Construction and costs

Casambiente has established itself as one of the first real estate agencies in Central Italy that specializes in the construction of sustainable or low-energy homes and energy-plus properties, of class A and B, class A+ and class Gold based on the energy certificates for buildings released by the Klimahaus agency of Bolzano (Northern Italy).

Casambiente has taken advantage of its contacts with first-rate German companies thus offering a product where German Technology and Italian Design are happily coupled.

Casambiente has chosen the highly experienced German timber construction company, "Hausbau Schwarzwälder", to be its partner in the sustainable homes sector. Schwarzwälder ranks as one of the top companies as far as environmentally-friendly and new energy technologies are concerned.

We offer experienced architects, construction companies, technicians and interior designers, be it in Italy as well as in Germany. Our services can be offered in various languages and several architectural styles are possible.

Casambiente offers its services as a full or part project manager. The construction time is a maximum of 6 months (from the date of obtaining the planning permission).

A sustainable home can be built anywhere and in any shape or form; it is adaptable to any style and the owners do not need to restrict themselves in any way.

Casambiente specialises in timber-framed buildings using renewable materials, thereby producing a low-maintenance house, as well as contributing towards a low-impact building process by using environmentally-friendly materials.

The planning process of building a low-energy home is no different to a traditionally-built home. The main and important difference is the house technology, an area which calls for the close cooperation of the architect and the engineer. It is fundamental to build a functional house, which has been thought through in all of its constituent elements since the idea is to build a house with efficient insulation against the cold and the heat, and a sophisticated house technology that will provide an adequate supply of ventilation.

Choosing a sustainable house is, first and foremost, a choice based on energy-saving principles. At the same time, you are focusing on cost-effectiveness, independence from the energy market and aiming for an all-round healthier living ambience.

The Construction Process

STAGE 1: Architectural project: The project can be carried out either by a Casambiente technician or by the client's architect. If the project is drawn up abroad, it is important that a local geometra adapts it to the presentation schemes of the Municipality that will release the permission. Casambiente can also take care of this aspect.

STAGE 2: Planning permission: A local technician (engineer, geometra, architect) will be in charge of obtaining the planning permission, quotations from various companies and craftsmen and the person responsible for the building site. The costs for other experts that work on the project (e.g. topographer, geologist, engineer etc.) are included in his/her fee.

STAGE 3: Work planning: The work planning is worked out by the technician and the building company after the release of the planning permission. Usually there are two building companies: the German one that will construct the house and the Italian one which will create the base plate and the foundation.

STAGE 4: Start of construction: After obtaining the permission, the construction of the base plate can start, as well as the earth work, retaining walls, foundations... Parallel to this, the wooden construction in Germany begins.

STAGE 5: Assembly of the house: After the realization of the base plate and the necessary time to let it dry, the German timber construction company transports the pre-constructed parts to Italy and comes over to assemble the house. This normally takes 7-10 days, including the roof, windows and external façade.

STAGE 6: Interior works: After the realization of the structure, the first phase of the interior works begins: electricity, house technology, plumbing, screeding, paving and tiling.

STAGE 7: Internal finishing: The internal finishing includes painting and plastering, installation of sanitary fittings, completion of the wiring and the plumbing.

STAGE 8: Furniture/interior design: Possible assembly of kitchen/fitted cabinets, fixtures, fittings.

Cost

As is the case for any kind of building, there are also many aspects to be considered when building a sustainable/low-energy house.

All too often the importance of the cost analysis is underestimated, creating unpleasant surprises for the client. Therefore it is vital to dedicate sufficient time to this aspect of the building process. The timeframe should be organized by an accurate construction schedule and its relative costs should be controlled continuously.

Casambiente can offer its services as a full or part project manager.

Casambiente recommends breaking down the costs into the following sections:

• Property purchase with all the related costs (notary, taxes, commissions, etc)
• Utility activation costs (water, electricity, effluent, telephone, road, etc)
• Planning permission with all the related costs
• Planning costs: Architect/Geometra, geologist, engineer, house technician, electrical engineer
• Raw material: foundations, supporting walls (if required), equipment for the building site (crane, scaffolding, safety measures), flooring & insulation engineer, plasterer, painter, external surfaces, pool (if required), floor tiler
• House structure: wood house, waterproof insulated roof, floors, ceilings, walls, windows, doors, facades, hand rails, stairs
• Plumbing & utilities management: heating, cooling, ventilation system, sanitary
• Electricity: all house electrics, sun panel system, automated shading system
• Internal finishing: bathroom and kitchen fixtures & fittings, doors, fitted cabinets, etc.

The costs depend on a number of factors:

• The energetic requirements of the building
• Planning costs: an individually designed house has higher planning costs than a house with a general basic plan where merely the internal division and design need to be personalised. Casambiente offers both solutions. In collaboration with our German Partner Schwarzwälder, we offer the Modular-houses „Punkt-Haus" and „T-Haus", whose basic structure has already been developed and therefore costs less. Under "Projects" you can find a more detailed description of both modular houses.
• Finishing/materials: without any doubt, the costs also depend on the choice of materials and internal and external finishing: floors, bathroom tiles, sanitary fittings, furniture,...

For a basic (wooden) structure, class A, consider Euro 800 – 1,000 per square meter. For the finishing and completion another Euro 800 – 1,500 per square meter are to be calculated. The costs for the land and possible utility activation costs are not included.

The overall cost for a sustainable house (plot of land not included) is to be estimated at between Euro 1,600 and Euro 2,500 per square meter