Projects
U-BUILD: Manbey Pod Self-build system by Studio Bark, UK
As a society we are detached from our manufacturing processes, and so we are often not aware of the way that our buildings are produced and the amount of waste that comes out of the process. Introduction For every six or seven houses that are built in the UK, one house worth of waste will go to landfill or incineration (ref Duncan Baker Brown). This is especially relevant in a country where the Parliament and the RIBA have declared an environment and climate emergency. The U-Build project is an attempt to find an alternative to polluting and high energy ‘business as usual’ types of construction. It is a circular economy ready design solution that aims to reduce the energy used in building whilst also empowering end users through engagement. U-Build’s approach to construction can be thought of a bit like big Lego. It is a kit of standardized timber components that can be assumed from flat pack, and then stacked into myriad forms and arrangements, to create the main structural frame of a building. The system removes many of the difficulties associated with traditional construction, enabling individuals and communities to construct their own homes and buildings. The system uses precision CNC machining to create the kit of parts. The hybrid offsite approach removes many of the difficulties associated with traditional construction, harnessing the accuracy, speed and repeatability of offsite manufacture. At the same time, it reduces the scale and complexity of conventional offsite techniques,
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