2 Minutes Video: https://youtu.be/EVfAQoPY4gc
At Casas Em Movimento we design, build and deliver Buildings In Motion (BIMs) which rotate to follow the Sun, but which can also be controlled by smartphones, allowing different spatial organizations and views throughout the day, while producing more clean energy (solar) than they consume (the surplus clean energy can be used to power electric vehicles).
Casas Em Movimento’s technology is patented in 5 continents, and it is unique in how it integrates different concepts (the rotation of the buildings, the tilting of the photovoltaic covers, and the software (with AI)).
We develop both the hardware (the buildings) and software (including AI that allows the building to maximize the production of clean energy, the energy consumption, and also, to adapt its behaviors to the inhabitants’ routines).
In a world where energy demands are still growing, we aim to provide buildings that produce energy for themselves and their associated needs (e.g.: homes/stores that can also supply electric vehicles; Resorts/restaurants that can be self-sufficient; etc.), but that are also intelligent and able to adapt to their location, the environment and its users.
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What differentiates us?
The way we combine Kinetic Architecture (movement), Passive Solar Architecture (turn the openings towards the Sun as the main source of heat and natural lighting, or towards the wind | shade, as sources of passive climate control) and Intelligent Architecture (Casa Em Movimento incorporates AI to adapt to the needs of those who inhabit it, the surroundings and the climate), allowed us to create:
– Self-sufficient buildings that produce enough energy for themselves;
– Energy-positive buildings (buildings that can not only power themselves but also the means of transport of those who inhabit them);
– Circular economy: we designed buildings that can be removed from their original location and then be rebuilt somewhere else;
We also believe in the power of aesthetics. Aesthetics are not just a nice to have. We believe that beauty – and in this context, the beauty of architecture – also has an influence on our life, on our well-being and on how we live our buildings and our cities. For this reason, since the conception of our project it was important for us to build something that was sustainable but also beautiful. Some key aspects that we would like to highlight are:
– the usage of photovoltaic panels not as appendices to the building but as a skin that covers and nourishes the building itself;
– the movement of the building – not only its rotation but also the tilting of the photovoltaic cover – which allows different views and different spatial organizations through the day;
– and the choice of materials as we look for materials that combine these characteristics as much as possible. Being this project located in Portugal, the biggest supplier of cork in the world, and given its properties in terms of sustainability, reusability and insulation, but also given its beauty and aesthetics, this is an example of material we frequently explore.
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Our Business Model:
Currently, our revenue streams are primarily derived from renting our Buildings In Motion. Our inaugural client, Iberdrola, has been instrumental in validating this business model. In addition to this, we are actively exploring several new business opportunities that focus on renting our buildings for Smart Cities, further expanding our footprint in this innovative sector.
We also generate revenue from the sale of our buildings. For instance, Viana do Castelo has a New European Bauhaus project approved, which includes the purchase of a Building In Motion, showcasing the growing market interest in our products.
However, our main focus is on licensing our technology. In this scenario, our revenue model is structured around a combination of a front payment and ongoing royalties. The front payment is essential for us to share our proprietary know-how with our partners and includes one Building In Motion to be used as a showroom. Subsequently, we will receive royalties on the buildings built or sold by the partner, ensuring a continuous revenue stream as our technology is adopted and implemented across various projects. This dual approach allows us to scale our business effectively while fostering strong, collaborative relationships with our partners. We are currently in an advanced stage of negotiations for such a partnership for Northern Europe.