On January 28, a group of 16 members of AuS – Agrupación de Arquitectos por la Sostenibilidad visited La Xarxaire, a cooperative housing building located in the La Barceloneta neighborhood of Barcelona and designed by La Mar d’Arquitectes.
The visit is part of the program of activities and technical meetings that we promote at AuS to engage with built projects, learn first-hand about their processes, and create spaces for discussion around a more sustainable and responsible architecture.
From the ideal approach to real-world decisions
Accompanied by Toni Vidal and Lis Figueras, the project’s authors, we were able to learn about the process and the decisions that made it possible.
The initial proposal relied on an entirely timber construction system, with CLT floor slabs and load-bearing walls. However, the structural analysis —with wind loads acting on three and a half façades and a slender geometry— showed that the building required a more robust solution. This led to the incorporation of a steel structure with columns and beams to ensure stability.
Later on, and due to other comfort and performance considerations, such as thermal inertia and acoustic insulation, the decision was made to resolve the façades with hollow ceramic brick, complementing the timber with other systems.
Far from a purist approach, the project adopts a pragmatic and hybrid attitude, combining construction technologies with clear criteria. The result is a building that optimizes resources, reduces its footprint, and shows that sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all recipe, but rather a process of adjustment and informed decision-making.
Cooperative architecture, architecture with values
Beyond the technical aspects, La Xarxaire highlights the potential of the cooperative housing model, where development, design, and management are built through collaboration and community commitment.
During the visit, the architects generously shared their ambitions, doubts, lessons learned, and also the difficulties of the process. This transparency, often absent from accounts of completed projects, is especially valuable for professional practice: understanding what works, what had to be adapted, and why.
For the members of AuS – Agrupació d’Arquitectes per la Sostenibilitat, these spaces become moments of collective learning, where they can compare criteria, share experiences, and strengthen a critical perspective on sustainability as applied to real-world architecture.
Building networks to transform the sector
At AuS we believe that the transition toward a decarbonized, healthy, and equitable architecture depends not only on regulations or technology, but also on building a professional community, sharing knowledge, and visiting projects that inspire us.
Site visits, discussions, and technical workshops are part of this commitment to continuous learning and exchange among members.
We sincerely thank Toni Vidal and Lis Figueras for opening the doors of this project to us and sharing it with such openness and generosity.
Join more visits like this one
If you are interested in becoming part of this network of professionals committed to sustainability and taking part in visits, discussions, and activities like this one, we encourage you to join us.
We will continue working to create spaces for connection, knowledge-sharing, and advocacy that help us transform the sector through practice.
For more information, you can write to us at auscatalunya@coac.cat.