18 November 2015
Plans have been submitted to build a flexible modular eco-home in Bristol – which could pave the way for self builders to access more affordable and flexible housing options in the near future.
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Bristol-based social enterprise Ecomotive, which offers support to self builders in creating their own sustainable homes and communities, has designed the ‘SNUG home’ as a simple solution to help get more community-led housing projects off the ground. Ecomotive has collaborated with a range of other organisations in the design of the SNUG, including architects Barton Willmore and GCP.
The energy-efficient SNUG building system uses prefabricated modules that can flexibly adapt in size and layout with the ability to add extra modules at a later date to expand living areas. The home is stackable and moveable, and is built with natural and biodegradable building products.
The SNUG home can either be bought as a part-built SNUG shell from £25,000 which self builders can finish off themselves, or as a finished home.
Ecomotive is seeking planning permission to create a temporary exhibition site close to Bristol city centre, which will enable members of the public to view the house and to explore ideas about how self build and custom build can help solve the housing crisis in the UK. It is hoped that the exhibition space will open towards the end of this year and continue to operate during 2016. A number of talks and events will also run alongside the construction and exhibition of the home over the next few months.
Ecomotive director Jackson Moulding said: “We’ve designed the SNUG home to be as simple and as flexible as possible so that it can be adapted to a range of designs and uses. We are looking forward to showcasing our prototype in Bristol over the next year and using it to kick-start initiatives for truly sustainable homes and communities that are built by the residents themselves.”
It is anticipated that the SNUG shells and homes will be available from early to mid 2016.
