About us | La Foca House

Modern two-story white and gray house with balcony and green fence.

OUR STORY

SINCE 1960, ONLY PREFAB WOODEN HOUSES

We are among the first Italian companies to believe in prefabricated wooden houses — and we were right.
Our story began in 1960 with Sergio Oggero, my father, a building enthusiast with a pioneering vision. At a time when the concept of prefabrication was still underdeveloped in Italy, he decided to move to Sweden to specialize. He collaborated with A-Hus, one of Scandinavia’s leading wooden house manufacturers, from whom he learned not only advanced construction techniques but an entire philosophy of living: "The home is an integral part of those who live in it. It is like a garment that must be tailor-made, with care."
Upon returning to Italy in 1962, he began building with A-Hus structures, achieving immediate success. His enthusiasm and the market's growth led him to establish the first production facility in Villarbasse, just outside Turin, under the name La Foca House.
In the following years, I too joined the company, driven by the desire to continue and innovate. In 2001, to be even closer to the raw material — certified wood from Nordic forests — we moved production to Sigulda, in Latvia.
Today, we’ve reached the third generation: my daughter Giada leads the design department, continuing to create tailor-made houses, designed in every detail to reflect the personality and desires of those who live in them. No standard models, only bespoke solutions.
After over 65 years of activity, La Foca House is a benchmark in the design and construction of low environmental impact wooden buildings, not only in Italy but across Europe.

We create complete projects for the residential sector (single-family homes, multi-family homes, multi-storey buildings), public sector (schools, hospitals, educational and sports buildings), tourism, recreational, and industrial sectors.

Brick facade with wooden balcony and flowering climbing plants.

MISSION

Our goal is to maintain a constant commitment to designing and constructing wooden buildings based on the principles of ecology, eco-sustainability, local artisanal excellence, and sustainable economy.
Each building is designed to respect the environment, enhance the local area, and improve people’s quality of life, with constant attention to the well-being of both individuals and the community.
We produce “green” buildings by investing in research and innovation to offer uncompromising housing solutions where design, energy efficiency, and respect for the ecosystem come together.

VISION

To become a national and European point of reference for quality green building, promoting a development model that is ethical, technologically advanced, and rooted in the local territory.
La Foca looks to the future with the determination to transform every house into a symbol of concrete sustainability, where every choice — from materials to craftsmanship — helps build a harmonious balance between people, nature, and the economy.

Hilly residential neighborhood with modern houses, vineyard and solar panels.

CERTIFICATIONS: FROM MATERIALS TO EXPERTISE

TO BE THE ONLY ONES WHO GUARANTEE A BUILDING FOR 50 YEARS

Building today means taking responsibility for tomorrow. For this reason, every prefabricated wooden building we design, construct, and certify is made to last over half a century, maintaining consistent performance over time.
In Italy and throughout Europe, building certifications are essential to guarantee quality, safety, sustainability, and regulatory compliance of constructions. These certifications can pertain to materials, systems, entire buildings, or the skills of professionals.
For wooden construction, regulations are even stricter because they ensure not only structural safety but also environmental sustainability and the quality of materials used.
La Foca House holds all the necessary certifications to provide full guarantees to its clients: certification in the prefab sector is a fundamental requirement, first and foremost by law, and especially to ensure the safety of workers and then of users. It is not a document that can be purchased without verification by the issuing authority.

MATERIAL CERTIFICATIONS

CE Marking of Structural Wood (EN 14081-1)

Mandatory for wood used as a load-bearing structure (solid or laminated).
Certifies: mechanical strength, durability, fire reaction, service class Chiedi a ChatGPT

ETA (European Technical Assessment)

For non-standardized products
Allows CE marking on an individual basis.

PEFC or FSC Certifications

They certify that the wood comes from sustainably managed forests.

SEISMIC AND FIRE SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS

Seismic Certification

Every prefabricated system must be designed and verified according to the Technical Building Standards (NTC 2018) and Ministerial Decree 17/01/2018.
In seismic zones, validation of the prefabricated system by a structural engineer is required.

Fire Reaction and Resistance

Panels and structures must comply with the Euroclass classification (EN 13501-1).
For public buildings or those exceeding certain size limits, a REI certification (Resistance, Airtightness, Insulation) may be required.

CERTIFICATIONS OF THE PREFABRICATED CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Declaration of Performance (DoP)

Accompanies every CE-marked component.
Mandatory for industrialized construction systems (prefabricated walls, floors, roofs).

CERTIFICATIONS FOR COMPANIES BUILDING PREFABRICATED WOODEN STRUCTURES

ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 45001

Required for public tenders

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATIONS

CAM (Minimum Environmental Criteria)

Mandatory in public construction.
Require recyclable materials, low environmental impact, durability, and disassemblability.

Protocol ITACA / ARCA / LEED

ITACA: at the regional level (e.g., Trentino, Emilia-Romagna).
ARCA: assesses construction quality, safety, fire resistance, comfort, and durability.
LEED: an international standard for sustainable building, useful in private or commercial sectors.

MANDATORY CERTIFICATIONS ISSUED UPON COMPLETION OF WORK (SYSTEMS AND BUILDING DOCUMENTS)

Declarations of system compliance (electrical, heating, plumbing)

APE (Energy Performance Certificate) A4 for our “turnkey” constructions

Occupancy permit → Must be requested after inspections.

Technical report according to Law 10/91 → For energy consumption containment.

OUR GUARANTEE: 50 YEARS OF PEACE OF MIND

Only La Foca House can offer all this
We are the only company in Italy that can guarantee a prefabricated building for 50 years.
Why?
Because for over 65 years we have been designing, producing and assembling wooden houses that stand the test of time. Our villas are still perfect today, with no structural problems, no disputes. Only satisfaction from our clients.

A GUARANTEE THAT GOES BEYOND THE LAW
Italian law provides two levels of guarantee:

10 years for serious damage compromising the stability or habitability of the building.
2 years for minor defects or finishes, starting from delivery of the work.

Many companies stop there.
Some push up to 20 years.

WE GUARANTEE YOUR HOME FOR 50 YEARS.
Because we can

We use only certified materials
Every building is designed according to the strictest seismic and fire regulations.
Our production processes are ISO certified.
And above all: we have the real experience of generations building wooden houses.

BUILDING WITH LA FOCA HOUSE MEANS CHOOSING PEACE OF MIND.
FOREVER.

A SPECIAL CERTIFICATION FOR LA FOCA HOUSE

In 2008, we built the Institute for Medicine and Research, IRM in Grenoble (233 Rue Henri Fabre Isère, CROLLES – FRANCE).
A very special 700 sqm project for a cancer center. After many inspections, tests, and verifications, our building was certified HQA (prestigious environmental certification), becoming the first building with a wooden structure and BIO materials to receive HQA certification in France.