Passivhaus Homes in Tordera: BYKO completes the Guifré el Pilós development certified by Praxis
Meta description: BYKO delivers three Passivhaus homes in Tordera certified by Praxis: Zehnder heat recovery ventilation, aerothermal DHW, ETICS and 2D timber modules.
Passivhaus Homes in Tordera: BYKO completes the Guifré el Pilós development certified by Praxis
In Tordera (Barcelona), BYKO has completed the Guifré el Pilós development: a set of three terraced homes designed and built to meet the Passivhaus – Low Energy Building standard, with certification carried out by Praxis Resilient Buildings. The project was developed in collaboration with La Llotja Arquitectes and is located in Tordera, province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Architecture
Each home is arranged over two floors with a treated floor area close to 100 m² and a highly functional layout: open‑plan kitchen-living‑dining room, and a full bathroom on the ground floor; and on the first floor: two single bedrooms, a master bedroom with en‑suite, an additional bathroom, a utility/plant room and a study area. Private front and rear patios complete the programme.
Construction system, structure and 2D prefabrication
The construction system uses 2D industrialised lightweight timber‑frame modules for walls and roof, reducing on‑site time and ensuring precision—key to achieving Passivhaus‑level of air‑tightness and thermal‑bridge control. Modules were delivered with the air‑tight layer (FINSA Superpan timber particle board) and external thermal insulation (pre‑render) already installed. Windows are PVC with triple low‑e, solar‑control glazing, and motorised shutters for summer shading.
Building services, ventilation and indoor air quality
- Balanced mechanical ventilation with heat and moisture recovery (Zehnder Climos 200) for continuous fresh air, minimal thermal loss and effective particle filtration.
- Space conditioning via air‑to‑air heat pump with ducted indoor units, sized for the building’s low heating and cooling loads.
- Domestic hot water via an air-to-water heat pump hot water unit with a 190‑L tank; seasonal efficiency for DHW of SCOP = 3.52.
- Loxone monitoring and controls (ventilation, HVAC, DHW and general electricity) for optimisation and maintenance.
- Optional rooftop PV to further improve the energy balance.
Passive design, air‑tightness and thermal bridges
As part of the Passivhaus certification, Praxis verified air‑tightness (n₅₀) via blower‑door testing, the elimination of thermal bridges at envelope junctions and openings, active solar protection with motorised shutters, and proper commissioning of the MVHR system. These measures cut heating and cooling demand and deliver 24/7 comfort with very low energy use.
360º comfort
- Homogeneous indoor temperatures without drafts or noticeable stratification.
- Consistently healthy indoor air quality thanks to MVHR with filtration (CO₂ and VOCs kept in check).
- Low noise levels due to the high‑performance envelope and windows.
Voices from the project
“With Guifré el Pilós we reaffirm our commitment to ultra‑low‑energy, high‑comfort homes, bringing the Passivhaus standard to families who value quality, health and efficiency,” says Ismael Fernández, developer and builder at BYKO.
“Passivhaus certification rigorously validates real‑world building performance. At Guifré el Pilós, we paid careful attention to air‑tightness, thermal‑bridge control, high‑efficiency ventilation and summer performance, to ensure year‑round comfort,” says Oliver Style, Passivhaus certifier at Praxis Resilient Buildings.
