The completion of the works is scheduled for the last quarter of 2008 and the delivery of the houses to the beneficiaries for the first quarter of 2009

The delegate Councillor of housing Assequible of l'Obra Social "La caixa", Jaume Cabré; the Chief Executive Officer of Basf Spanish, Karl-Peter Bercio; and Ramón Gil de Luigi, commercial Director of this company, have signed an agreement for the construction of a promotion of 90 floors of official protection that will be built and designed with energy saving systems.

With this agreement, l'Obra Social La Caixa and Basf agree to build 90 dwellings by applying techniques and latest generation materials to comply with the stricter parameters of eco-efficiency. Apply materials and constructive solutions to facilitate savings and energy efficiency as a thermal insulation of last generation with a thickness of 8 cm and other mechanisms as a heat regulator which can improve the current eco-efficiency measures up to 40% on stipulating the Decret d'Ecoeficiència de la Generalitat of Catalunya. BASF will be responsible for providing the thermal insulator and advise l'Obra Social "La caixa" in the implementation and maintenance of the new constructive solutions.

The new development of flats, whose construction has already begun, is located in Girona, specifically in the area of the Pla partial access Nord. 90 Apartments are distributed in four blocks, which can be accessed through a vertical core and catwalks. Two homes adapted for people with disabilities are also planned. The floorspace of the House (with balconies included) ranges from 52 to 54 square meters. The finalitzación of the works is scheduled for the last quarter of the year 2008 and the delivery of the houses to the beneficiaries, for the first quarter of 2009. In order to make monitoring and verification adopted moderation, and in accordance with the agreement, Basf will perform a monitoring in two of the floors, one with isolation of Basf and the other according to the regulations in force. The monitoring will take place over a year to measure the environmental performance and energy saving of the implemented solutions.

This promotion includes criteria for design, project and materials based on criteria of sustainability and energy efficiency: the orientation of the facades, the natural ventilation of dwellings, increased insulation in walls and external carpentry, the management of the water cycle with collection of rainwater and greywater recycling, the incorporation of solar d'ACS boards with boiler of gas of high efficiency, etc. All these elements more than the usual standards and noted the willingness of l'Obra Social La Caixa to build buildings that respond in every respect to the needs of society. In the same vein, the chemical company, Basf is dedicated to the research and manufacture of building materials, incorporating innovative solutions to promote savings and energy efficiency, thus helping to environmental sustainability.

The construction of this promotion is part of the programme of housing Assequible of l'Obra social of La Caixa. Faithful to its commitment to the needs of today's society, the institution has launched this programme with the aim of facilitating access to housing for two of the groups with more difficulties in this area, young people between 18 and 35 years old and people over 65. The program, which began in 2004, envisages the construction of 3,000 flats until 2010, with an investment of EUR 420 million. Eleven promotions spread throughout the Spanish keys have been delivered to date.

Some of the houses of the promotion plan.