Model of sustainable and responsible development
VISION FOR THE FUTURE
At EXTRA HOMES we are committed to a development model that integrates architectural excellence, quality at affordable prices, sustainability and accessibility
The company maintains sustainability and social responsibility as central pillars of its activity, thus responding to the demands of an increasingly conscious and demanding society.
This approach represents EXTRA HOMES' firm commitment to building a more balanced residential sector, where quality, accessibility and social responsibility are fundamental priorities.
PBS Construction System
Wood as a building material
Innovation is one of EXTRA HOMES' core values. That's why we've developed the PANDA BUILDING SYSTEM, based on industrialized construction using structural timber frames.
This methodology reduces execution times, optimizes costs, and allows for affordable housing without sacrificing quality.
The system is led by Iván González Ciavaldini, an architect and structural engineer with more than thirty years of experience and the original author of the PBS patent.
Definition and principles
PBS housing is defined as a building capable of fully satisfying all the housing needs of any family, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
This type of construction respects the vernacular and typological language of the society where it is implemented, promoting family activities, as well as relationships both within the family unit and with the neighboring community.
Furthermore, it strictly complies with all current regulations governing the construction field and applies the best available engineering practices.
Description of the PBS construction system
The following is a brief description of the PBS (Panda Building System) construction system, specifically applied to a residential building consisting of a ground floor and six upper levels. Although the system will allow for the construction of buildings up to 12 stories in the near future.
The building begins with a ground-level foundation, conceived as a rigid and undeformable base upon which the rest of the wooden structure is erected.
The main structure, located above this level, is built using the PBS system, which employs solid sawn timber as the base material.
The PBS system is based on the use of composite structural elements, assembled from simple pieces of solid sawn wood of rectangular section and little thickness.
These pieces are placed leaving a space between them equal to their thickness, and are joined together according to the specifications on joints included in section 8 of the DB SE M (Technical Building Code).
WOOD
- Wood stands out as a sustainable building material, whose responsible exploitation significantly minimizes ecological damage.
- Its easy machining requires much less energy compared to steel or aluminum over its lifetime (0.43 kWh/kg according to the Nordic Wood Council).
- This material performs efficiently under both tension and compression, making it ideal for manufacturing structures.
- Furthermore, it is lightweight (around 500 kg/m³ for pine wood), which facilitates transport, handling and assembly on site, reducing the impact and costs of foundations.
- Its hardness allows for easy machining, obtaining the required sections simply by cutting or grinding it.
- Wood offers excellent thermal and acoustic properties. In the event of a fire, wooden structures—especially when properly treated—are safer than those made of steel or reinforced concrete.
- It is corrosion-resistant, and if selected and treated properly, it can withstand the elements better than steel.
- It can be used in interior finishes and furniture, making it easier to integrate these elements into industrial processes. This makes it possible to deliver furnished homes at very competitive prices.
Advantages of the PBS System
- Low construction costs, resulting from the incorporation of industrial processes that eliminate manual procedures and the associated risks.
- Easy to transport and assemble in any location or terrain, minimizing the impact during housing replacement.
- The adaptability of buildings to their surroundings and to the specific cultural needs of each community.
- The potential to achieve varying levels of energy self-sufficiency by incorporating clean energy generation systems and energy-efficient equipment.
- Implementation of environmentally responsible procedures that promote environmental recovery and reduce the ecological impact thanks to low energy requirements in manufacturing and transportation.
- Integration of bioclimatic strategies to reduce energy consumption and promote optimal hygrothermal conditions in homes.
- Construction of structurally robust buildings using a portal frame system tied in both directions with load-bearing and seismic beams.
- Extremely lightweight structures (up to 80% lighter than reinforced concrete structures), which allow for more cost-effective foundations with a reduced environmental footprint.