Begur is a town in the Baix Empordà, on the central Costa Brava, with around 4,291 inhabitants (2025) and an 11th-century hilltop castle declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest. Its coastline opens into coves such as Sa Riera, Aiguablava, Sa Tuna, Fornells and Aiguafreda. In a maritime context, insulation, airtightness and solar control hold summer comfort on a minimum of energy.
Begur concentrates a very international residential market, with a strong weight of premium second homes tied to the Costa Brava. The town, its surroundings and the coves of Sa Riera, Aiguablava, Sa Tuna, Fornells and Aiguafreda draw a demanding clientele that looks for build quality and lasting comfort by the sea.
The maritime climate, with warm summers and proximity to salt water, makes summer comfort and durability against salinity decisive factors. The Passivhaus standard and the Eskimohaus® system respond to this challenge with a highly insulated envelope, solar control, triple glazing and heat-recovery ventilation.
Building in Begur calls for respect for the historic centre and the coastal landscape, both under protection. The 11th-century castle, first documented early in that century, presides over the town as a viewpoint over the Empordà plain, the Medes Islands and Cap de Creus, and the heritage of indianos mansions from the 19th and 20th centuries shapes the character of the old core. We work on integration from the first sketch, reconciling Passivhaus performance with the architectural language the town and the coast require.
Maritime climate, coastal-landscape protection and a historic centre with protected heritage, presided over by a castle listed as a Cultural Asset of National Interest. Begur calls for sensitivity to context.
Thermal performance, not display.
Our method in Begur starts from a clear premise. In a coastal context, a home's value is measured by its ability to hold comfort on the least possible energy and to weather time well by the sea. Orientation and solar control are worked to avoid summer overheating and to harness daylight without paying for it in heat; the envelope is insulated and sealed until thermal bridges and infiltration are eliminated; triple-glazed joinery and heat-recovery ventilation guarantee clean air and a stable temperature; materials and finishes are chosen with salinity and durability in a marine setting in mind; and the palette stays coherent with the coastal landscape of the Baix Empordà. Landscape integration is resolved before the technical design is closed, to avoid late reworking.
Begur's historic centre, at the foot of the 11th-century castle, concentrates the heritage fabric, with interventions subject to a protection regime and marked by the indianos mansions raised at the turn of the 20th century by Begur natives who made their fortunes in the Americas. The coastline is organised around the coves of Sa Riera, Aiguablava, Sa Tuna, Fornells and Aiguafreda, each with its own character and landscape sensitivity; between Sa Riera and Aiguafreda, the Ses Negres stretch has been an integral marine reserve since 1993. Each area has its own planning regime and different integration conditions that need to be verified case by case.
Yes. In a maritime climate the challenge is summer comfort, and that is precisely where a highly insulated envelope, with solar control and heat-recovery ventilation, keeps the home cool on a fraction of a conventional home's energy.
Yes. Passivhaus is a performance requirement, not a style. It is fully compatible with the architectural language and materials that the coastal landscape, the indianos-mansion heritage and the town's composition rules require.
Materials, fixings and finishes are chosen with the marine setting and durability in mind. The airtight envelope and controlled ventilation prevent condensation and preserve indoor comfort over time.
Yes. Much of Begur's coastline carries landscape sensitivity, and between Sa Riera and Aiguafreda lies the Ses Negres integral marine reserve, protected since 1993. Landscape integration and respect for heritage are worked on from the first sketch.
Resolution usually runs between 8 and 16 weeks from complete documentary submission, with extensions possible on plots affected by landscape or heritage protection in the historic centre. This should be verified case by case.
Building in Begur is not something to settle with an automatic configurator. The plot, the relationship with the sea, the coastal landscape and the applicable planning regime are variables that call for direct dialogue. A conversation with one of our architects will give you more than any online estimate.