Projects presented by Braskem spots the transforming power of architecture allied to the flexibility of modern constructive systems and of innovative products available in the market such as PVC.

For the first time, Braskem participates in the International Bienal of Architecture - 2005, that is open to visitors until December 11th in São Paulo, at the Parque Ibirapuera Bienal Pavillion. During the event, the company presents architectonic projects that use PVC as the main material applied in constructive systems and innovative products, showing the versatility and durability of this resin, especially in projects for civil construction.

In order to demonstrate these differentiated characteristics of PVC, Braskem is presenting, in partnership with Tigre, Vipal Medabil and the Institute of PVC, two environments with architectonic solutions applied in extremely contrasting situations. In Brazilian favelas (settlement of poorly built shacks), the bathroom - the dream of a million people - becomes reality with the "unifamiliar" sanitary module, bringing life quality to many Brazilian families. In Dubai, high standard houses that could use the same technology will be built for tourism business, what makes clear the versatility of the system.

In order to build these environments, Brakem counted on IAB - Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil (Brazilian Architects Institute), on Bienal Foundation, on organizers Pedro Cury and Gilberto Belleza and the plastic artist Celine Fakhouri, which created different scenarios that aim at leading the visitors to reflect upon the versatility of the constructive system and the products applied in them.

Contemporary world - solutions for poorly built houses.

This module presents a new solution for the implementation of bathrooms in poorly built houses, which can be built in only one day with competitive costs. Besides granting more comfort for low income population, this solution presented by Braskem reflects positively in the environment and also in the public health.

The important part of this initiative is that it has already become reality in Brazil. The project counts on installed prototypes in poor communities with t he support of Braskem. The project was developed, following the specifications of Banho de Saúde (Bath of Health) project of Funasa - Fundação Nacional da Saúde (National foundation of Health), that aims at motivating the implementation of sanitary installations in urban houses. Today there are 3,5 families without this facility in their residences (IBGE). An interesting characteristic of this new system is how easy the installation is and also the reduced maintenance required. The hydraulic structure can be visible, what makes it easier to train plumbers that live in the community.

Developed by the architect José Carlos Pierucceti, the bathroom, with approximately 1,70m2, has a 310 liters water reservoir, a sanitary vase, a sink, a shower and an external sink for clothes washing. In case the residents want, they can install a kitchen sink on the external side of the wall, increasing the space for other house chores. The innovative constructive system presents other characteristics that improve its possibility of utilization like the easiness for transportation to other places, the durability of the material, the simplicity for being cleaned and the reduced maintenance cost. Besides the bathroom, the solution in PVC also provides possibilities for draining and for sewerage system.

Architecture of the contemporary world - High standard houses.

Considering the construction of archipelagos in Dubai, in the Persia Gulf sea, for the implementation of condominiums and luxurious hotels, in one of the biggest and most challenging business of the contemporary world, the architects André Sá and Francisco Motta, David Bastos and James Lawrence Vianna developed for CNO - Construtora Norberto Odebrecht (Norberto Odebrecht Construction) three projects of houses over the water for competing with the neighborhood of "Water Homes", in the island of The Palm Jebel Ali, in the Arab Emirades.

In order to develop the projects, the different weather conditions were considered, with temperatures that range from 1 C to 50 C along the year; winds of until 160 km/hour and also the risks of earthquakes in an extremely aggressive environment. These situations required the best engineering solutions and special attention to the structural equilibrium of the houses and all material utilized. Braskem and its partners have presented competitive alternatives of PVC products for CNO evaluation, such as PVC revetments, specified to optimize the air-conditioning system, constructive systems, tubes and pipes, connections, linings, partitions, finishing, gutter pipes, among others.