01/03/2023

UIC Barcelona School of Architecture launches a prototype of a folding industrialised balcony (BIP) at Cevisama

Researchers from UIC Barcelona School of Architecture (of the LITEIS [Laboratory for Technological Innovation in Industrialised and Sustainable Construction]] group) apply for a patent for a new industrialised construction system as the result of detecting a need during the COVID-19 lockdown 

The new industrialised folding balcony (BIP, balcón industrializado plegable) is a technical solution that allows lightweight prefabricated balconies to be produced. These balconies fold, stack on a truck and can be quickly deployed and mounted like large shelves on building facades. Specifically, the first BIP prototype can be seen in CEVISAMA, at Feria Valencia, between 27 February and 3 March. 

Vicenç Sarrablo, professor who directed this research project and is coordinator of the LITEIS Research Group at UIC Barcelona, came up with the idea during COVID-19. “When people were in lock-down during COVID, I realised that balconies were needed and that it would be very interesting to have prefabricated balconies easy to install on any building facade.” 

The research process from the academic world responds to the most current challenges: the need for homeowners to have balconies after the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to control the rising costs of housing construction and the labour shortages in the construction sector.

After the initial conception of the idea, the first step was to test the idea, which was presented to the market before the pre-industrialisation project was started. Submission for the patent of this project has been made.

BIPs (new industrialised folding balcony) have become a reality in record breaking time thanks to the University and companies from different construction sectors, such as the industrial adhesive company Reymansa, Neolith ceramics, TAS metal manufacturing/processing company, Swedish multinational core material company Diab lined up to carry out the project.

The project is being overwhelmingly received, as Sarrablo explained “The intense support of different companies in the construction sector for this pilot proposal has been very exciting. But what is really surprising is the spectacular reception of the BIP prototype by the public, especially architects, at the Cevisama Trade Fair.”

The team led by Sarrablo is composed of Oriol Carrasco, lecturer of Construction and member of LITEIS, and PhD in Architecture, and Sofia Argelich and Martina Musacchio, both research assistants at UIC Barcelona School of Architecture.