Building in remote areas of Timor presents several challenges. Materials and skilled labour are limited, while conventional formwork is often used only once or produces uneven concrete surfaces. Through this initiative, EGI is exploring how reusable moulds and precast concrete elements can improve the quality and efficiency of local construction.
Precast elements are produced under more controlled conditions before being transported to the construction site. Reusable moulds allow us to create consistent elements with clean edges and smooth surfaces.
This approach offers several advantages:
Reusable moulds reduce the need to build new formwork for every element.
Consistent production improves precision and overall construction quality.
Smooth concrete surfaces can remain visible and often require no additional plastering.
Standardised elements can simplify and accelerate work on site.
Repeated production allows us to learn from each version and improve the design.
The weight of concrete elements remains one of the main limitations. Larger components can be difficult to transport and position, particularly in remote locations where lifting equipment and good road access are not always available.
Our development work therefore focuses not only on quality and reusability, but also on finding practical dimensions and designs that can be produced, transported, and installed under local conditions.
We have already developed and commissioned the production of several precast elements. These components are now being used in our own school construction projects, where they help us test their durability, handling, and suitability in real-world conditions.
The initiative has not yet been expanded into large-scale production. We continue to research, test, and refine different solutions as part of our ongoing work. The experience gained from each application helps us develop building methods that are better suited to the realities of construction in remote Timor.
