Casernes J
- New build
- Residential
- Industrialised construction
- Sustainability
- Social Housing
- Timber
Casernes J is a sustainable social housing block located in the former Sant Andreu Barracks, in the neighbourhood of the same name in Barcelona. It is a new-build development consisting of a ground floor and four upper floors, and includes a nursery school. The project forms part of the larger transformation of the area, aiming to create a lively neighbourhood hub combining public housing and community facilities.
The structure was built using an industrialised construction system with prefabricated CLT timber panels, a material that drastically reduces the carbon footprint. This prefabricated system, supported by a reinforced concrete ground floor and developed using BIM tools and LEAN methodology, enabled high execution efficiency. The timber structure was assembled in only 14 weeks.
- Year: 2022-2024
- Duration (months): 26
- Location: Fernando Pessoa 53-57, Barcelona
- Surface area (m2): 4.895
- Developer: Institut Municipal de l’Habitatge i Rehabilitació de Barcelona (IMHAB)
- Architecture: Vivas Arquitectos, Exe Arquitectura
- Photography: José Hevia, argotphoto
- Video: Stupendastic
- Construction System: Prefabricated CLT timber panels (2D) – 011h
- Site Management and Supervision: Rossell Giner i Associats
- Engineering: Arc BCN
- Health & Safety Coordination: Applus
- Structural Calculations: Gendico Engineering & Design
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Efficient project management
Fast execution enabled by the use of prefabricated CLT timber and a hybrid structural system, supported by BIM tools and LEAN methodology.
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Hybrid structure: timber supported on a reinforced concrete base
Rapid installation of industrialised components such as prefabricated bathrooms, laminated timber elements, partitions and façades with integrated exterior joinery. All supported by the reinforced concrete ground floor, which optimised on‑site execution times.
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Wellbeing and comfort for users
Design of homes with natural light, efficient ventilation and sustainable materials.
Social housing on a landmark site
- Construction of 56 new homes on the historic site of the former Sant Andreu Barracks.
A commitment to a zero‑carbon building
- The use of CLT timber drastically reduces the project’s carbon footprint, improves thermal insulation, minimises energy consumption and waste generation, and enables ecological, functional and efficient construction, with careful waste separation and lower‑emission electricity production.
Specialised industrialised construction and LEAN team
- Coordination between the architectural design teams and on‑site technical teams experienced in LEAN methodology was key to the project’s success.
