Cristián Deltell (RKT Estudio): “It’s not about building, it’s about generating good architecture with industrialized systems”

Cristián Deltell is the founder ofRKT, an architecture studio from Alicante specialized in industrialized construction. We spoke with him to learn about his work, the evolution of the sector, the advantages of modern construction methods and the use ofThermochip Housingin their projects.

Could you briefly introduce RKT Estudio and its project?

We are an open and collaborative architecture studio, focused on industrialized, highly energy efficient systems, which tries to get as close as possible to sustainable, social, environmental and economically viable construction.

What has been your career so far?

At a training level, I studied technical architecture, architecture, BIM, sustainable architecture and energy efficiency, and a Passivhaus Designer course.

My colleagues are trained in various subjects, some more focused on architectural and interior design, others on construction, energy efficiency, BIM, project management, etc.

At work we have developed various projects with A energy rating with different construction systems, butWe are focusing, almost exclusively, on systems industrialized by compatible dry construction components., taking into account concepts such as 3R and ACV.

We all know how complex this world of construction is and the opportunism that this new branch in energy efficiency and industrialisation offers. It was difficult for us to focus clients on this type of construction and in the first projects we had some problems with construction companies supposedly specialized in these matters.

To achieve a good result, we are now in charge of carrying out the comprehensive management of the entire construction process, collaborating with technicians and industrialists specialized in this type of construction, people of good faith that we have met along the way and who help us make the entire process go smoothly.

What was your first contact with modern construction methods (MMC)?

I was lucky to have as a professor at the universityJose Miguel Reyes, he was even my tutor in my final degree project, which was already focused on this line. It was he who introduced me to these systems, instilling in me solid bases of application, not only as construction systems, but as architectural organisation systems, since this concept must never be left aside.It is not about building, it is about generating good architecture with industrialized systems.

At a work level, I was not able to implement them in my projects until almost three years ago. My first clients were very reluctant to do without brick and concrete, but fortunately little by little people are opening their minds and most of the projects we work on are industrialized to a greater or lesser degree.

What advantages do industrialized construction systems offer? Why do you bet on them?

They are highly controlled systems in which the cost can be quantified and construction times reduced, the use of resources such as water or energy and enable future dismantling, reuse, recycling and recovery of materials. We must take into account what happens to our buildings when they stop working. They shouldn’t go to a landfill.

By applying good project schemes, they serve as spatial development tools for projects, providing possibilities for adaptation and flexibility in time and use for users. Depending on the needs, a greater or lesser degree of flexibility can be achieved; the important thing is that the system allows this adaptability in time and space to adapt to future needs.

They are also systems made of industrial catalog components that in turn are compatible with each other through dry joints, generating a type of open industrialisation that generates freedom when designing. With these systems not everything has to be the same.

In summary,They tend to be optimized systems designed in an efficient way both in their implementation and in their benefits.. With them, buildings with high performance are usually achieved, especially at the level of energy efficiency, something basic today.

What added value can you offer your clients thanks to this type of construction? How do your clients value the MMC methodology?

One of the important added values ​​is thecertainty in time and cost, since the dispersion must be minimal. Today clients want to know at a fixed price how much their construction will cost them. We have a bad habit of executing works with differences of more than 30% in the construction phase and this has generated a lot of fear and distrust in the promoters.

With these systemswe can reduce construction times by almost 50%. We have to define the projects very well and collaborate with good industrialists who control the system so that the manufacturing process goes smoothly. The client perceives this and enjoys it. We are tired of agonizing works that end up being real suffering. The client must enjoy the process of building one of the greatest dreams of his life, which is usually building his own home. People invest a lot of resources in it, sometimes their entire life savings.

Of course, also theenergy efficiencyof these systems. Properly planned, they represent very important energy savings during the useful life of the building.

At an environmental level,Water consumption and waste generation are greatly reduced, they also allow disassembly for future reuse or recycling.

And another of the most important aspects is theuser comfort. We generate spaces controlled at an energy, acoustic, lighting and health level that are very pleasant to live in.

Where do you see the industrialized construction sector in 5 years? What do you consider to be the challenges that industrialisation must face in the future and how must it adapt to overcome them?

The trend is clearly towards industrialisation. We cannot continue building like in Mesopotamia, brick by brick. We have to look at the automobile sector, which is light years ahead of us.

We have to take into account something that is being suffered a lot today, such aslack of qualified labor. Young people no longer want to be cold, slumped in the open. Work environments with controlled environments offer a possibility for the future.

One of the challenges will be to control the costs of these systems. Nowadays, small-scale productions make the product a little more expensive and not everyone is willing to assume this cost, especially if there is no awareness of what is really being offered. There are people looking for a home and that’s it, they don’t care how it is built. In order to refine costs, assembly chains will be needed to optimize processes and I do see this as somewhat more difficult, since it will require a constant flow of work to make the system economically sustainable.

Why did you decide to bet on Thermochip? What do their constructive solutions give you?

Because it solves our lives. With a single panel we can develop practically the entire envelope of the system: enclosures, slabs, roofs… And above all with a reliable, tested and certified panel, which we can place and sign without fear of future problems.

It also allows us to work with open construction systems when carrying out both the gray work and the coatings. We can implement it with almost any type of structure and coverings. This gives us a lot of project flexibility.

We started with them three years ago and we greatly appreciate the support they offer us. They have become friends with whom we improve and exchange impressions. It’s a pleasure to work with them.

For more information, visit the website ofRKT Studio.