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Houses built in just two hours! Lightwall is revolutionizing construction with a system of concrete and polystyrene panels, capable of building complete homes in record time.
Houses built in just two hours! Lightwall is revolutionizing construction with a system of concrete and polystyrene panels, capable of building complete homes in record time.
A construction Building a house in less than two hours may sound impossible, but a Brazilian company is challenging traditional construction methods. Imagine how quickly urbanization could advance if houses could be built so quickly.
This stunning innovation could dramatically change the housing market, allowing thousands of homes to be delivered in record time..
The secret lies in a system of concrete and polystyrene panels that, in addition to being lightweight, guarantee thermal and acoustic comfort.
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However, this is not the only advantage this method offers, and the technology behind this revolution is only just beginning to be explored.
At the heart of this transformation is the company Lightwall, which opened its second factory in Brazil in September 2024, in the city of Rio Claro, São Paulo.
Using lightweight concrete panels, the company managed to build a 42 m² house in an impressive 1h55.
The system used is similar to that of a well-known toy: Lego. Each panel has specific fittings, allowing for quick and efficient assembly, dispensing with conventional methods that require more time and materials.
How did this technology come about?
The inspiration to develop this innovative construction system came from a trip. According to Marcos Fernando Araújo, CEO of Lightwall Brasil, the idea came about during a visit by his father to Portugal, where he realized how much material was wasted in construction.
In 2016, the first container with concrete and Styrofoam panels was brought to Brazil. It was an immediate success, with the material being used in several projects across the country, including affordable housing, residential buildings, resorts and even colleges.
In 2021, Lightwall was selected in a process to develop new materials for the Minha Casa Minha Vida program, focused on affordable housing.
Since then, the company has expanded its operations and plans to open five more factories by 2025, with an expected investment of R$220 million.
Currently, the two factories already in operation have the capacity to produce enough material to build 20 affordable homes per year, according to information from the company itself.
What makes the material so special?
The blocks developed by Lightwall are composed of a mixture of concrete and polystyrene, which results in a material that is much lighter than traditional concrete, but which still offers excellent thermal and acoustic insulation.
The external part of the blocks is made of a cement board, composed of cement, cellulose and other components, in addition to undergoing a waterproofing process that guarantees durability and resistance to the elements.
One of the great advantages of the system, according to Araújo, is the customization of the size of the blocks, which can be adjusted according to the needs of the project.
The process of assembling the walls is extremely simple, as the blocks have a male-female fit., eliminating the need for large quantities of mortar. A running mass is enough to fix them together, which also contributes to saving materials and reducing construction time.
Styrofoam house: saving time and cost
Lightwall promises its technology reduces construction time by five times compared to traditional methods.
Furthermore, the costs are also drastically lower, and can be up to four times cheaper than conventional techniques.
This means that, in a period of three months, it is possible to build an impressive number of houses, something that was proven in a pilot project carried out in Rio Claro.
Gabriel Menegatti, director of the construction company MNGT, which operates in partnership with Lightwall, shared his experience:
“We had four thousand plots of land to build on in Rio Claro, but if we were to use conventional methods, we wouldn’t be able to do it. Lightwall emerged as a viable alternative, and we managed to build 100 houses in just three months".
This result demonstrates the enormous potential of this technology to meet the demand for housing, especially in regions with a large housing deficit.
Portable buildings and promising partnerships
In addition to residential buildings, Lightwall also invests in solutions for portable commercial establishments.
According to the company, the material is light enough for the buildings to be transported in trucks, further speeding up the process.
A partnership with Steel Corp, owned by businessman Roberto Justus, is already underway to develop this type of project.
Other planned innovations include plates that allow wiring to pass through inside and blocks that leave the factory painted and textured, ready to be installed.
This evolution promises to make the constructive process even more practical and faster, with less need for additional finishing, further reducing the time and costs of the work.
A new horizon for civil construction
The speed and efficiency of this technology put Lightwall at the forefront of innovation in Brazilian construction..
If until now, the sector was known for slow and expensive processes, with large amounts of material waste, the solutions developed by the company offer a sustainable and affordable alternative for different income brackets.
Affordable housing, commercial projects and even luxury developments can benefit from this modern approach, which combines economy, agility and customization.
Is Brazil ready to embrace this revolution and transform its housing scenario?
With so much innovation on the horizon, the question remains: how can this system impact the way we live and build our cities?
I think it's wonderful, innovative, and could be a viable consumer item for many more people.
I really wanted to build, but it's very difficult, who knows, with this innovation I might have a chance to have my own house.
I'm interested, I live in Fortaleza
I would like more information
I would like to know the value
Wonderful. Practicality, saving money and headaches, possibilities of materializing the homes of thousands of people. Congratulations researchers. Innovation is the way.