The 14th Urban Rehabilitation Week in Porto, Portugal, recently kicked off with a session on industrialized construction. Experts emphasized that industrialization can help address labor shortages, reduce construction timelines, and increase scale. However, this transformation requires greater collaboration between designers, manufacturers, and builders from the project conception phase. Alexandre Lima reported on the event on November 2, 2026.
The session began with a discussion on the role of project and consulting companies in transforming the territory. António Monteiro, a member of the Portuguese Association of Project Designers and Consultants (APPC), highlighted the need to strengthen the capacity of architecture, engineering, and consulting firms. The APPC, founded in 1975, represents over 150 companies with a combined turnover of over €500 million. Monteiro emphasized that companies must organize and reinforce their capacity for joint work to achieve higher profitability.
The innovation in materials was another key topic discussed during the session. Paulo Portugal, technical director of MAPEI, stressed the need to adapt technical solutions to the demands of industrialized construction. Materials must keep pace with faster construction processes without compromising quality and durability. Portugal highlighted the importance of rapid curing and drying, simplified application, and integrating multiple functions into a single product.
Rodrigo Vilas-Boas, a partner at OODA Architecture, presented two projects, HOSO and HAVELAR, to demonstrate how architecture is adapting to new construction methods. Vilas-Boas emphasized the need to recover a closer relationship between architects and industry, integrating industrialization from the design phase rather than as an adaptation to predefined systems. He argued that standardization does not limit architectural expression and can, in fact, liberate space for creativity and aesthetic quality.
The discussion also focused on the importance of collaboration between manufacturers, designers, and builders. Gonçalo Martins, administrator of Perfisa, noted that industrialized construction can contribute to reinforcing buyer and financier confidence. By reducing risks, increasing comfort, and accelerating construction timelines, this model offers advantages that extend beyond construction to project financing.
Industrialized construction is gaining traction in Portugal's housing debate, driven by the need to increase supply, address labor shortages, and improve sector productivity. However, the transition from traditional methods to factory production requires more than just new technologies and materials. It demands trust throughout the value chain, greater coordination among stakeholders, and a change in how projects are designed and executed.
The event, which took place at the former Vasco da Gama Canning Factory in Matosinhos, brought together industry representatives to discuss the conditions necessary for industrialized construction to gain scale in Portugal. The debate highlighted the need for a new approach to construction, one that prioritizes collaboration, innovation, and quality.
Key points
- Industrialized construction can help address labor shortages and improve productivity in Mozambique.
- Greater collaboration between designers, manufacturers, and builders is necessary for successful industrialized construction.
- Standardization in construction can liberate space for creativity and aesthetic quality.
