How integrated BIM design and the elimination of 99% of structural transfer beams maximized profitability and spatial fluidity for Construtora Betton’s coastal development.
Project Description
Combining striking aesthetic language with a highly profitable business model remains the ultimate goal of real estate development. Residencial La Vie, a premium residential project by Construtora Betton located steps from the sea, achieves this balance through an intelligent synthesis of architectural vision and heavy structural engineering.
Designed under a comprehensive, end-to-end scope by WGB Arquitetura e Engenharia, the building was conceived from the outset to deliver a distinctive, desirable exterior while optimizing internal floor plans to ensure rapid sales velocity and an elevated Gross Development Value (GDV / VGV).
Design with Purpose: Façade Presence and Market Liquidity
Designing near the ocean requires an architectural language that commands attention without sacrificing sophistication. Residencial La Vie features clean contemporary lines, expansive glazed openings, and a dynamic play of volumes that creates an immediate visual impact from the street.
Behind the elegant exterior lies a meticulous study of layout optimization. Recognizing that buyers demand spatial comfort while developers require commercial liquidity, WGB focused on eliminating unused square footage, maximizing natural day-lighting, utilizing cross-ventilation, and incorporating generous gourmet balconies. The result is a highly marketable product designed to appeal equally to end-users and real estate investors.
Structural Innovation: Eliminating 99% of Transfer Beams
The true engineering achievement of Residencial La Vie lies hidden within its structural skeleton. In multi-story residential buildings, shifting layouts between parking/amenity podiums and upper residential floors typically demands massive, costly, and time-consuming concrete transfer beams.
By implementing continuous, multidisciplinary BIM (Building Information Modeling) coordination between the architectural team and structural engineers from the conceptual phase, WGB achieved an extraordinary milestone: the elimination of 99% of structural transfer beams.
This structural optimization delivered direct financial and operational benefits:
Significant Structural Cost Reduction: Substantially lowered concrete volume and steel consumption per square meter, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars during the shell and core phase.
Optimized Headroom and MEP Integration: By removing deep transfer beams in common areas and parking levels, spatial utility was maximized and the routing of MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) networks became seamless.
Accelerated Construction Schedule: Continuous vertical column alignments allowed the structure to rise at a record pace, shortening overall construction timelines and reducing site overhead.
Multidisciplinary BIM Coordination and Value Engineering
Through 3D BIM spatial coordination, Residencial La Vie reached the construction site completely clash-free. Mechanical runs, electrical risers, and structural components were fully aligned prior to excavation, ensuring uniform ceiling heights across all apartments and preserving the spacious feel of the interiors.
The collaboration on the Residencial La Vie project proves that exceptional architecture does not need to inflate construction costs. When driven by technical intelligence, multidisciplinary design enhances product liquidity, mitigates hidden site risks, and substantially expands the developer’s profit margin.
