The first of our series on timber-rich terrace homes, we explore affordable housing as a sustainable and efficient solution to Scotland’s housing crisis and rural depopulation.
From the Georgian terraces of Edinburgh to today’s modern rural developments, the efficient and adaptable terrace housing model continues to prove its value as a fundamental component of our urban and rural landscapes. MAKAR are redefining the terrace through:
- Innovative design and affordability
- A fabric first approach for high energy efficiency
- Local, low carbon material selection
- Scottish supply chains and rapid delivery times
- High energy efficiency
- Intrinsic comfort, health and longevity
By combining locally sourced, low-carbon materials with high energy performance and rapid delivery times, these affordable homes represent a powerful and scalable solution to Scotland’s combined housing and climate emergencies, meeting the aspirations of rural revitalisation and environmentally conscious development across Scotland.
Innovative design and affordability
The terrace is a timeless and inherently economic housing model, but through advanced Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) methodology, often referred to as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and digital twin modelling, we can maximise spatial efficiency and provide a sense of generosity in our designs. This approach is significantly different from traditional construction as it is generally understood and undertaken, and it allows us to create homes that prioritise health and well-being by avoiding toxic materials, all while meeting strict affordability benchmarks.
Each terrace is identical, and is designed to avoid unnecessary and cost prohibitive complications such as dormers and external porches, favouring simple, clean lines and honesty of expression instead. The directness of the DfMA approach departs from the construction norm and allows us to deliver a Passivhaus approach within strict affordable costing benchmarks.
Innovative design and affordability
The terrace is a timeless and inherently economic housing model, but through advanced Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) methodology, often referred to as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and digital twin modelling, we can maximise spatial efficiency and provide a sense of generosity in our designs. This approach is significantly different from traditional construction as it is generally understood and undertaken, and it allows us to create homes that prioritise health and well-being by avoiding toxic materials, all while meeting strict affordability benchmarks.
Each terrace is identical, and is designed to avoid unnecessary and cost prohibitive complications such as dormers and external porches, favouring simple, clean lines and honesty of expression instead. The directness of the DfMA approach departs from the construction norm and allows us to deliver a Passivhaus approach within strict affordable costing benchmarks.
Flexible, efficient spaces that don’t sacrifice generosity
Each two-bedroom terrace has a third study/bedroom, and provides approximately 90 square meters of adaptable future proof living space. Ground floors feature entry areas with storage, wheelchair-accessible shower rooms, and open-plan kitchen, living, and dining rooms with access to private outdoor space. Upstairs, two large bedrooms, a shared bathroom, and built-in flexibility for homeworking or a third bedroom offer adaptability for diverse household needs. Lifetime Homes principles are embedded in the design, including provisions for home lift installation and wide circulation spaces.
Fabric First net zero construction
These homes are manufactured off-site using MAKAR’s DfMA process, incorporating natural Structural Insulated Panels (n‑SIPs) formed from Scottish-grown timber and cellulose insulation. These ‘breathing walls’ are made entirely from natural materials, allowing moisture to pass from inside the building to outside and contributing to a healthy indoor atmosphere. Again, this is in contrast to many other modern construction methods, which rely on a plastic-based vapour barrier to trap moisture inside the building and utilise energy using ventilation systems to manage this.
By utilising advanced digital modelling, we create a virtual prototype before physical construction begins. This method, inspired by the automotive and aerospace industries, enables streamlined manufacturing and assembly, reducing time on site and significantly lowering environmental impact.
Speedy construction timeline
Time on-site directly impacts cost, so efficiency is key. Our target construction timeline includes:
Enabling, groundworks (can be in parallel with manufacture): 4 weeks
Assembly and external finishing: 6 weeks
Fit-out and commissioning (can be in parallel with external works): 12 weeks
Total duration: From 22 weeks. Compared to traditional builds that can exceed 12 months, this method greatly reduces time on site while improving consistency and quality.
High energy efficiency and commitment to low-carbon design
We model these terraces using the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) to optimize energy performance, resulting in space-heating cost predictions of as low as £5 – 7 per week for a four-person home, with the homes pre-fitted for photovoltaic solar generation, with battery storage available as an upgrade option.
While specific carbon measurements are still in development, our PHPP modelling will soon provide comprehensive Life Cycle Carbon Analysis. By prioritising sustainable materials and efficient building practices, we aim to minimise the environmental impact of our terraces while maximising long-term sustainability. In a carbon audit of previous MAKAR terrace homes, our timber-intensive design sequestered up to 39 tonnes of CO2 per home. They are also designed for deconstruction and reuse, with zero toxic treatments and circular economy compliance built in from the ground up.
Terrace homes for employee housing and mixed use development
Terrace housing offers an excellent solution for businesses looking to provide high-quality accommodations for employees. Historically, industries such as hydro-dam construction and forestry have relied on temporary worker housing. By investing in well-designed terraces, companies can provide comfortable and energy-efficient homes that serve both the immediate needs of their workforce and the long-term development of the community.
Additionally, terrace configurations can be adapted for administrative, office, or storage purposes, supporting a diverse range of uses in both urban and rural settings.
Affordable homes for rural communities
Terraces are a highly efficient housing typology that has successfully met diverse needs across different cultures and time periods. In rural areas, their long, simple form facilitates organised spatial planning while maintaining a sense of privacy and individual identity. High-quality acoustic separation and well-defined unit boundaries ensure comfort for residents, making them a practical choice for both individual households and community-based developments.
MAKAR’s terrace homes not only comply with National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) priorities and policies, they also reimagine what is possible and set the benchmark for future expectations for affordable homes in Scotland.
Interested to learn more about our innovative terrace housing? Get in touch and tell us about your project.