Gres Aragón is a Spanish manufacturer of extruded ceramic systems for ventilated facades, offering high-performance building envelope solutions for commercial, residential, and institutional architecture. The GA16 MUSKIZ ceramic system was used in the IES Muskiz, a new-build secondary school located in Bizkaia, Spain. The system covers the entire exterior envelope of the building, with a total cladded surface of 4,191 m².
 |
The IES Muskiz is a newly constructed secondary school developed by the Basque Government and built by SIECSA Construcción y Servicios. Designed by BAT Architecture, the building is organized around two longitudinal volumes connected by a central open staircase, promoting movement, natural light, and cross-ventilation throughout. The structure makes use of CLT timber to reduce carbon footprint and enhance thermal and acoustic comfort. The architectural brief required an exterior cladding solution capable of responding to the climatic conditions of the Basque Country while meeting high energy efficiency standards, including Passivhaus performance criteria.
 |
In collaboration with BAT Architecture's technical team, Gres Aragón developed a custom variation of the GA16 system specifically adapted to the project's architectural language. The GA16 MUSKIZ introduces an undulating geometry that generates a continuous, tactile surface with defined light and shadow variation across the facade. The neutral tone selected enhances natural light reflection in the immediate surroundings. The pieces retain all technical properties of the GA16 platform: tongue-and-groove joints protect the ventilated cavity from moisture ingress, and installation is carried out using the concealed FTS 505 mechanical fixing system, ensuring structural stability with a uniform, fastener-free aesthetic. The ventilated air cavity regulates temperature, reduces heat accumulation in summer, and improves insulation in winter — contributing to the building's overall energy performance and compliance with Passivhaus standards.
