Founded by José Antonio González in 2007, Arquima has long argued that wood is the material of the 21st century. Sustainability is a central claim, and the industrial engineer translated his passion for process optimization into a family business focused on building houses, facades, envelopes, and even hotels and residences. Early critics dismissed him as the crazy guy with wooden houses, but today his vision looks increasingly prescient.
At Arquima, projects are designed, industrially manufactured, and assembled on a turnkey basis. Whether collaborating with exterior architects or taking full control of the process, they handle the entire journey. In a newly opened 6,000 square meter factory in Abrera, Barcelona, the company sources most of its timber from Germany and Austria. They claim to construct homes in a week and then ship the components to the destination, where Arquima completes the build in three to four months. In a market shadowed by skilled labor shortages and rising costs, González argues that industrialization can make construction viable for the future. The factory offers shorter lead times and serves as a reliable guarantee for clients and architects alike.
Overcoming Barriers
Arquima designs with sustainability in mind because the construction industry accounts for a substantial share of global CO2 emissions. The firm emphasizes that substituting concrete with timber yields a meaningful reduction in the carbon footprint. Buildings also benefit from passive design principles, which minimize energy consumption. The philosophy is simple: energy is finite, so homes must be as efficient as possible.
González highlights several landmark projects, including the first wooden multi-family building in Barcelona and the first nursing home in Camarzana de Tera, Zamora. Building a startup is rarely easy, and Arquima has faced countless obstacles since its inception. Customers often question a material that is not yet common in home construction. Yet the founder notes that wood, together with stone, remains one of the most durable building options. Some wooden structures exceed a millennium in age, while concrete rarely reaches a century without significant maintenance. Concerns about fire safety persist, yet timber can perform well in fire situations compared to metal, which loses strength rapidly when exposed to flames. The message remains: a climate of fear built around brick and concrete can obscure wood’s real potential.
One Million Euro Houses
The leadership at Arquima is not about democratizing wood for its own sake, but about expanding access while maintaining quality. Current revenue sits between half a million and six hundred thousand euros, with a goal of reaching one million to fund improvements and broaden project scope. The firm emphasizes selective project engagement, prioritizing collaborations with serious supporters who value premium workmanship and are willing to pay for it.
Wood-based homes have driven notable growth for Arquima, with six million euros in revenue in 2021, eight million in 2022, and a projected range of fifteen to twenty million for 2023. To support this growth, the company expanded its workforce and capacity in the new Abrera facility. Approximately fifty people work across offices and production, and capacity was tripled to meet demand. The firm completed twenty-five houses in the previous year and is targeting seventy-five this year, including a 16-house project in Llucmajor, Mallorca for developer Aedas Home, with plans for additional projects to follow.
Valsaín Sawmill
This year, Arquima secured the tender for the Valsaín sawmill in Segovia, a 25-year concession set to begin operations in 2024. The move ensures a domestic supply of timber, with roughly 4,000 cubic meters of wood sourced annually. Spain is rich in forest resources, yet a strong culture around domestic wood use has not fully taken hold. The investment package totals about one million euros, reflecting a strategy of vertical integration and greater self-reliance for raw materials. The company highlights that controlling the supply chain from forest to finished product adds resilience to its business model.