Chapter 9

The year everything came to a halt.

If 2020 was a year of record sales, 2021 was the complete opposite. The contrast was stark. We had just closed a year with more than 30 houses sold and started the new year with the factory completely empty. We all have the image of Eva—our cleaning colleague since we arrived in Almussafes—engraved in our minds, sitting on the scrubbing machine, alone in the middle of the deserted warehouse, wearing her mask and with tears streaming down her face. It was heartbreaking. Seeing the production room without a single house, without movement, without noise… it hurt.

You may ask yourselves, ‘If 2020 went so well, why weren’t you manufacturing?’ Well, let’s get this out in the open: the building permits weren’t coming through. During the pandemic, local councils also had their share of problems. Staff changes, poorly managed teleworking, uncertainty, and files piling up like towers. Meanwhile, we were waiting. We had the projects, we had the customers, we had everything… except the permission to get started. 

Add to that the chaos of the moment: suppliers who couldn’t guarantee deliveries, non-stop price increases, staff reductions, people joining and leaving the team… It was like living in a perfect storm. We thought the worst was over with the pandemic, but no. The really hard part was dealing with the consequences.

We tried to find solutions from every angle. And something good came out of that need: our Lite collection. A line of homes with a standardised structure —no modifications possible— that allowed us to bring forward purchases, stock up on materials and guarantee fixed prices. It was a total success. Not only did it solve part of the problem, but it also helped us to offer a more affordable range without compromising on our architectural quality. Today, it continues to work like a charm. You can see our Lite collection here.

That year we also faced another challenge: the disconnect between people on the team. The pandemic had accentuated the distance between the office and production. Staggered shifts, separate entrances, masks… Some people didn’t even know each other by sight. So we set up a breakfast area in the kitchen. Nothing fancy: a hotel-style toaster, fruit, bread, coffee. But it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. People began to meet, talk, and recognise each other. Sometimes, small gestures change more than big plans.

But if there is one thing that marked 2021, it was the change in perspective among professionals. Until then, many architecture firms saw us as competition. We did design and construction, and that generated suspicion. But that year, something changed. They began to see us for what we really are: a reliable construction company that can guarantee price and deadlines. Something that, in that context of widespread chaos, was pure gold. Our CRM was filled with proposals for collaboration from other firms. Architects, developers, investors… everyone began to see us as an ally. 

And that filled us with pride. Because from the outset, our intention was never to take work away from anyone, but rather to strengthen the work of others. To build with quality, staying true to the project and respecting the architect’s vision. 2021 was the year when we finally put ourselves on the map as a trusted partner for professionals in the sector. 

It wasn’t an easy year. But it was crucial for what came next.