UrbanRise Eco Homes – Where modern technology meets age-old building traditions
After years of experiencing how difficult it is to find a high-quality, sustainable, and affordable home in Spain these days, we decided to take things a step further.
UrbanRise Developments SL is a construction company that focuses entirely on prefabricated Eco Homes with extremely low CO₂ emissions, unparalleled insulation standards, minimal maintenance and maximum living comfort – in both hot summers and cool winter months.
Welcome to the world of UrbanRise Eco Homes.
A vision that emerged in my youth
Building is in my DNA. Growing up in a Dutch family of builders, I was already a child on construction sites with my father, who worked with early forms of timber construction and prefabricated structures more than 40–50 years ago.
Today, that experience forms the basis of our concept at UrbanRise:
combining traditional European timber construction with the most modern materials, techniques and insulation standards.
The result: homes that meet the highest quality standards in Spain – comfortable, energy-efficient and built for future generations.
Prefabricated timber construction: proven through the ages
Many people don't realize it, but some of the oldest surviving buildings in the world are built using timber. Consider:
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Japanese temples over 1300 years old, built entirely of wood and still in use.
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Norwegian stave churches from the 12th century, which easily withstood the harshest winter conditions.
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Traditional Finnish and Swedish wooden houses, some of which have existed for hundreds of years.
These examples prove two things:
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Timber construction is sustainable, strong and has an extremely long lifespan.
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The insulating properties are superior, making this method standard in the coldest climates of Europe
But why is this often underestimated in warm countries like Spain?
The big misconception: “Insulation is only necessary in cold countries”
Anyone who buys a house in Spain almost never asks about insulation.
As a real estate agency, we sell hundreds of homes every year – and almost no one asks the question.
While people complain about high energy costs, moisture problems, musty air and mold.
And that is exactly where things go wrong.
Why insulation is essential in Spain
1. Spanish winters: large temperature differences, in short, the basis for mold and moisture
Many people mainly see the sun, but outside the warm months the temperature drops rapidly as soon as the sun sets.
The difference between day and night is often 10 to 20 degrees.
This causes:
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Condensation formation
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Moisture in walls
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Mold in bedrooms and bathrooms
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A chilly indoor climate – often colder than outside
UrbanRise homes solve this completely with a vapor system like in Northern Europe:
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Outside: vapour-permeable foil (moisture can escape)
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Inside: vapour-proof foil (moisture cannot enter the wall)
This keeps the wall dry, warm and healthy.
2. The insulation values: the big difference with traditional Spanish construction
Most Spanish builders use the minimum CTE standard:
Only 2 to 4 cm of PIR/XPS insulation, sometimes 5 cm. (You read that right.)
That is 1/4 of what is normal in Northern Europe and often the norm.
UrbanRise Eco Homes have as standard:
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16 cm fire-resistant wall insulation
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+ 6 cm external Steico wood fiber insulation
Total: 22 cm of high-quality insulation
The difference between the average new-build home in Spain and an UrbanRise home is therefore 15 to 20 cm of insulation.
And older homes?
❌ Often no insulation at all.
3. Summer: why insulation is crucial even in the heat
Many people think: “But it's warm in Spain, isn't it?”
Yes, but especially when it comes to heat, insulation plays an enormous role.
Steico pressed wood fibre has a unique property:
heat buffering.
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The heat of the sun is absorbed during the day
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And only much later slowly released again
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This keeps the interior consistently cool, even on hot days.
This effect does not exist with PIR or cheap insulation materials.
UrbanRise Eco Homes therefore feel:
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Cool and comfortable in summer
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Warm and pleasant in winter
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And dry and healthy all year round
Why an UrbanRise home is better
✔ Extremely energy efficient – up to 70% lower energy costs
✔ Healthy indoor climate – dry air, no mold, no condensation
✔ Low maintenance – built to last
✔ Quiet and comfortable – thanks to thick wall construction and wood fibre
✔ Environmentally friendly – low CO₂ emissions & sustainable materials
✔ Built in our own factory according to European quality standards
Many traditional homes in Spain are colder inside than outside in winter. UrbanRise homes deliver the exact opposite: a constant, comfortable temperature, day and night.
Get good advice
The choice of insulation and construction quality determines your living comfort, health and energy bill for decades to come.
We provide you with advice, without obligation, on all aspects of our homes, from insulation to maintenance and from safety to material selection.
My colleague and partner Marijke van Werkhoven, who works at IMMO ABROAD and is co-owner of UrbunRise, is happy to tell you more about our quality, construction methods, and the benefits of living in an UrbanRise Eco Home.
Get your appointment and let us inform you as IMMO abroad customer we will service you the best we can to make your life and living in Spain as comfortable as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Henk Jan Bergevoet
Immo Abroad espana SL / UrbanRise Developments SL