The modular construction market - Brazil

1.1 Definition and scope of study

The modular construction market refers to the decentralized construction of buildings. Assembly takes place in a different place from the subsequent location of the building, which allows the construction of buildings that meet specific or permanent needs: construction sites and offices, but also new forms of housing such as container houses. The modules or containers are usually made of steel, equipped with plumbing, heating and electric currents.

Modular construction has long been designed primarily for the construction industry but has become a worthy alternative to building individual homes and offices because it allows for better customization and significant energy savings.

There are many reasons for this success, but without a doubt, the speed of construction and the sustainable and ecological aspects play considerable roles. Modular construction is therefore present in the construction sector, the public sector (emergency accommodation, sports changing rooms, school facilities, etc.) and the private tertiary sector (offices, shops and kiosks, events, health, etc.).

This alternative, initially created in Europe and present in Brazil for at least 18 years, has proven to be an efficient way to erect buildings and build new establishments in a short time, both in the suburbs of urban centers and in rural areas. Even so, the Brazilian market still presents some kind of difficulty in understanding this technology. This is because, many times, knowledge and information about modular technology is still lacking, even among qualified laborers. In this context, the sector still seems to be in its early stages, with a low level of competitiveness, which favors the entry of new players despite the high initial costs.

In Brazil, more specifically for commercial constructions, the technology has been used mainly in the hotel business, with the intention of offering economical rooms in prefabricated containers, and the whole complex can be assembled and disassembled in a short period of time. In the residential segment, the technology has been used mainly in the economic-social segment, focused on low-income housing (in certain cases counting on the setting in My Home My Life).