Faced with the growing shortage of affordable housing in Portugal — and in many other countries across Europe — industrialized construction has begun to establish itself as a solution capable of structurally transforming the real estate sector. Cost reduction, faster execution, and strict control of deadlines and quality are some of the advantages of this approach, which promises to bring more homes to the market — and at more affordable prices — in a short period of time. First Properties, which emerged from the evolution of the Sunny Casais joint venture, stands out in this segment and aims to position itself as an Iberian benchmark in this new real estate development paradigm.

The investment in the industrialization of construction — with modular solutions, hybrid concrete and wood systems, and a strong prefabrication component — allows the company to respond agilely to the demands of a rapidly changing market, without compromising on quality or sustainability, guarantees Luísa Figueiredo from First Properties in this interview with idealista/news.

“Industrialized construction is one of the most effective tools to accelerate the response to housing shortages, especially in pressured urban contexts. From a development perspective, it allows us to bring residential products to the market faster, better aligned with demand, and with greater cost and deadline control,” emphasizes the executive.

In a context where building more and better has become a social urgency, industrialization thus emerges as a model capable of providing real answers. This system minimizes waste, reduces environmental impact, and enables projects with more sustainable margins — both for developers and consumers — allowing “the scaling of solutions with quality and repeatability.”

This is how the concept of "First Studios" was born, a model based on the logic of micro-living. Through it, the company offers “compact but highly functional housing units, integrated into buildings that offer large, well-equipped common areas for shared use,” allowing versatility of application, as it “can be implemented in residential projects, for rental purposes, or even combined with hospitality units.”

First Properties was born from the evolution of Sunny Casais. What motivated this name and positioning change?

The change to First Properties is a natural reflection of the evolution of our strategy and positioning in the sector. Sunny Casais was created as a joint venture between Grupo Casais and Sunny Real Estate, with the goal of exploring innovative solutions in real estate development. Over time, this vision has matured, and industrialized construction has become central to our activity.

Until now, we mainly operated in the B2B segment, with a strong presence in hospitality and multidisciplinary projects. With the brand’s growth and portfolio diversification, we felt the need to create a stronger and more transversal identity that would allow us to communicate more effectively with the B2C audience as well, and assert our vision to a broader market.

This rebranding is not just a name change but a clear affirmation of our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and efficiency. We want to lead the transformation of the real estate sector, challenging traditional models, putting people and the planet at the center of decisions, and developing integrated solutions that address current and future housing challenges.

What, in your view, are the main advantages of industrialized construction compared to traditional construction?

For a developer like First Properties, industrialized construction represents a strategic lever to make projects faster, more efficient, and sustainable. This model allows us to respond to today's market challenges with greater speed, quality, and sustainability — which translates into tangible benefits for both builders and residents.

Firstly, we highlight the efficiency and predictability of the process. By using prefabricated components in a controlled environment, we can significantly reduce construction times, control costs, and minimize deviations on-site.

Moreover, we are talking about a more sustainable and circular model. Industrialized construction reduces material waste, promotes component reuse, and reduces noise pollution and impact on surrounding areas. It also increases safety on-site and reduces the risk of accidents.

Finally, this type of construction allows for greater scalability and repeatability of solutions, while maintaining high-quality standards and adapting to the demands of different markets. It is an approach that combines the best of engineering and architecture with technological innovation, ensuring a more sustainable future for the sector — and more affordability for citizens.

The hybrid concrete/wood model has been one of your bets. What are the advantages and limitations of this solution?

The hybrid model is one of the main innovations we have been implementing and perfectly reflects our approach to industrialized construction. This solution combines the structural solidity of concrete with the sustainable and lightweight properties of engineered wood, resulting in a construction system that is robust, efficient, and environmentally responsible.

Among the main advantages, we highlight the significant reduction of the carbon footprint — up to 60% compared to buildings made solely of concrete. We use only about one-third of the traditional concrete, complemented with certified wood, which contributes to material circularity and a lower environmental impact throughout the building's life cycle.

As for limitations, it is important to recognize that there are still cultural and technical barriers to the large-scale adoption of this model. Regulations do not always keep pace with innovation, and there is still progress to be made in specialized workforce training and licensing process adaptation. However, we believe this is the future, and we are committed to leading this transition.

The shortage of housing is a reality in the Iberian Peninsula. How can industrialized construction help solve this problem?

Industrialized construction is one of the most effective tools to accelerate the response to housing shortages, especially in pressured urban contexts. From a development perspective, it allows us to bring residential products to the market more quickly, tailored to demand, and with greater cost and timeline control — two critical factors for ensuring affordability.

The ability to develop projects based on efficient construction systems gives us the agility needed to respond to urban opportunities, both in city centers and in growing areas. At the same time, it allows for the scaling of quality, repeatable solutions, ensuring a broader and more consistent response to housing needs.

The "First Studios" concept is a response to this reality. Can you explain how it works and who the target audience is?

The "First Studios" concept emerges as an innovative response to new housing needs and urbanization challenges, especially in large urban centers where space is limited and housing costs are prohibitive. This model is based on the logic of micro-living: compact but highly functional housing units, integrated into buildings that offer large, well-equipped common areas for shared use.

It works as follows: each resident has a private, optimized space — with all essential functionalities — and shares leisure areas such as community rooms, gyms, coworking spaces, or green areas with other residents. This model fosters a community environment, encouraging interaction and efficient resource use, without compromising privacy.

The target audience of "First Studios" consists mainly of young professionals, students, digital nomads, and couples starting out — people who value location, mobility, smart design, and sustainability. It is an urban, cosmopolitan, and demanding segment looking for practical, affordable solutions aligned with a more flexible and conscious lifestyle.

In addition, this concept allows for versatile applications: it can be implemented in residential rental projects or even combined with hospitality units. This flexibility also makes the model attractive from an investment perspective, being adaptable to different urban contexts, regions, and user profiles.

Can industrialization actually contribute to reducing the final cost of housing for the consumer?

Yes, and that is precisely one of the great advantages of industrialization as a tool for real estate development. By designing our projects from the start for industrialized systems, we can reduce operational costs and minimize inefficiencies typical of traditional construction.

More importantly, we can deliver more affordable products without compromising quality, design, or sustainability.

Additionally, industrialization allows us to better plan the project's profitability, reducing the risk of delays that ultimately impact the final price for the consumer.

In the long term, the benefits also extend to the operation phase: more efficient buildings, with lower maintenance and greater durability, mean lower total costs for residents or investors.

You have projects in Oeiras, Montijo, Guimarães, Gaia, Olhão, and Tres Cantos. What other markets (national or international) are in your plans for the coming years?

Our focus will continue to be the Iberian Peninsula, where we already have a solid presence. We intend to expand our activity in urban contexts with transformation potential, where our residential, tourism, or investment solutions can add value to the local market.

More than being just in the major city centers, we seek opportunities in emerging urban areas that are well-connected and have sustained demand. We closely monitor mobility dynamics, urban reconversion, and new ways of living — and it is at this intersection that we want to continue operating.

How has the Spanish market reacted to hybrid and modular construction?

The reception in Spain has been very positive. The Spanish market is increasingly open to innovative solutions that accelerate the response to urban and housing challenges, and hybrid and modular construction has established itself as a solid alternative to traditional construction.

A good example is the B&B HOTEL Madrid Tres Cantos project, developed by First Properties and built by the UTE (Temporary Consortium of Companies) between CASAIS ESPAÑA DE INGENIERIA Y CONSTRUCCIÓN S.L. (EIC) and ACR CONSTRUCCIONES, SAU, which was recognized in 2024 at the Re Think Hotel awards as one of the 10 best sustainability and hotel rehabilitation projects in progress.

This recognition highlights the transformative potential of hybrid construction — not only for its speed of execution but also for its robustness, flexibility, and environmental performance.

The experience in Spain has shown that the CREE model — which combines concrete and engineered wood — is perfectly adaptable to the local reality, even in multi-story buildings with various functions such as housing, hospitality, or mixed-use spaces. The market increasingly values projects that combine efficiency, design, and sustainability — and that is exactly what we bring to Spain.

What are currently the biggest challenges to the large-scale adoption of industrialized construction?

One of the main challenges is still the change of mindset in the real estate sector. As developers, we feel that many stakeholders remain attached to conventional models, reluctant to take risks with innovative solutions, even when these already demonstrate clear advantages.

It is a systemic change challenge — and it is in this process that we want to be at the forefront.

At the regulatory level, licensing processes do not always keep up with innovation. Legislation is often still designed for traditional construction methods, which can complicate or delay the approval of projects with industrialized components or hybrid solutions.

Finally, industrialization requires a new approach to the value chain: from design to construction, including engineering, architecture, and manufacturing. This implies specialized technical training, digitalization, and greater integration between all players involved. It is a systemic change challenge — and that is where we want to be at the forefront.

What is First Properties' main goal for the next five years?

Our main objective for the next five years is to establish First Properties as a benchmark in sustainable and industrialized real estate development. We want to lead the sector's transformation, demonstrating that it is possible to build more and better — faster, more efficiently, and with less environmental impact.

We want to strengthen our presence in Portugal and Spain, expanding the number and scale of residential, tourism, and investment projects we develop, always focusing on innovation, sustainability, and quality.

At the same time, we aim to strengthen our B2C positioning, consolidating a brand recognized for innovation, the quality of its projects, and the positive impact it generates in the communities where it operates.

In the coming years, we will continue to invest in digitalization, sustainability, and collaboration with strategic partners, with the goal of designing integrated, flexible, and future-oriented solutions.