Return to life of a ruined house from the 12th century

Casa Tosca is a 12th century home located in Jávea that has come back to life after being completely rehabilitated by the studioGhadban of Pascual. This architecture studio passionate about the rehabilitation and transformation of traditional buildings while maintaining the Mediterranean essence, has achieved a rehabilitation where history and modernity are perfectly combined.Both for thedeckaswrought, the study opted for sandwich panels Thermochip.

The objective of this work was to maintain part of the original structure of the building, taking advantage of the stone walls in a process that lasted 14 months. The main challenge was to achieve a spatial sensation of spaciousness and continuity, working on the section, the double height and the semi-levels, starting from a building with very compact and dark spaces, while maintaining the foundational elements of the home such as the stone walls.

For both the roof and the floor, the studio opted for Thermochip sandwich panels, consisting of a water-repellent chipboard on the outside, an extruded polystyrene (XPS) core, and a fir deck finish on the inside that combines perfectly with the stone walls of the building, providing elegance and a rejuvenated appearance.

 In the case of the roof, it was also decided to include the waterproofing complement.Thermochip Roof Plus,which presents on its exterior face a waterproof sheet adhered to the panel, providing an extra function of resistance to the passage of water and thus avoiding the subsequent placement of waterproofing elements. The perfect placement of the sheet from the origin and the lateral (longitudinal) overlap with adhesive strip for joining the system between panels guarantees correct waterproofing, reducing possible placement errors. For the transverse sides, a self-adhesive and waterproof tape was supplied for optimal protection of the cover. This complement, based on the principle of industrialisation of materials, completes the product, offering multiple features in the same construction solution:waterproofing, insulation and decorative finishing.

Being a building from the 12th century, to maintain the original structure, the studio had to study alternatives to the reinforced concrete compression layer, due to its inability to breathe, blocking the migration of water, as well as its great weight.. For this reason, the Alicante-based studio continued looking for more flexible, walkable solutions and, ultimately, more compatible with the construction of the historic building itself, such as the Thermochip panels:

“This construction solution was ideal to lighten the weight and work with dry materials, an essential requirement to not alter the structure of the old building”

Ghabdan by Pascual Architects

The Thermochip panels provided the solutions required by the study and became a perfect ally for the execution of this rehabilitation, offering:

• A dry construction system:In the process of constructing roofs, slabs or facades with Thermochip panels, the use of water is not necessary; With this prefabricated system, the materials do not require wet binders for the assembly of structures or other components.
  Dry construction generates very little waste on site (debris), thanks to the absence of cement, lime and sand. Additionally, heavy machinery such as a concrete mixer is not required, which, in small spaces such as the streets of historic centers, makes it difficult to move.
• Shorter execution time:Execution times with a prefabricated construction system with Thermochip panels can be reduced by around 80%. A cover of ThermochipIt is installed at an approximate average of 13 m2/h, including the structure.
• Elimination of thermal bridges:Unlike other products, the continuous insulation system Thermochip allows you to create more stable and homogeneous covers, by being able to assemble the four sides of the panels. This solution eliminates the appearance of thermal bridges, facilitates the installation of the panels and guarantees the continuous insulation and thermal comfort of the home or building.
• Acoustic insulation:Thermochip panels are designed to meet impact and noise requirements. All products have been acoustically tested.
• Certainty in the execution of the work:Thermochip panels have the necessary features to comply with the requirements of the new Technical Building Code (CTE], in reference to almost zero consumption buildings (ECCN). These solutions have gone through strict quality controls in their manufacturing process and their performance has been validated by official certification bodies and laboratories such as ITeC, the radioactivity laboratory of the University of Cantabria, Afiti-Licof, Tecnalia or the Passive House Institute, having recently received certification asPassive House construction system for the entire building envelope.

It is never too late to come back to life, this house has achieved it nine centuries later thanks to the great work carried out by thePascual’s Ghabdan study, using unbeatable materials that ensure thermal and acoustic comfort, through a sustainable and agile construction process.

Do you want to use Thermochip in your rehabilitation projects?

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