Kit Houses Kit Home Brands

Date Published:

26/01/2009

Here are some of the most established kit home brands...

The Classic: Huf Haus

Huf Haus, www.huf-haus.com
The distinctive feature of a Huf Haus is its post and beam architecture. The timber frame concept frees the designer of the constraints of load-bearing (and thus dividing) walls. It gives Huf designs their unrivalled breadth, openings and vast spaces. Wall to ceiling glazing opens the view on the surrounding nature, making it part of the living experience. Classically, a Huf Haus is a bespoke individual home – as are most kit homes – but the company does undertake commercial residential ventures, such as apartment buildings as well as retail and office space.

Baufritz featured in the Bath Grand Designs episode

Baufritz, baufritz.co.uk
Baufritz homes are created as individual, ecologically friendly homes that are designed around the buyer’s needs and well being. The company is a multi-award-winning pioneer in timber frame construction – now established in the UK – dedicated to realising dream homes, utilising superior design, advanced modular construction, sustainable materials free from hazardous substances and the use of renewable sources of energy. In addition to providing bespoke homes, Baufritz also offers a contemporary selection of pre-designed modular homes.

The PlusEnergie from Weberhaus produces more energy than it consumes

WeberHaus, www.weberhaus.co.uk
Another German company, WeberHaus are self build specialists with over 48 years’ experience in energy efficient and sustainable homes. Key areas of interest are the use of geothermics and thermal insulation to deliver energy efficiency and lower energy costs for self build and tailor-made bespoke timber frame houses. The company’s latest model is WeberHaus PlusEnergie, a house that produces more energy than it consumes - effectively a carbon positive dwelling.

The Lighthouse is a pioneering Potton kit home

Potton, www.lighthousebypotton.co.uk
Potton are a UK company that specialises in self build homes. It has a range of conventional homes, and has recently introduced the Lighthouse, which meets level 6 (the highest level) of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Potton is creating a range of Lighthouse designs, which will be made available in different sizes (including three and four bedroom models) and shapes, as well as to Code levels 4, 5 and 6. Within a loose framework provided by the Lighthouse design, Potton will work with self builders to incorporate bespoke features and smaller/larger footprints as required.

An example of Cloud Nine's stunning kit homes

Cloud Nine, www.cloudnine-living.com
Cornwall–based Cloud Nine produce eco-friendly, robust timber buildings in four two and three bedroom house types. The homes are manufactured in Poland, where there is a rich source of soft and hardwood timber and manufacturing experience, and transported to the UK. The standard buildings come with eco-level build materials, an eco heating system, flat roofs and a solar thermal panel for solar heating and hot water appropriate for level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. House prices start from £88,000 ex-VAT with an individual house build premium of seven to 11 per cent.