Cimbra® Architecture & construction — Madrid
ES
Curved concrete and glass facade of the Ribera offices. Courtyard with a green roof between exposed-concrete volumes. Facade of vertical precast-concrete fins. Sawtooth facade of ochre panels against the sky.

Architecture + constructionMadrid and Castile, since 2011

We build what we design.

And we design what we build: one team, one contract and a fixed price before work starts on site.

Open the project

01Work

Recent work

Five of the nine buildings we have designed and built across Madrid and Castile, always with the same team.

What people who live and work in our buildings say

“The price we signed is the price we paid. Nobody had promised us that before, let alone delivered it.”
Lucía M.Homeowner, PozueloPrivate house

02Location

Where we build

Nine buildings across Madrid and Castile. Pick one on the map or in the list.

03Studio

A studio with its own builders

From the first sketch to the last joint, one team.

cimbra n. (Spanish) The temporary frame that holds up an arch or vault while it is being built.

Cimbra is an architecture studio with its own construction company. We design homes, schools and offices, and build them with our own crews, with nobody in between the drawing and the site.

That is our job: to hold the project up until it stands on its own.

Years in practice
0+
Buildings delivered in Madrid and Castile
0
Delivered on time
0%

04Services

What we do

From the first sketch to the last bead of sealant. Hire us for all of it, or just one part.

Architecture

Planning and construction drawings with the build cost next to every sheet. We know what our drawings cost because we build them.

  • Site and feasibility studies
  • Concept design and models
  • Planning and construction drawings
  • Permits and approvals

Construction

Our own crews for structure and envelope, trusted trades for services. One contract and one person accountable.

  • Concrete and steel structures
  • Facades and roofs
  • Coordinated building services
  • Finishes and joinery

Refurbishment

Structural strengthening, energy upgrades and change of use for existing buildings, keeping what deserves to stay.

  • Surveys and opening-up works
  • Structural strengthening
  • Insulation and facades
  • Change of use

Project management

For developers who already have a design: we plan, procure and control cost and schedule, with a report every week.

  • Planning and budgeting
  • Trade procurement
  • Quality control
  • Handover and aftercare

05Process

How we work

Four stages, a fixed price at the end of the second, and the same team from start to finish.

  1. 01

    Listen

    We visit the site or building, talk about use, timing and budget, and tell you honestly whether it fits.

  2. 02

    Design

    Concept design, model and a detailed cost plan. At the end of this stage the price is fixed.

    Fixed price
  3. 03

    Build

    One site manager, a weekly walk-round with you and a photo report every Friday.

  4. 04

    Hand over

    Final inspection, a building manual and one year of aftercare with a 48-hour response.

Tell us about your project

06Questions

Frequently asked questions

What people ask us most before starting. Don't see yours? Write to us.

Where do you work?
Across the Madrid region and Castile (Toledo, Segovia, Ávila and Guadalajara). Outside that area we consider special projects.
Can I hire you for just the design, or just the build?
Yes. We usually do both, but we also build other studios' designs and design projects that you will tender yourself.
When do I get a fixed price?
At the end of concept design, with an itemised cost plan. From then on it only changes if you change something.
How long does a private house take?
Four to six months for design and permits, and ten to fourteen months on site, depending on size and plot.
Do you work on listed buildings?
Yes, with the necessary heritage consents. We survey and open up before proposing anything.
What does aftercare include?
One year of inspections with a 48-hour response, on top of the statutory building warranties.

07Journal

From the site

Notes on materials, structure and what each project teaches us. Whole journal