A Brazilian modular housing system is converting local eucalyptus into prefabricated parts that can be shipped and assembled with minimal on‑site disruption, offering a potential route to faster, lower‑impact housing delivery.
Developed by Modular BV in partnership with Crosslam, the system produces beams, columns, walls and slabs from Brazilian glulam and cross-laminated timber. Wood Central understands that components are manufactured in controlled factory conditions using formaldehyde‑free adhesives to achieve tight dimensional tolerances and consistent quality.
The system is built around a repeatable 5‑by‑5 metre module that can be configured as bedrooms, kitchens, living spaces or balconies, allowing a constrained parts palette to deliver a wide range of layouts and unit sizes. Interiors favour exposed timber finishes, while external façades are adaptable to context, offering options such as stained timber, corrugated metal, and shingles. This, in turn, enables projects to respond to climate and aesthetic requirements without interrupting the production line.
Production and site assembly are coordinated through a Building Information Modelling workflow that integrates structure, electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems from CNC machining through to erection. Developers say the digital coordination reduces rework, accelerates manufacturing and preserves consistent tolerances across builds. Lightweight modules are designed for rapid on‑site assembly, generating less waste and limiting landscape disturbance compared with conventional stick‑built construction.
Two model variants are being marketed: a larger unit with deep eaves and extensive glazing to enhance daylighting and natural ventilation, and a compact version for constrained or sloping sites that can be stacked to form two‑storey arrangements. Both rely on the engineered panels’ mechanical strength and thermal properties to meet structural and insulation demands in tropical and subtropical environments.
Sustainability features are integral to the product. Modules are designed to accommodate rooftop solar, rainwater harvesting and basic on‑site wastewater treatment, so essential services are integrated from delivery rather than retrofitted. By sourcing from reforested eucalyptus, the developers aim to regionalise supply chains and lower embodied carbon compared with imported engineered timbers.
The initiative arrives as off‑site manufacture and regional material sourcing gain traction among builders and policymakers seeking scalable, lower‑impact housing solutions. The test for Modular BV and Crosslam will be proving performance and affordability at scale across varied regulatory frameworks while maintaining resilient supply chains.
