The Village at Interbuild explores cutting edge construction methods
(16/10/2008)

The Village at Interbuild 2008 is a new show feature, exploring cutting edge construction methods to meet both private and public sector requirements. Comprising a school, retail unit, eco house and innovative examples of volumetric modular builds, The Village taps into ongoing industry issues including the government’s Building Schools for the Future agenda; affordable and increased housing provisions; as well as harnessing more sustainable solutions.

Hosted within Hall 5’s structural section, each of the elements will be erected especially for the five day event but will then go on to be used in real life projects at the close of the show.

In terms of the housing content within The Village, the first - Interbuild’s Eco House - is an example of a sustainable, three-storey, family home. Designed by Woodward Smith Architects and constructed and developed by Loosemore Chartered Building Company, the timber frame structure – provided by Taylor Lane - will eventually be rolled out across a private development in Barnstable, Devon, striving for ‘Eco Town’ status.

“Our aim is to showcase realistic solutions for the here and now,” says Interbuild’s Senior Marketing Manager, Sam Matthews. “While many of the builds you see at other shows are constructed just for the duration and demolished at the end, all of these units are being transferred to live locations. This gives visitors a unique opportunity to view the very latest advancements that are actually being employed across commercial and local authority projects in an exhibition environment. Furthermore. because the buildings will be only partially complete, spectators can appraise the actual structural components.”

Meanwhile, exploring the contribution that offsite construction methods can make to the ongoing house building crisis, Elements Europe is showcasing an innovative volumetric modular build as part of The Village.

“While the developers are currently aiming for Code Level 5 compliance, the key draw is that this is an achievable ‘Eco’ build designed for a real-life application,” says David Richards of David Richards Associates, who is project managing the show home’s stint on-site at Interbuild.

Aimed at the first-time-buyer market, this example of affordable housing is based on a more cost effective solution for the superstructure. A timber-based product utilising low-grade, indigenous timber, the finished structure will be very lightweight and built to passive house standards, incorporating advanced insulation methods and offering high levels of air tightness. This new technology is being employed on a site in Wales at the beginning of 2009, where 38 affordable units are set to be installed.

“The Elements House shows how high end specification builds can be achieved using low cost construction methods,” says Chief Operating Officer for Elements Europe, Darren Richards. “Furthermore, with a prepared foundation in place the structure can be built on site within a day and in a live project would be ready for occupancy within a week.”

Also demonstrating the potential for offsite construction, both the school and retail unit are being supplied by pioneering companies championing volumetric modular building methods.

Modular structure specialists, Built Offsite, are supplying the bespoke, open plan classroom facility which will occupy a substantial 200 metre square space; while Yorkon – a subsidiary of Portakabin and suppliers to some of the UK’s leading supermarkets – are providing the steel frame retail unit.

Interbuild 2008 takes place from Sunday 26 to Thursday 30 October at Birmingham’s NEC.