Building a future in 15 days: exploring our first modular commercial s
In our previous blog post, we explored how modular construction addresses important challenges in Brazil. Today, we present our first completed project in the state of São Paulo: the “UrbanPop Pop-up Commercial Plaza”.
This project is more than just a building; it's a manifesto. It demonstrates to the market that, thanks to the production capacity of our factory in São Paulo and the efficient collaboration of our on-site installation team, modular construction can achieve speed, quality, and adaptability that far surpass traditional models.
I. Project Context: When Opportunity Meets Rigorous Challenges
“UrbanPop” is a short-term commercial project designed to offer showrooms for emerging brands. The investors approached us with three main challenges:
Rapid Implementation: The land needed to be leveled and ready for occupancy within three weeks, to take advantage of fleeting consumer trends.
Extreme Flexibility: The space needed to adapt to the individual needs of different brands (from clothing to specialty coffee shops) and be easily relocated and reused in the future.
Visual Appeal: The project needed to be innovative enough to become an attractive tourist spot and generate pedestrian traffic.
Given the traditional construction period of several months, this task becomes nearly impossible. But it is precisely at this stage that modular construction, combined with localized operations, can leverage its advantages. 
II. Solution: How the Local Team Simplifies Complexity
Our local Brazilian design and engineering team responded quickly, delivering three conceptual designs within 48 hours. The final design is a two-story structure comprised of 18 custom-built shipping container modules, containing eight independent shops and a central common area.
Our main response strategy is presented in the table below:
Customer Challenges
Our Modular Solution
Demonstration of the Advantages of Location
Rapid Deployment (3 Weeks)
Parallel Production at the Factory: 18 modules are prefabricated simultaneously at the São Paulo factory, with interior decoration, electrical wiring, and plumbing installations completed at the same time.
This avoids the uncertainties of international transport and customs clearance; the modules require only 3 hours of travel from the factory to the construction site, guaranteeing on-time completion.
Extreme Flexibility
Modular design "like LEGO": Standardized connectors allow for expansion and contraction of the space. All internal interfaces (water, electricity, network) are pre-installed, allowing the brand to utilize "plug and play" technology. The local team, familiar with Brazilian building codes and utility standards, ensured seamless integration with municipal requirements, minimizing the risk of non-compliance.
Visual and Functional: Customized Facade and Green Technology: Using vibrant color combinations, popular in Brazil, and integrating sunshades and small solar panels, achieving both aesthetics and energy efficiency.
Taking advantage of knowledge of the local climate (strong sunlight, rainy season), the integrated shading and waterproofing project was implemented in a single step, increasing the comfort and durability of the building.
The entire project, from design to final delivery, took only 15 working days. Essentially, the foundation construction and prefabrication of the modules at the factory were carried out simultaneously. After the foundation was completed, 18 fully finished modules were delivered from the factory to the construction site. The local installation team completed the lifting and assembly in just 3 days, as if they were building blocks.
III. Project Value: A Win-Win Outcome Beyond Architecture
Value Created for Customers: The project opened a week ahead of schedule, successfully capturing market attention, with visitor traffic in the first week exceeding expectations by 150%. Investors praised the project, stating: "This is not just building a development; it's creating a miracle for our business." Value for society and the environment: Throughout the construction process, waste was reduced by approximately 75%, minimizing the impact on the surrounding commercial environment and incorporating the principles of sustainable construction.
Conclusion: Your project could be the next benchmark. The "UrbanPop" project vividly demonstrates the immense power that can be unleashed when innovative modular construction technology is combined with a deeply rooted local professional team. We're not just building houses; we're creating time advantages, cost predictability, and limitless possibilities for our clients. Whatever the challenge—tight deadlines, complex sites, or high demands for quality and exclusivity in construction—our local team in Brazil is ready to offer a complete solution, from concept to delivery.
Next blog post: We'll take you on a detailed tour of our factory in São Paulo, where you'll see firsthand the "birth" of a module, from sheet steel to finished house, and discover how we control precision and quality down to the millimeter through industrialized production. Stay tuned!