CLT-Villa Compound: 300 Helical Piles for Timber Villas in Portugal

In 2022, Paalupiste’s Portuguese sister company Rotopile completed a project in Comporta that demonstrated the efficiency and environmental benefits of helical piles in a market where the method was still relatively unfamiliar. The project involved the design, manufacture, and installation of around 300 helical piles for a striking CLT villa complex. The buildings were constructed entirely from timber using Arolla’s innovative CLT system, combining clean-lined architecture with a strong focus on sustainability.

Situated on a sloping site in Comporta’s stunning landscape, the foundations had to provide both structural reliability and minimal environmental disturbance. Rotopile’s engineers, collaborating closely with Paalupiste, developed a solution that made optimal use of the local sandy soil. Load capacities exceeding 200 kN (with a safety factor of 2) were achieved using pile lengths of just 3–4 metres. This substantially reduced steel usage and shortened installation time compared to traditional concrete foundations or driven steel piles, which would have required depths of around 15 metres plus concrete grouting.

Installation was a joint effort between Paalupiste’s Finnish team and local specialists, using standard tracked excavators equipped with Digga drive heads. The method eliminated extensive excavation, formwork, reinforcement, and concrete pouring, delivering clear cost savings for the client.

Environmental impact was kept to a minimum: no major site preparation was required, and all existing trees and plantings on the plot remained undisturbed. The foundations’ carbon footprint was exceptionally low compared to conventional alternatives, aligning perfectly with the ecological ethos of CLT construction. Additionally, helical piles can be removed by unscrewing if needed, allowing the site to be restored almost to its original state.