Whether for multi-storey buildings or terraced houses, one of the most important aspects of contemporary design is to minimise energy consumption and carbon emissions by focusing on the use of renewable energy sources for installations. However, simply installing solar panels on roofs and facades is not enough to counteract CO2 emissions and make a building ‘sustainable’. It is therefore essential to consider a range of other aspects during the design phase, including formal and material solutions that can significantly optimise the end result and ensure the achievement of Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) classification.

The social housing project designed by Joan Fortuny and Alventosa Morell Arquitectes in Inca, Spain, for IBAVI (Institut Balear de l’Habitatge), a public body that promotes and manages housing policy in the Balearic Islands, took advantage of the properties of Diasen’s thermal and biophilic mortar Diathonite Thermactive.037.

This particular mortar, with its macroporous structure, is lighter than traditional plaster and offers excellent performance in terms of insulation and absorption of excess moisture, a crucial aspect for the Mediterranean area where the project is located, which could otherwise be prone to mould formation.

Applied to facades and balconies with an average thickness of 4 cm, it ensures year-round thermal comfort by helping to protect the indoor environment from extreme cold and heat. The application process is typical of such systems, involving a primer - in this case, Aquabond - to improve adhesion, and a reinforcing mesh to ensure structural stability.

One of the material’s characteristics is its high compressive strength, which gives the wall greater consistency and stability - ideal for a three-storey building with 54 apartments, 18 on each floor.

Upon completion, the project received several awards, including the Gold Winner for Multifamily Complex Architecture from the Architecture & Design Community, as well as recognition from the Canadian 4 Future Awards and the Grand Prix d’Architecture at the Paris Design Awards 2024.