and they do repurpose and reuse:

"Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, the sense of ‘retreat’ was to be reinforced through ‘camouflage’; the form and massing of the extension echoes and compliments the existing structure. "

Maybe because it is a new way to build, and we like looking at new technologies, and they throw in the word "prefab":

"The oak retains the waney edge on the outside; the inside is finely sanded. Similarly, the blocks of laminated glass are left rough on the exterior, and are polished on the interior. The structure was built up of the prefabricated pieces on site. The glass blocks sit on rubber gaskets which in turn sit directly on the timber. A foam seal sits on the surface of the blocks to form a weatherproof movement joint, clear silicon forms a final weather seal. Pilkington donated the glass for the extension as this technique has not been used before, and the project would have been unaffordable without this."

However in the end there is enough glass laid down between the wood to reglaze the gherkin or the Time Warner building and they are not making that in little sheds in Somerset.

Perhaps just because it is a thing of beauty and a joy to behold. ::Dezeen

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