is valid for 10 years renewable and users can request to update if the energy rating is to be changed due to any restoration made in the house.
  5. Announce the Energy CertificateAccording to the legal regulations, the label obtained must be included in any advertisement or publicity that is made for the purpose of selling or renting the property either by the user or real estate agencies.
Follow all these steps and you can quickly and easily obtain your energy efficiency certificate through which you can perform any purchase, sale and rental of the property.

Arquifach: Architectural Studio in Alicante, takes charge of your project

Contact Arquifach, architectural studio in Alicante, without commitment. It has overall services in the construction of new single-family homes or tourist apartment buildings. It has the support of a specialized team on the Costa Blanca. Arquifach covers the entire project: its design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and general advice.
29 October, 2018
Architectural Studio Alicante: Recommended insulation for chalets in costa blanca

Why choose Alicante, Costa Blanca

Costa Banca is a privileged spot because it is located in the southeast of Spain, specifically in the province of Alicante, whose geographical and climatological characteristics attracts both for residents and tourists. Its wide coast and mild weather with dry season make it an ideal destination. In addition to this, it has an average annual temperature of 17.8º.

Alicante weather factors

It should be emphasized that because it is a coastal area, temperatures are mild in the winter and warm in the summer, and rainfall is low. One of the key climatological factors of the area is its humidity which extremely varies throughout the year, being the period of highest humidity between June and October; that is four months approximately.
The climate variability between humidity and dry weather existing in Alicante and in general all over Costa Blanca affects both its home structures, due to the fact that the materials weaken resulting in the appearance of cracks or fissures, and its inhabitants’ health.

Prepare your home

Therefore, people should check if their houses are prepared to resist these weather variations, especially humidity, in order to minimize the possible consequences, because these times are beautiful as long as you are in a safe and warm home.
One of the consequences of poor isolation is the high heating costs to be paid in order to regulate the temperature of the home, which implies a higher energy consumption. Likewise, having to withstand the various external factors of the environment such as street noise, the entrance of dust, humidity, as well as temperature changes. Apart from damaging home structures, all of these factors end up affecting people’s health.

Consequences of poor isolation

To avoid this, several insulating materials and insulation techniques are currently used and adapted to the client’s needs, the climate zone in which houses are located and the type of surface to be insulated. Therefore, it is necessary to ask for advice to architects and/or construction personnel who make a diagnosis by checking the areas of the house, such as: the roof, enclosures, doors, floors and windows and by choosing the right material and method to achieve a better comfort. It should be noted that windows, doors and enclosures are considered the easiest ones to isolate because they can be sellotaped to prevent any external agent from entering.

Optimum insulation: materials and techniques

In short, a chalet with a good level of insulation enjoys a better energy benefit, because the use of artificial methods to regulate temperature is minimal, which brings both money and energy savings.
For this reason, Alicante architects recommend to use high thermal resistance materials or insulators for constructions in the area. In other words, materials that protect us from temperature variations and external factors. Old buildings or those lacking adequate insulation should be improved by properly insulating their areas (roof, wall, floor, window, doors) by means of a material that has a lower conductivity and a high resistance in order to provide thermal and acoustic protection against humidity and allow money and energy savings.

Benefits of optimal insulation

Based on the aforementioned facts, the optimal isolation in the design of a home in Alicante and in general throughout Costa Blanca is an essential decision, given the weather conditions of the area and the advantages it has for both infrastructure and quality of life. This optimum insulation is possible when maximum protection is achieved through the appropriate materials and techniques. Whether in the case of a chalet lacking any type of insulation because it was built a long time ago or a chalet requiring some improvement, people should invest in an optimal isolation that provides them with adequate protection. It should be noted that said investment will be returned over time because energy consumption costs will be lower and it will also become an environmentally-friendly investment. Likewise, the comfort of a warm house free of external factors that disturb your tranquility makes any investment is minimal.

Arquifach: Architectural Studio in Alicante, takes charge of your project

Contact Arquifach, architectural studio in Alicante, without commitment. It has overall services in the construction of new single-family homes or tourist apartment buildings. It has the support of a specialized team on the Costa Blanca. Arquifach covers the entire project: its design, construction, planning, pathology reports, assessments and general advice.

22 October, 2018