In June 2024, Grupo Sofonías conducted the study “Connecting Knowledge: Transfer of Swiss Expertise to Strengthen Capacities in the Design and Development of Sustainable Social Housing among Actors in the Construction Value Chain in Colombia.”
This study was part of the actions of the Colombia–Switzerland Sustainable Construction Roundtable and the Colombia + Competitiva Program, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and facilitated by the Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation – Swisscontact..

The main objective was to define sustainability parameters applicable to social interest housing (VIS) in three of the country's climate zones through the analysis of existing housing projects:

• Cold climate: Bogotá

• Hot and humid climate: Barranquilla

• Temperate climate: Medellín

 Case study Bogotá

 Case study Barranquilla

Case study Medellín

To assess hygrothermal behavior and comfort conditions in each zone, key variables such as temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity were monitored. These measurements were complemented by interviews with residents, which allowed the team to compare and validate quantitative data with the perceptions and lived experiences of the inhabitants.

The study involved active participation from a range of key stakeholders, including construction material suppliers, academic institutions, renewable energy organizations, construction companies, and social organizations.

Following the analysis of comfort conditions in the three case studies, design recommendations and improvement opportunities were developed for each specific climate context. These proposals aim to enhance thermal comfort and occupant well-being, while also reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems and minimizing energy consumption in buildings.

One of the study’s key conclusions was the need for an integrated mechanism for planning, designing, constructing, and managing social housing projects. A collaborative and multidisciplinary approach is proposed, involving all actors from the earliest stages, thereby promoting socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable solutions.

The results of this study are available in the publication:
VIS 4.0: Strategies for Sustainable Social Housing in Colombia 2024
🔗 https://camacol.co/sites/default/files/2024-09/VIS%204.0_Digital_VF.pdf