Adding to an existing structure can be a tricky undertaking, especially when there’s historic value attached to it. After all, it?s nearly impossible to find the exact same materials that were originally used, let alone materials that have aged and weathered in a similar way. Designers might find themselves attempting faux finishes in an effort to camouflage the addition, or having no choice but to accept imperfect matches.

Still, chances are they aren?t going to fool anyone. That?s why so many architects choose to design additions in contrasting styles, with no attempt to hide the transition between the old and new. But what happens in the future, when those additions look dated and are no longer desirable"

That?s where modular systems come in, like the flat pack U-build kit by Studio Bark. Designed to make the construction process ?truly affordable and truly self-built,? the system consists of slatted wooden panels that are delivered to a client?s doorstep in flat-pack form. They come with easy-to-follow instructions, and they can be assembled with little more than a mallet and a drill. The wooden boxes bolt together to create a rigid frame. Crucially, it’s all easy to disassemble when its presence is no longer desirable.
In Essex, England, the first extension to be built using the U-Build system has just been completed. ?The Mill Lane Project? is a first-floor extension of an 1830s Georgian cottage facing a garden. Once the prepwork was ...