Basque architect Ekaitz Uribe Rus is the founder and director of Oreka Bioarkitektura, a studio specialised in sustainable architecture, rehabilitation and bioconstruction, whose work is primarily developed in the Basque Country and the northern regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Since its beginnings, the practice has been driven by a deep reflection on the relationship between architecture, territory and health, exploring ways of building that respond responsibly both to the natural environment and to contemporary ways of living.
The name of the studio —Oreka, which means balance in Basque— reflects the conceptual foundation of its work. For Uribe Rus, architecture emerges from a delicate equilibrium between landscape, constructive tradition, material resources, energy efficiency and the wellbeing of those who inhabit the spaces. From this perspective, Oreka Bioarkitektura develops projects that seek to integrate architecture naturally within its physical, cultural and social context.
Over the years, Ekaitz Uribe Rus has become one of the leading voices of bioconstruction in the Basque Country. This discipline understands architecture as a living system in which materials, energy and the indoor environment interact with the surrounding landscape. In his practice, bioconstruction is not treated as a technical label or a passing trend, but as a design approach that places human health, building durability and environmental responsibility at the centre of the project.
This philosophy translates into the careful selection of natural materials, the use of low-impact construction systems and the design of spaces capable of passively regulating temperature, humidity and indoor air quality. Architecture is therefore conceived as a discreet yet essential infrastructure that quietly supports the wellbeing of everyday life.
A significant part of the studio’s work focuses on the rehabilitation of traditional rural architecture, particularly historic Basque farmhouses. These projects require a deep understanding of the original building’s constructive logic, its relationship with the landscape and the structural and material systems that shaped it. Rather than imposing radical transformations, Oreka Bioarkitektura approaches these interventions through strategies that combine respect for heritage, technical knowledge and contemporary solutions capable of extending the life of these buildings.
In these projects, architecture becomes an act of reading the place. Each intervention begins with the careful study of orientation, topography, prevailing winds and natural light — elements that ultimately define spatial organisation and construction decisions. This sensitivity to context allows buildings to engage naturally with the landscape, avoiding unnecessary formal gestures and favouring a calm and respectful integration within their surroundings.
The studio frequently works with timber structures, natural insulation and breathable construction systems, combining traditional building knowledge with contemporary high-performance energy solutions. This approach allows historic construction wisdom to be recovered while adapting buildings to today’s standards of comfort, sustainability and durability.
Another defining aspect of Oreka Bioarkitektura’s work is the human and collaborative dimension of the project. Design and construction processes are developed in close dialogue with clients, craftspeople and building teams, creating working dynamics based on trust, collaboration and shared knowledge. This way of working enables each project to be approached as a coherent whole, where architecture, construction and interior design evolve together.
Beyond formal outcomes, the work of Ekaitz Uribe Rus reflects on contemporary ways of inhabiting the world. In a time marked by the climate crisis and the growing distance between architecture and nature, his projects propose an alternative path grounded in the reconnection with local resources, building culture and the rhythms of the territory.
Within this framework, the architecture developed by Oreka Bioarkitektura seeks to become part of a broader system where nature, architecture and daily life coexist in balance. Each project becomes an opportunity to activate this relationship, creating spaces capable of responding to present-day needs while preserving their connection with the memory of the place.
The Oreka Bioarkitektura team
Today, the team at Oreka Bioarkitektura includes the architects Ekaitz Uribe Rus, Marian Ramos Santiago, Martin Johnson and Nagore Tolosa Irazusta.
Ekaitz Uribe Rus is an architect specialised in bioconstruction and a Certified Passivhaus Designer. He has taught in the postgraduate programme Rebuilding the World at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux, and has delivered workshops and lectures at institutions such as the Basque Summer University, the San Sebastián School of Architecture, the San Sebastián Polytechnic School, the Gipuzkoa headquarters of the Basque-Navarrese Association of Architects, as well as at professional fairs and conferences.
Marian Ramos Santiago is an architect responsible for implementing BIM methodology and new digital technologies within the studio.
Martin Johnson is an architect and architectural technologist specialised in bioconstruction, a Passivhaus design expert and certifier, and a lecturer at the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Wales, an environmental education charity that has spent more than fifty years researching and sharing solutions to environmental challenges while working towards a sustainable future.
Nagore Tolosa Irazusta is an architect specialised in bioconstruction who has completed postgraduate studies in the Master’s Programme in Bioconstruction delivered by the Baubiologie Institute and the University of Lleida. She regularly participates in lectures, courses and professional events related to sustainable architecture.