The Casais Group has won yet another construction sector award in the Expresso\u2019s 2024 Pr\u00e9mios do Imobili\u00e1rio awards, which focus on real estate, for its The First project, located in Guimar\u00e3es. The First came out tops in the Sustainable Construction\/Architecture category for its notable economic, social and environmental impact project, bringing its prize count to four in these awards.<\/p>\n
The First is the first building of timber-hybrid construction<\/a> (wood + concrete) on the Iberian Peninsula. Developed by Sunny Casais and designed by architect M\u00e1rio Fernandes, this project sought to usher in new standards of sustainability and innovation in the construction sector.<\/p>\n The Casais Group building results in a 59% carbon footprint reduction, thereby extending the useful life of the building, due in large part to the possibility of reusing modular and other components after deconstruction in line with circular economy principles. The First<\/a> also resulted in a significant drop in the amount of concrete (33%) and steel (41%) used in construction.<\/p>\n Aside from this positive environmental impact, The First also measured up on the social aspects. Industrialised construction throughout the entire building process enabled the project to reduce noise by more than 70%, thus minimising the impact on the surrounding communities \u2013 a clear example of Casais Group’s commitment to the quality of urban life.<\/p>\n