Canadian Company to Construct Villa Carmelha without Cranes or Hoists

The Principality’s skyline has been recently overtaken by cranes.  New developments and constructions are quickly changing and updating Monaco.  But a company from Quebec will be constructing the Villa Carmelha without the use of cranes, scaffolding or hoists.

Upbrella Construction uses a unique technology for vertical height construction.  A new way to mount the structure and envelope of high buildings made of concrete or steel. The technique is known for its waste reduction, risk reduction, increased quality and increased safety.

Villa Carmelha will be an eight storey building created with a revolutionary process where everything begins with constructing the roof.  It will be a residential tower comprising 25 state-owned dwellings, 1 800 m², 47 metres high, costing €22.5 million.  Designed with the environment in mind, the building will be made of wood, complete with a rooftop terrace.  The construction will have a very low carbon footprint, sealed with the Mediterranean Sustainable Building label, gold level.

The Upbrella technique eliminates risks and increases productivity by first providing a shelter for construction.  The shelter will have an integrated lifting system and integrated handling systems.  As the floors are finished, the roof continues to climb upwards and the building grows from below.

One of the features of the new system is that the work is made to the height of a human, which greatly increases safety.  And since the work is done within closed walls, the noise and dust is greatly reduced, which is a plus for residents and has the least impact for the surrounding environment.

Buildings in Montreal have already been constructed using the Umbrella technique.  The company has completed the Rubic, a 10-storey, multiple-use building located in downtown Montreal, as well a project with 6 floors and 33 urban condos in Longueuil, Quebec.

Villa Carmelha will overlook the Boulevard d’Italie and Avenue de Saint-Roman and is expected to be finished by 2021.