I love flat-pack technology
Flat pack houses are becoming one of the fastest growing products in the housing market, but make sure you do your research into the type of systems available to suit your particular site and your own personal taste.
The 3 main advantages of flat-pack homes is that the systems are very affordable, they are relatively easy to put together and they are also fast to build. Also, as all of the components are pre-made in the factory the standard of manufacture is usually very high. 
Many companies in the UK are now keen to jump on the ‘cheap to buy, easy to build flat-pack bandwagon’ so there is healthy competition in the market.
Obviously with flat-pack technology you are buying a standard item, in a similar way to buying a car, so there is very little scope for you to be adventurous with your own unique architectural design, but there are some interesting contemporary designs out there so its not much of a compromise.
Make sure you approach a manufacturer with a proven track record for high quality homes.
The Scandanavian’s have been developing flat pack systems for years and are still regarded as the best in the world so this is where your research should begin.
Personally, I love any prefabrication or flat pack technology and often think building this type of home is far more interesting and fun than a traditional self-build.
Liz S
on Aug 6th, 2009
@ 7:55 am:
Having lived in Scandinavia for a few years many years ago, I absolutely agree with you! Flat packs make truly wonderful spaces to live in, and the construction method means that open plan living is easy! No sledgehammer required (sorry George, I know how you love wielding that thing!) you simply remove (or move) a stud wall!
the bonus of course has always been the insulation properties, if you live in a country where it can easily be -20 deg, you get to know your onions when it comes to insulation.
The biggest draw back in this country of course is the lack of single plots to build on, In Scandinavia it’s still very common for land to be parcelled up into individual plots and sold on in lots, particularly in less urban areas. It also means you don’t get acres and acres of what I call Toytown developments, little boxes all cramped together, all trying to look like something built by the Victorians (why do builders do that??? If I wanted to live in a Victorian house, I’d buy one!!!) In Scandinavia each home owner stamps their own individual style not only on the interior, but the outside too, making a far more interesting development!
Finally though, you CAN get “bespoke” flat packs too, so you aren’t just restricted to what comes off the shelf… you work with a designer at the factory (certainly in Sweden anyway) and they can create a flat pack to your design….a bit more money of course (but then bespoke always is!) but still the same system with the same advantages.
Which is another point.. with all these advantages, why do our builders still stick to traditional building methods? Again in Scandinavia, a developer will use them, for all of those reasons!
Alistair
on Sep 5th, 2009
@ 10:38 pm:
Does anybody know who designed the house above? I think it is a particularly beautiful design..
Here in Germany having a house built to your own design or pre-fabricated on a building plot that you have selected is effectively the norm. It is just a shame the culture in Britain doesn’t allow for this…all we have is street after street of soulless boxes…