The RIBA contacted BACA to review their discussion points with the floods minister Rory Stewart on the first week back in the New Year.
BACA were pleased to have the opportunity to raise their concerns that SUDS was not being implemented and where resilience measures were required through planning that they were not necessarily being implemented. We made the call for flood resilience to be made part of the building regulations such that even if work does not require planning consent that it should still fall under the building regulations.
This would be particularly relevant for insurance claims to repair flood-damaged property, which would be required to make improvements, by law. We also wanted to encourage the role of new development in making space for water rather than a simple blanket ban on all development in areas of flood-risk.
See RIBA newsletter http://riba.msgfocus.com/q/1bsp3HQXd91lhbZHFzt/wv
One year on from the original show, Kevin McCloud returns tonight to discover what has happened with one of the most ambitious Grand Designs ever- the UK’s first Amphibious House. The fully completed building is revealed to the cameras and put through its paces to findout if it floats.
The owners of this remarkable residence show how they have settled into their stunning and distinctive home. The couple’s dream of living in a flood-prone location with strict planning constraints was made possible by the construction the UK’s first amphibious house – a building that rests on the ground on fixed foundations but, whenever a flood occurs, rises up in its dock and floats there buoyed by the water.
You can catch the story of this pioneering building, see how it has progressed and watch new landmark events since its completion tonight at 9pm on C4.
November’s issue of Grand Designs Magazine is on the shelves now, featuring the story of the UK’s first Amphibious House, designed by Baca Architects. The article tells the clients’ story from planning through to construction of the special amphibious design and recalls the floods of 2014 which held up construction.
The success of the design of the house, as well as its pioneering flood-resilient nature, is captured in the stunning photography accompanying the article. This forward-thinking project will hopefully form the benchmark for other amphibious properties around the country as people seek to protect their homes from flooding. Further details can be found on p61-67 of November’s Grand Designs Magazine.
Robert Barker will be presenting this and other amphibious designs in a seminar called ‘Amphibious Housing UK – a fail safe solution to flooding’ on Thursday 15th October at 14:00 to 14:30 in the Marshalls Theatre, at The Flood Expo 2015, hosted in the Excel Centre, London.
'Aquatecture', BACA’s forthcoming book to be published by RIBA , will be officially released at a launch party at a secret venue early next year.
Addressing the increasing importance of considering water in design, Robert Barker and Richard Coutts explore how to design in flood-risk areas and how water can be used to enhance architecture and design.
With water playing such a vital role in our lives and societies, the book lays out the case for the importance of designing for water, now and in the future, in order to best prepare us to adapt to the uncertainties of future climate change.
The historical relationship between water and architecture over the centuries is explored. Historical cases of issues with water and innovations in designing with water are examined, along with measures to mitigate the threat posed by water in the form of shortages, such as droughts, and excess, in the form of flooding.
Our clients were so taken with the design of BACA’s Nijmegen Tower, Netherlands, showcased at MIPIM 2015 in Cannes, they felt that the strong silhouette and fluid forms could be evolved for their prominent site on the border between Belgium and Holland.
The desire to create an engaging public space helped to drive the design for the 250,000 sq ft development. The hotel tower forms the centre piece of the development, supported by a mix of leisure and retail at ground level with residential units above.
The design is currently in development.
Voting opened this week for the prestigious International Design and Architecture Awards 2015, with our Amphibious House shortlisted in the Residential Architectural Property category.
Hosted by UK interior design magazine, design et al, the awards aim to commend design, recognise talent, create opportunities and quite simply to offer inspiration.
If you would like to vote on the awards and for the Amphibious House, please click on the banner below to visit where your selections can be made. We wish the best of luck to all shortlisted projects!
