Self build

Nest House is a single-storey home constructed using Studio Bark’s modular and dismantlable U-Build system. The project was built by students as part of the pioneering student build programme No Building As Usual, conceived as an effective way to teach participants about sustainable design and alternative working practices. Caption The client’s aspiration was for a home that would cater to their long-term physical needs, whilst accomplishing a low carbon footprint. The fully accessible home is free of concrete and steel and instead uses reclaimed timber foundations, and timber roof and floor beams designed by U-Build and Structure Workshop. These design decisions, alongside many others, have created a ‘circular&lsquo... More

The cabin echoes our early construction experiences. Here, we are developing the shelter around a unique material: wood. The material allows integration and discretion in the landscape. The rhythm is mimetic. The composition is enough to shelter from the wind, looks, or rain. This simple gesture creates a limit, an invitation and a panorama. The trees and the shelter don’t touch each other but interact and create vertical and horizontal limits. Caption The gap in between the two walls invites the walker to enter the shelter. Inside, the atmosphere is warm, you can stand, sit, lie down, rest. The trees foliage filters the sun rays. Our imagination is summoned, reminds us of childhood memories. Sitting, leaning against the wall, o... More

The five self-built experimental houses at Svartlamon, a project initiated by the young architectural practice Nøysom arkitekter while they were still students, explores how architects can work towards a more frugal and sustainable use of resources by creating open-ended architectural frameworks that facilitate man’s natural adaptive capacity. By encouraging self-building and user participation, the result has not only been five houses with a square meter price of one fifth of market price, but also a varied and rich living environment with a unique architectural quality.The architectural concept was developed in a process spanning two years. The architects first created a sketch project with participation from the local community, and late... More

A new community Agriculture & Technology centre has launched in Krong Samraong, Cambodia, designed as a collaboration between Squire & Partners and SAWA for the Green Shoots Foundation. Built by local contractors, farmers and 16-25 year olds over a four-month period - assisted by volunteers from the UK - the development provides education in agricultural technologies to support children and adults in the local community, and facilitates opportunities for enterprise. The masterplan elements are designed to be responsive to the tropical climate – with raised floors to negate flood risk, screens to diffuse sunlight whilst providing ventilation, and overhanging roof eaves for the rainy season – as well as utilising local resources,... More

A three-storey chalet-style family home in Beaconsfield featuring- Iroko timber louvres,- Grey aluminium fascias,- Composite decking,- Dark grey aluminium framed windows and- Frameless glass balustrades. More