Lacol

What Lacol does

Lacol SCCL is a Barcelona-based architecture cooperative founded in 2009 by Carles Baiges Camprubí and Cristina Gamboa, operating as a member-owned Societat Cooperativa de Responsabilitat Limitada with 11-50 employees. The firm specializes in designing cooperative and social housing using sustainable construction methods including cross-laminated timber (CLT) structures, passive house standards, geothermal systems, and bioclimatic design, with documented outcomes of up to 70% energy consumption reduction and approximately €35/month energy costs in social housing deployments. Its core service lines are architecture project design, construction management, cooperative housing development, and energy transition services, supplemented by educational publications such as the 'Habitar en comunidad' book (€16 per copy).

Lacol's commercial activity is project-based, sourced through public architectural competitions, referrals from the cooperative housing network, and direct commissions from municipalities and cooperatives. Its primary customers are housing cooperatives (La Borda, La Balma, Sotrac, Empriu, Abril, Coop de Falç, La Morada, La Raval), municipal governments (Ajuntament de Barcelona, Ajuntament de Granollers, Ajuntament de Manresa), and municipal housing institutes (IMPSOL Viladecans). Geographic activity is concentrated in Catalonia with project engagements across Spain and international forays into Hamburg, Belgrade, Quito, and Switzerland. The firm co-founded two ecosystem vehicles—La Dinamo Fundació, which scales the transfer-of-use cooperative housing model, and BATEC, which advances energy transition initiatives in a degrowth context—embedding Lacol at the center of a broader social and solidarity economy network.

The firm monetizes through professional services fees on individual projects and minor publication revenue, with no disclosed pricing for design services. Distribution is primarily direct, via cooperative-network referrals (especially through La Dinamo) and competitive tenders from public bodies. Lacol has built brand equity through international recognition including the 2024 European Collective Housing Award, 2024 Ammodo Architecture Award, 2025 Casa de la Arquitectura Adaptability prize, 2025 CSCAE selection, and 2025 Reto Kömmerling award, alongside academic engagement at Columbia GSAPP, FHNW Basel, USI Mendrisio, ENSAPL Lille, and Venice Biennale.

Name

Lacol

Legal name

Lacol SCCL

Website

https://lacol.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (2361), Land Subdivision (2372)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB), Residential Modular & Prefabricated Home Construction (IMAFABAF)

Keywords

• Cooperative architecture
• Sustainable housing design
• Passive house construction
• Construction management services
• Community-led design

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Design of housing cooperatives, public buildings, and sustainable architecture projects. Includes comprehensive services from initial concept through construction documentation.
2. Construction Management: On-site management services supporting cooperative housing developments, optimizing construction processes and achieving economic and timeline objectives.
3. Publication Revenue: Sale of publications including 'Habitar en comunidad' book (€16), translated into Portuguese and Euskera, documenting cooperative housing principles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lacol is a Barcelona-based architecture cooperative that provides architectural design and construction management services for cooperative housing developments, social housing, and community infrastructure. The firm designs projects using sustainable construction methods including cross-laminated timber (CLT), passive house standards, and bioclimatic strategies, and also manages the construction phase of these projects. Services are delivered through participatory design processes that engage future residents.

Product overview

Lacol is a Barcelona-based architecture cooperative offering a comprehensive portfolio of services centered on sustainable community infrastructure development. The company's core offerings include architecture project design, construction management, cooperative housing development, and energy transition services. Projects are developed through four interconnected lines of work: Architecture Projects (sustainable building design), Cooperative Housing (use-right model housing development), Construction Management (project optimization), and Energy Transition (through BATEC). Notable project references include La Borda (first public land cooperative housing), La Balma (timber structure housing), LABBatlló (urban living lab research), and Sant Ildefons (neighborhood renovation). The cooperative also publishes educational materials on cooperative housing models. The company does not operate a software product, API, or AI-powered technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Project Design Comprehensive architectural design services for buildings based on a broad concept of sustainability, addressing environmental, economic, and social vectors simultaneously while prioritizing users and community needs. Designed for housing cooperatives, municipal social housing programs, and community organizations.
• Construction Management On-site construction management services supporting and strengthening cooperative housing development, optimizing the entire construction process to achieve budget and timeline objectives. Intended for housing cooperatives and project promoters executing sustainable building projects.
• Cooperative Housing Development End-to-end cooperative housing development service proposing cooperative housing as an alternative to conventional collective housing production, with transformative potential from tenure to architecture. For housing cooperatives and self-organized resident groups seeking non-speculative ownership models.
• Energy Transition Services Projects and initiatives enabling a fair and democratic energy model within a degrowth context, including local energy communities. For municipalities, energy cooperatives, and community organizations pursuing energy sovereignty projects.
• Habitar en comunidad (Book) Published book exploring different aspects of cooperative housing under the use-right model, sold at €16 per copy. Available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Euskera. For academics, cooperative housing practitioners, and general readers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy consumption reduced by more than 45% through building envelope improvements
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• La Dinamo FundaciócoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Lacol to replicate and expand the cooperative housing model. La Dinamo provides promotional management and technical support for housing cooperatives, enabling the scaling of the transfer-of-use model across Catalonia.
• BATECcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Lacol with other social economy entities to generate projects and initiatives for a fair and democratic energy model. Focuses on energy transition within degrowth context.
• Societat Orgànica SCCLmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental consultancy partner on multiple projects, specializing in sustainable building performance and bioclimatic design strategies.
• Laboqueria Taller d'ArquitecturamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-architect on La Balma project; partnership for developing cooperative housing architectural projects.
• ArkenovamajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering partner providing structural and installation engineering services across multiple cooperative housing projects.
• ArrevoltmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCost control and site supervision partner on multiple projects, ensuring budget and timeline objectives are met.
• Tenov EditorialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on analysis publication 'Vida en Cooperativa' presented at EAI Donostia.
• La Ciutat InvisiblemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published 'Habitar en comunidad' book; cooperative publisher specializing in social economy and cooperative topics.
• CoopdeMà SCCLminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal, labor, and financial consulting partner for cooperative projects within the solidarity economy network.
• A+4 Consultors d'EstratègiaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommercial and communication strategy consulting for cooperative projects.
• Celobert CooperativaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering partner on projects such as El Timbal Theatre School renovation.
• Altura ArquitectesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-designer on Ca la Carolina rehabilitation project in Rabós.
• ArqbagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partner on Coop de Falç public competition proposal.
• Fusteria de Can Batlló SCCLminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWoodworking cooperative providing materials and craftsmanship for Can Batlló-based projects.
• Xarxa d'Economia SolidàriamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolidarity Economy Network connecting Lacol with 5 cooperative partners for project delivery.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Studio Muoto: Paris-based architecture studio known for collective housing, CLT construction, and experimental residential typologies. Comparable as a European firm combining timber construction with innovative collective housing typologies — closely aligned with Lacol's cluster and CLT focus — though operating at smaller scale and on speculative as well as social housing.
• Sostre Cívic: Catalan federation of housing cooperatives acting as developer/promoter of use-right cooperative housing. Functions partly as a Lacol client (commissioned La Balma) and partly as a sector peer that could internalize or commission architecture work, making it comparable both as cooperative-housing market participant and adjacent ecosystem player.
• Duncan Lewis / Collectif Encore: French architecture collectives practicing participatory, community-led, and CLT/timber-based housing design. Comparable as a European peer exploring participatory and bio-based construction methodologies similar to Lacol's cooperative housing and CLT approach, though without Lacol's cooperative ownership model.

Others

• Habitatges La Borda SCCL: The cooperative housing entity that commissioned and now manages the flagship La Borda project. Comparable as a fellow cooperative actor in the Catalan use-right housing ecosystem, though operating on the ownership/tenure side rather than the architectural design side that Lacol occupies.
• La Dinamo Fundació: Foundation co-founded by Lacol to replicate the transfer-of-use cooperative housing model across Catalonia. Functions as the model-scaling entity rather than a competing architecture firm; comparable as an ecosystem partner that extends Lacol's reach and as a notable Spanish social-economy organization in the same space.
• Arkenova: Engineering firm providing structural and MEP services to Lacol's cooperative housing projects. Listed as a 'We to Them' implementation partner. Comparable as a member of the same cooperative-housing delivery ecosystem and a recurring collaborator, though it serves as supplier rather than competitor.

Broad incumbents

• RCR Arquitectes: Catalan architecture firm (Olot) with international Pritzker recognition, known for sustainable, materially-driven design. Comparable as a Catalan-based design firm operating at the intersection of sustainability, public commissions, and international recognition, though at much larger scale and broader typology than Lacol's cooperative-housing niche.
• Carme Pinós Studio: Established Barcelona-based architecture practice with international award pedigree. Comparable as a Barcelona-rooted, internationally recognized Spanish firm working on public commissions and sustainable design, though its portfolio is far broader than cooperative housing and lacks Lacol's cooperative ownership structure.

Direct peers

• Arqbag: Barcelona-based architecture practice collaborating on cooperative housing competitions (Coop de Falç). Functions as a direct design peer in the same cooperative-housing competition market in Catalonia and partners with Lacol on public competition proposals.
• Celobert Cooperativa: Catalan architecture cooperative providing technical services for cooperative housing and social economy projects. Direct peer: same cooperative structure, similar Barcelona/Catalonia geography, overlapping client base with housing cooperatives, and has partnered with Lacol on projects such as El Timbal Theatre School.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lacol/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagraminstagram.com/lacolarq
• Xx.com/lacolarq
• Facebookfacebook.com/lacolarq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lacol