SUMA Arquitectura Receives Grant to Advance Timber Construction in Spain

MADRID – Built by Nature is pleased to announce a grant of €123,821 awarded to SUMA Arquitectura towards establishment of a consortium of public and private sector actors to accelerate sustainable timber construction across Spain. This initiative, the first solution-oriented grant generated by BbN’s Spanish network, aims to publish guidance documents that will address specific barriers and regulatory questions surrounding timber in the marketplace.

With biomaterial advocate SUMA as coordinator, the project convenes a powerful alliance of experts and institutions including Mass Madera, who administer the Built by Nature Spain network; Barcelona d’Infraestructures Municipals; the Metropolitan Institute for Land Development and Property Management; AEDAS Homes, and regional housing agencies from the Basque Country, Navarre, and the Balearic Islands. Public developers such as these play a key role in delivering affordable housing in Spain along with strong mandates to drive sustainable innovation in the built environment.

The project will deliver three Spanish-language publications, each tailored to a key audience in the construction sector, namely designers, developers, and asset owners. Content will focus on technical strategies, case studies, cost considerations, and regulatory pathways. A structured series of roundtable discussions and working groups, coordinated by Mass Madera and its national network of timber frontrunners will provide direct frontline input into the publications.

“This groundbreaking initiative responds to clear industry demand by developing an outcome-focused model, drawing upon insights and inspiration from similar initiatives generated by BbN’s European networks. said Built by Nature CEO Paul King.

“By bringing public and private actors into close collaboration to create validated, relevant knowledge and narratives, we will harness a growing momentum within Spain to break down barriers and build a decarbonised, regenerative built environment.”

Elena Orte, founding partner at SUMA Arquitectura said:

“By delivering Spain-specific tools and fostering cross-sector collaboration, we at SUMA are helping to accelerate the market shift toward timber in mainstream construction—particularly in affordable housing, where cost-efficiency and sustainability are critical. These insights will support our future discussions with key actors, paving the way for additional work to expand support for timber solutions.”

Key learnings and recommendations will be broadly disseminated through an interactive webpage on the Mass Madera site; audience-specific webinars; a high-profile launch event, and presence at local and international trade events. Content will also be incorporated into architectural education curricula to amplify impact longer-term.