This is a rare opportunity to purchase an energy efficient, technologically up-to-date passive solar heated house engineered to capture and store the sun’s solar gain through orientation, glazing and thermal mass, and specifically to mitigate harmful effects of humidity in Asturias’ temperate Oceanic climate. The 225m² home is surrounded by a gated and fenced 2.4 hectares of managed woodland. A similarly constructed 75m² passive solar studio/workshop stands close by. The two buildings were designed using structural insulated panels (SIPs) and an advanced moisture defense system with mineral-based breathable stucco. The multi-story house has a beamed cathedral ceiling, a cook’s kitchen, two full baths, two sleeping rooms, a large dining area connected to the kitchen and up a few steps, a large living area with great views to the treetops and mountains (see photos).
The house also has a self-contained (full bath/full kitchen) 69m² walk-out apartment with views across the private woods to the nearby mountain cliffs. Cofiño’s five star PuebloAstur Eco-Resort, the Bodega Palacio de Nevares wine estate, Mirador del Fito and Parres municipality center are a few kilometers away. Mountain trekking is all around, Santander and Oviedo airports are a 75 minute drive, and good beaches are 30 minutes away. Hi-tech, low maintenance country houses with all the amenities located just minutes away from markets, restaurants, medical services, national highways and international airports are close to unobtainable in northern Spain.
The house’s interior organization reflects the designer’s attention to build quality, natural lighting and comfort. The house’s floor is well-insulated and sealed from moisture. The walls are wrapped with engineered rain-screen and both wall and roof panels are wrapped with water-vapor permeable membranes to prevent water infiltration, yet will allow internal moisture and water vapor to escape without condensing. Practically, this means that even though one goes away for weeks or months at a time, the modern engineered building envelope prevents water infiltration, creeping damp and mold. A clean, dry comfortable home with healthy air welcomes your return.
The floor and other interior mass functions as a heat bank that slowly releases warmth throughout the night and next day. However, should clouds block the sun’s heat longer, the energy-efficient hybrid masonry wood-burning heater will recharge the mass. To keep air quality fresh, a heat exchanger will extract heat from outgoing air to heat fresh air drawn in. During mid-summer months, when moist air and climate heat combine to raise relative humidity levels above wanted levels, a Swedish automated dehumidifier ensures healthy comfort.
The house’s appeal is based not only on the designer’s attention to practical solutions for house building in the humid Asturias climate, but also their relationship to design. This house has the kinds of bespoke technical details that cannot be easily recreated and are impossible to retrofit.
Energy Compliance & Long-Term Value
As much as 80% of Spain’s housing stock is in need of renovation to meet near-future Energy Performance Directives. Energy compliance and permits are the two steadfast constraints currently influencing buyers’ decisions. Humidity-attuned construction is a hidden technical factor that differentiates successful retrofits and original builds from those which fail.
- Future financial liability is avoided by compliance with Energy directives.
- Not needing permits avoids as much as two years of bureaucratic/political delay.
- No delays mean no cost inflation during construction/renovation wait.
- Moisture/humidity is abated by having it built in.
- Builder awareness of moisture/humidity means control systems are integrated within the build.
- Ecologically engineered houses with high energy ratings retain value better.
- Climate-driven migration is increasing demand for cooler northern Spain.
Price: €450,000
Address: Huexes
City: Parres
Province: Asturias
Post Code:
Building Size: 225m2
Plot Size: 25,000m2
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Pools:
Basement:
Additional Features:
country house, detached, family home, fruit trees, garage, habitable, heating, Land, modern, mountain views, ready to go, wood-burning stove
The map shows the general area, for privacy reasons
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