A MODERN METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
The U-Build house has been designed and created using an innovative ultra-modern method known as CNC, which stands for Computer Numerical Control.
First, a plan is produced by Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. This is then converted into a series of numbers by a computer, which form the coordinates for a set of graphs. These are then connected to the cutting tools that shape the plywood parts.
As U-Builds roll out, Studio Bark, the company behind the concept, intends to use local CNC companies as much as possible. This is in marked contrast to the typical factory-based modular home manufacturers, who work from a fixed site and ship out their products on large trucks.
Computer-controlled tools carve out the plywood shapes one by one to form an ordered batch of ‘flat-pack’ pieces. These are then taken to the building site and erected on the chosen plot. Because each piece is relatively modest in size, it’s possible to do this using small delivery vans, making the process kinder to the environment.
‘The parts can be assembled on site using simple tools and commonly available fixings,’ says Nick Newman. ‘The resulting U-Build system has no requirement for lorries, cranes, warehouses or factories, and can be run as a ‘just in time’ process, meaning that elements can be delivered separately in a controllable time frame to suit the client.’
‘It’s encouraging that innovative uses of traditional and natural building materials are being developed to help with the crucial task of making homes more comfortable and energy efficient,’ says Chayley Collis, spokesperson for The Green Building Store in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.