The Modular Building Kit You Can Have Delivered To Your Door

The words modular, self-build and adaptable often pose as challenges within the construction industry but now, thanks to London architectural practice Studio Bark, and structural engineer Structure Workshop, a lot of questions are being answered. In providing the resources to design your own space online, and have it delivered to your door, they are seeking to shift the mindset of developers, homeowners and communities alike. By removing the hassle, reducing the cost and by making owners more accountable for the construction process, this could provide a positive future for built environments.

With the benefits not only showcased in its functionality and affordability, the system has also been created to ensure the environmental impact is as minimal as possible.

Named U-Build, the modular system is designed primarily for those looking to self-build, making it more accessible regardless of their former construction experience. The process begins with a free design consultation and quotation over the phone, to which the customer doesn't have to commit. It then moves onto stage two once the order is confirmed and the kit of parts are shipped, directly to the door. The timeframe from order to delivery, for a U-Build home, is currently around four months.

With a set of simple instructions to follow, owners can create homes, garden studios, temporary spaces, walls and even furniture from the configurable system. Encouraging individuals and communities to think differently about their homes and be more conscious as to their development, the adaptability of its application provides many solutions to both interiors and exteriors.

Consisting of flat-pack building blocks made from OSB, Spruce or Birch, only a drill and mallet is required, with the system designed for 1-2 people to create structures with ease. Remote support, on-site training and assistance can also be employed if needed. The boxes bolt together and for outdoor use, membranes are supplied for resistance. Additional cladding can be added for extra protection, with natural sheep wool provided for insulation. This selection of non-toxic substances ensures that the materials can be recycled easily if needed, whilst also creating a healthier environment for the user.

Since launching the system, Studio Bark have turned heads within the construction industry, winning the RIBA East Award in 2019 and the AYA Architect of the Year Award in 2018 as well as being noted for their radical approach to the challenges we face in overcrowded urban areas.

Creating the components with CNC machinery, the Studio’s workshop is keen to minimise internal waste in any way possible. By producing offsite, it ensures maximum accuracy can be applied and any errors can be minimised. Simultaneously, any waste is kept clean from contamination so it can be recycled with ease if needed. With the frame consisting of standardised components, if a part gets damaged it can also be individually replaced.

When addressing the carbon footprint of the construction of a U-Build house, a study by environmental consultants Atmos Lab revealed that the embodied carbon would be 50% of what an equivalent house built with traditional construction methods would contain. Alongside this, Studio Bark uses FSC and PEFC certified materials such as Riga Birch plywood and WISA Spruce plywood offering full traceability - a habit urgently needed within the construction industry.

With their innovative approach to construction, the team are also seeking to disrupt the processes around community housing and workspaces. Diverting developers away from a contractor-led approach, this self-build alternative could encourage communities to become more involved in the construction process giving them more connection to the spaces they live in. And, if needs or circumstances change, it can easily adapt with them.

The beauty of U-Build lies in its adaptive functionality. Over a period of time, needs often change for homeowners and extensions, or alterations made, can sometimes become defunct. However, in this instance, you never have to think to long-term about what you want to build. At any point the system can be easily disassembled, re-configured or moved to a different location. Minimising waste through this circular approach also encourages users to be more creative in their designs acknowledging the fact they can change it if needed.

With urgent alterations needed to reduce our impact within construction and urban development, this system could provide solutions to some of the questions we face without any compromise on style or quality.