Bio-based Prefab Modular Building System

Green Light Trust (GLT) provide training and support for people suffering mental illness, near woodlands and forestry environments. Natural Building Systems were commissioned to design and manufacture the wall and roof elements for a new building, in an under-used car park adjoining woodland near Martlesham, owned by Suffolk County Council. The 100m2 scheme is comprised of two separate buildings linked by an external walkway. One half will serve as a training facility while the other, offices for GLT. Having already obtained planning permission, Natural Building System worked closely with the client’s team to optimise the design to deliver a breathable, low-embodied carbon, circular solution.

The building was partially completed in August 2023 and GLT are now fundraising to finish internal works including MEP services. The alignment in values between Natural Building Systems and Green Light Trust was manifest in the use of entirely natural, regenerative materials to create a high performing, healthy building.

Excluding biogenic carbon, the whole building LCA for A1-A5 is provisionally estimated at only 219kg Ce/m2 pending completion of the fit-out works. Due to the use of primarily natural materials, the biogenic carbon captured during their production accounts for 1.36 tonnes Ce/m2. The superstructure of the building uses entirely natural regenerative materials and is built with pre-manufactured components to allow for disassembly and adaptation. GLT’s focus on Whole Life Cycle carbon impacts (rather than simply operational carbon) informed a design that limited U Value targets in the building’s roof, walls, and floor to 0.18W/m2K, 0.2W/m2K, and 0.18W/m2K respectively while the estimated Energy Use Intensity (EUI) is estimated at 60kWh/m2 per year.

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