Sustainability and efficiency are two words that are becoming increasingly important in the real estate and construction business. And it is under this premise that Keep was born. David Taranilla founded the company, which offers 100% customisable industrialised housing starting at €149,000. The Barceona-based group wants to reduce the time and the footprint that real estate leaves on the environment as much as possible by ensuring its projects are delivered in six to nine months and can be converted into self-sufficient housing if the client wishes.
Taranilla has been working for 20 years in the conventional construction sector (residential buildings, single-family homes, refurbishment) and during university, his dissertation was on industrialised construction, which is why he had always been interested in going down this route, especially the reduction of deadlines and costs. In addition to the sensitivity to climate change, 40% of CO2 emissions come from the construction sector.
We were looking into how to enter the market because it's not easy: you're not just reducing costs; you're reducing the footprint you leave on the planet to build your house. People still find it hard to understand. However, there is a large market for sustainable and responsible products.
Keep has a simulator that helps you to personalise your home.
On the website, Keep has four types of customisable homes. Prices start at €149,000 for the most basic house (70m2 with one or two bedrooms) and reach up to €500,000 for the Extended range, which has five bedrooms and is 280m2. The user can also add or remove amenities, changing the price.
"As well as the floor finishes, walls, swimming pool, you can configure your house as much as you want, depending on how sophisticated you want your sustainability to be, the renewable energy you want to use, what for... to make your house healthy. You will always see the delivery time, which is six to nine months", says Taranilla. The price of Keep's houses includes everything except the land. "Technical fees, quantity surveyor, topographer to the architect who designs the project," he adds.
Keep stands out for using efficient building systems and renewable, locally produced materials. To make a difference in the industry and promote a more sustainable lifestyle, Keep does not stop at building homes. The startup also educates and raises awareness in its community about the benefits of this type of architecture and collaborates with local organisations and experts in the field to encourage the adoption of stricter sustainability standards.
How they do it
"All materials are locally produced, and this helps us shorten deadlines, as we do not depend on third parties", explains the manager, who comes from a family with a building tradition, specifically in reinforced concrete. Taranillo now relies mostly on CLT (cross-laminated timber), which he believes is already the material of the future. "It is even being used in skyscrapers," he adds.
The user first chooses the house and configures it and then sends Keep a request for information. When the company receives it, it contacts the client to assess the land and the client's needs. They close the budget and start drawing up the project plans.
At the same time, we start to manufacture the CLT parts that will be needed and apply for the licence. Within a week, the structure and enclosures are installed, which can take up to six months in conventional construction, and from there, the finishing touches are put in place.
Buying in Spain? Key facts about the property market
If you're thinking about buying a home, it’s essential to understand the current state of the property market. Should you wait, or is now the time to buy? To help you decide, we analyse the key indicators: price trends per square metre, interest rates, the Euribor, transaction volume, mortgages, and available financial aid.
Urgent property sales in Spain
Buying property in Spain is a dream for many, but the process can sometimes be lengthy and costly. With the year drawing to a close, there’s no better time to secure your ideal home and potentially benefit from great deals before 2025 ends. Urgent property sales offer a fast, cost-effective way to find exceptional opportunities within days or weeks.
Americans, Portuguese, Moroccans and Ukrainians buying more homes in Spain than ever
The latest data from Spanish notaries on property purchases by foreign buyers has revealed several records. Not only did foreigners pay the highest average price on record for properties during the first half of the year, but as many as seven nationalities also bought more homes than ever before on the Spanish market.
Spanish party Vox proposes higher taxes on foreigners to fund housing aid for Spaniards
Vox, a right-wing political party in Spain, has submitted a proposal to Congress to increase taxes on foreign property buyers. The money raised would be used to fund tax breaks for Spanish citizens and to support the construction of affordable housing.
Spain's most beautiful autumn destination, according to National Geographic
Spain is full of destinations to explore in autumn, when mountains and forests turn golden and nature’s magic feels more vivid than ever. It’s the perfect season to escape the summer crowds and immerse yourself in towns rich in history, culture and sample local fare.
American entrepreneur to revive abandoned Spanish village as tourist destination
Salto de Castro, a village in Zamora that has lain abandoned for more than 30 years, is set for a remarkable comeback thanks to American entrepreneur Jason Lee Beckwith. He has purchased the small border settlement with Portugal for €310,000 and plans to transform it into a tourist hub offering accommodation, dining, and leisure in a natural setting.
