‘Ultra-Flexible Modular Self Build on a Shoestring’ 2015 ideas competition launched for National Custom & Self Build Week
2 May 2015
The organisers of the 2015 National Custom & Self Build Week have launched a unique ideas competition – open to anyone – to design an innovative ‘self build’ starter home that can be constructed for less than £40,000.
The home has to have one bedroom, a living room, kitchen and bathroom, and be capable of being easily expanded as the family grows. Later on, it could grow again to provide a multi-generational home, or contract as the family downsizes, or even be split into two.
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The first two ‘Self Build on a Shoestring’ competitions attracted lots of entries and both the winning designs are expected to be built. A number of houses based on the 2013 winning design have now secured planning permission in Scotland and Wales. And the team behind last year’s winning entry – a London-based collaboration between architect Levitt Bernstein, housing provider Circle Housing and self build community group Naked House (pictured) – is currently evaluating a number of potential sites in London to build it on.
This year’s competition has been designed to showcase innovative designs that will provide an adaptable home that will last a family a lifetime. So, the focus is on delivering a ‘modular’ solution that can either be fully self built, or part-built in a factory (to provide a watertight shell) that the self builder can then finish it off. The judges will be looking for clever approaches and innovative use of materials to keep the costs down, and they also want the homes to be sustainable and attractive too.
The competition was unveiled today as part of National Custom & Self Build Week – a campaign organised by the National Custom & Self Build Association (NaCSBA) and Grand Designs Live.
Full details of how to enter – including a comprehensive Competition Brief – are available on the NaCSBA website.
The judges will include Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, serial self builder Geoff Stow and the chair of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ self build committee, Luke Tozer.
The timeframe for the competition will give entrants until 18th September to submit their designs, with the winners being revealed at the Grand Designs Live exhibition at the NEC in early October. There is a £5,000 prize fund.
NaCSBA Chair Michael Holmes said: “Self build doesn’t just happen on television. Every year more than ten thousand of us commission a new home for ourselves, or build it with our bare hands. The National Custom & Self Build Association is dedicated to making that easier, cheaper and more accessible – which is why we’re running this competition again to shine the spotlight on affordable self build. We’re looking for ultra-flexible designs for a simple-to-build home that can be ‘grow’ or ‘contract’ throughout the lifetime of the occupants. This competition will appeal to all those brilliant architects, building companies and offsite manufacturing firms who believe that the future of housing is self build.”
Mr Holmes added: “The potential market for the winning design could be enormous. A recent Ipsos MORI poll suggested there are around six million people currently investigating the feasibility of undertaking a self build project, and one million of these are searching for or trying to acquire a plot of land.
“In the 1970s and 1980s, the UK led the way when it came to innovative, low cost self build homes, and hundreds of every inexpensive, simple-to-build homes were constructed. We believe there is a huge appetite in Britain, especially from young families on modest incomes, to build a truly affordable home for themselves. And we are confident we will get some wonderfully innovative designs.”
The competition will require the design to meet current UK Building Regulations. And all entrants will have to include a detailed cost report that itemises the materials used and their cost.
