Introducing the Floating Fanzone. Making use of Bramley Moore Dock, the concept proposes a flotilla of floating event spaces, all-weather enclosures, and immersive venues offering live sports screenings and a rich mix of pre and post-match entertainment.
After the long lag caused by the COVID pandemic, we are pleased to report a wave on new flood resilient homes will start in site this year that will test new technologies and with innovation at the threshold of current policy parameters.
Weave House has secured full planning permission in Chelmsford. A suburban infill site next to a river the site has provided both a challenge in terms of tackling traditional infill policy with the complexity of flooding.
The 285m² (3000sq ft) 'part flood-resilient, part-elevated' Weave House will replace an existing, rundown house and outbuildings. The project, which is expected to cost around £900,000, features two blocks connected by a ramped spine. The landscaping will re-wild several areas of the garden by removing much of the existing hard standing.
Featured on AJ: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/baca-wins-approval-for-flood-resilient-house-in-chelmsford
New Flood Resilient Homes.
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“This book caught my eye in my local bookshop. First, the cover, and then the title! Picture attached with one of my sketches” says BACA Director, Richard Coutts.
Needless to say, the topic resonates, and for those who work in the water sector, urban design, or resilience planning, this will make a very enjoyable Christmas purchase.
From the back cover: Giulio Boccaletti - Honorary research associate at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, Oxford University - shrewdly combines environmental and social history, beginning with the early civilizations of sedentary farmers on the banks of the Nile, the Tigris, and Euphrates Rivers. He describes how these societies, made possible by sea level changes from the last glacial melt, incisively examining how this type of performance led to irrigation and multiple cropping, which, in turn, led to population explosion and labor specialization.
We see with clarity how irrigation’s structure informed social structure (Inventions such as the calendar sprang from agricultural necessity); how in ancient Greece, the communal ownership of wells laid the grounds for democracy; Greek and Roman experiences with water security resulted in systems of taxation; and how the modern world as we know it began with the legal framework for the development of water infrastructure. 'Water: A Biography' richly enlarges our understanding of our relationship to - and fundamental reliance on - the most essential substance on Earth.’
This book caught Richard's eye in his local bookshop. First, the cover, and then the title!
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Last week, BACA Director Richard Coutts visited the 'Flood school' at HR Wallingford’s flood testing site near Oxfordshire to attend Flood Re’s 'Property Resilience Roundtable.' Flood Re is a reinsurance scheme that makes flood cover more widely available and affordable to homeowners.
The topics covered included an update on the PFR Community of Interest, the Flood Compliance Platform, a detailed update on and practical exercise on Build Back Better, an update on the Scoring Project, and updates from Defra and the Environment Agency on policy and implementation.
Moving forward
It is our observation that homeowners will not wade through 500-page manuals and, often and reluctantly, will only engage with the statutory requirements of the building regulations. Recent conversations with clients have included challenging discussions over their requirement to have larger areas of glazing and questioning why we need to deliver 10% net biological gain. Another observation is the growing trend to pave over front gardens to enable electric cars to charge next to the home – the owners feel they’ve done their bit for the environment when, conversely, they are removing landscaping that attenuates and reduces surface water flooding. The rising cost of fuel prices has also added to the mix, and hence it is in this context that the Flood Re Insurance Coverage and proposed version of the EPC Certificate should be considered.
The data sets are encouraging, but what is clear is how best now to translate complex data (and, as we know, every flood site is different) into some simple, comprehensive guidance that empowers householders to improve their stock either proactively or after a flood event has occurred to boost their future resilience.
Our suggestions:
The assessment should also include what percentage of the property's external spaces are hard or soft (therefore addressing issues such as paving over gardens for electric cars and considering permeable paving as an alternative) and therefore not exacerbating surface water flooding.
Last week, BACA Director Richard Coutts visited the 'Flood school' at HR Wallingford’s flood testing site near Oxfordshire to attend Flood Re’s 'Property Resilience Roundtable.'
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12% Net Ecological Gain for Former Mineral Extraction Site and Car Breakers Yard.
BACA architects have secured full planning permission for an ambitious aqua sports leisure park, hospitality venue, and visitor attraction in the Blackwater Valley near Farnborough, UK.
The proposals include:
The site is currently closed to the public. The 16-hectare site, of which 9 hectares are water, is in flood zones 2 and 3, was a former mineral extraction site and car breakers yard. Proposals have been developed in close consultation with both Rushmoor and Hampshire County Council, Heads of Economy and Strategic Regeneration, and the Planning Team.
Despite a challenging set of constraints, the scheme went through unanimously at Committee.
The proposals will promote healthy lifestyles and encourage physical activity, indoor and in-built sports and recreational facilities.
Working with Aspect Ecology, the proposals offer the opportunity for the existing lakes and surrounding habitats to be brought into favorable conservation management in the long term. The proposals will deliver an ecological net gain of 12.45% (Habitats) and 277% (Linear Features). New diverse wetland margins and reed beds will be introduced at three locations within the lakes, and the whole of the smaller central lake will be restored to create a pond and wetland area.
Team
Client: Drayparks
Planning Consultant: Bell Cornwell
Architect: BACA architects
Landscape & Ecology: Aspect
Flooding: Tetratech
Highways & Transport Plan: Waterman Group
BREEAM: Scott White and Hookins
Leisure Needs Assessment: Avison Young
Ground Contamination: Waterman Group
Floating Homes: Floating Homes Limited
12% Net Ecological Gain for Former Mineral Extraction Site and Car Breakers Yard.
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“One Planet Living was a concept developed by Bio-Regional when I was a student. It spurred BedZED, by Bill Dunster - the UK's first major sustainable community. It’s a philosophy that has slowly gained traction. At BACA, we developed LifE (Long-term Initiatives for Flood Risk Environments), a body of work that would enable sustainable development and, in Monaco’s case, address sea level rise.” Says Richard Coutts, Director at BACA Architects.
So, when invited to speak at the Royal Yacht Club Monaco, organized by Monaco Marina Management, he posed a simple question to the audience and the club - Could the municipality of Monaco (Population 39,000), including the yacht club (a hub of marine innovation), become a self-sustaining community? Observing the marina, you get a glimpse of the built future: thin film photovoltaics wrap state-of-the-art monocoque catamarans – that use wind as their main source to carry them on hydrofoils across the Atlantic. Among other exhibitors, plans for hydrogen-powered tenders and ecoconcrete sea defenses (reduced carbon in production, designed for carbon capture, biophilic receptiveness).
But like most countries and cities - one overriding issue: Monaco has no more space. Its positives include that because of its size, it can change policies quickly and has the financial means to enact change.
Within the marina, luxury boats sit primed at 100% charge, but they do not work together, dumping waste energy. To an observer, possibly one of the most beautiful solar arrays on water. Could this flotilla of boats create a unified energy network and either capture surplus energy or use it for the benefit of the wider city?
Monaco is also very urban, consisting of many hard surfaces - its roofscapes are prominently flat with little greening. So, there was a discussion alongside pioneers of energy, design, and materials, what is the future of the Smart Marina and could this be extended into smart city design that they sustain.
The symposium was hosted by Sir Robin Knox and was great to share ideas with Maarten van de Vorde - West 8, And Nicola Beck - NBax Architecture & Design, Eduardo Gutierrez - On-A, Giovanni de Niederhausern – Pininfarina.
Hopefully, these ideas will evolve into tangible deliverables.
BACA have been invited to speak at the Royal Yacht Club in Monaco.
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The Avocett III will be the latest vessel to join BACA’s flotilla of floating homes/aquatecture. Located on the Isle of Wight, the floating home builds on the Chichester design (2008) and now features 2 bedrooms plus a sleeping gallery. The sawtooth profile roof is designed to receive solar panels and is supported by a high thermal performance envelope. More images will follow shortly.
Due to its remote location, the base cannot be cast in one pour, unlike the Chichester. Therefore, the whole project and modular sizes are dictated by restricted access and what a small team of contractors can assemble by hand. Much of the build will take place on top of the floating platform once that element is built.
Construction drawings are underway, and the build will start in spring 2023.
The Avocett III will be the latest vessel to join BACA’s flotilla of floating homes/aquatecture.
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The Avocet III will be the latest vessel to join BACA’s flotilla of floating homes/aquatecture. Located on the Isle of Wight, the floating home builds on the Chichester design (2008) and now features 2 bedrooms plus a sleeping gallery. The sawtooth profile roof is designed to receive solar panels and is supported by a high thermal performance envelope. More images will follow shortly.
Due to its remote location, the base cannot be cast in one pour, unlike the Chichester. Therefore, the whole project and modular sizes are dictated by restricted access and what a small team of contractors can assemble by hand. Much of the build will take place on top of the floating platform once that element is built.
Construction drawings are underway, and the build will start in spring 2023.
The Avocet III will be the latest vessel to join BACA’s flotilla of floating homes/aquatecture.
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Site visit to our first 'Outdoor Sanctuary' prototype.
BACA’s Creative Director Robert Pattison visited the prefabricated prototype for the Skylark under construction. Pre-fabricated in the factory, it was wonderful to see the scale of the demo come together. Once the pipeline is up and running we should be able to build 10 every 2 weeks.
We’re excited to release some ongoing construction images of our staycation pod prototype. These pods provide elegant and contemporary holiday accommodations nestled into woodlands and other natural settings.
Thank you to David McCann owner of Landall Barnsoul in Scotland for visiting and Kapsers of Nordic Homes for your wonderful hospitality.
Site visit to our first 'Outdoor Sanctuary' prototype.
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The Busselton Jetty Village and Marine Discovery Centre, 'The Village,' will be ready in July 2023!
Phase 1 will be built 1.7 km out to sea at the end of the iconic Busselton Jetty. The Village will transform the visitor experience,offering something for everyone, including customers visiting the longesttimber-piled Jetty in the southern hemisphere, respite areas for our over 100 volunteers, locally sourced, world-class food and beverages to quench your hunger and thirst after the long journey out, as well as a marine discovery centre where you’ll be educated on the wonders of the sea below the Jetty and beyond.
If you’re a diver or snorkeler, there will also be a new underwater artificial reef trail that will include unique sculptures andstatues, allowing you to see the Jetty from a totally different perspective!
The project has $22m of grant funding from:
A project like this doesn’t happen without a lot of hardwork. Thank you to the BJI Board of Management, BJI staff, Volunteers, and Project Superintendent for their tireless efforts.
Marine Contracting by Subcon.
Designed by BACA with Perth Architects, Gresley Abas Architects.
Marine Engineering by Core Marine.
The Busselton Jetty Village and Marine Discovery Centre, 'The Village,' will be ready in July 2023!
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Since our scheme on the Isle of Man has gone public, we’ve received a few requests about the flood-resilient planning theory that informed the designs. Enclosed is an abstract of ‘The Blue Drempel’ or blue thresholds, which was first presented at the Architectural School in Warsaw, Poland, aspart of the international symposium on amphibious architecture. This thesis sought to explore how amphibious houses might work in larger numbers alongside other resilient archetypes, as part of a landscape-led masterplan that makes space for water.
Designs also include concept plans developed in collaboration with our friends at Waterstudio in the Netherlands.
Further publications include "Aquatecture: Buildings and Cities Designed to Live and Work with Water" by Robert Barker & Richard Coutts, RIBA Publishing.
Credits: Richard Coutts, Matthew Sharman-Hayles, and John Napier.
Since our scheme on the Isle of Man has gone public, we’ve received a few requests about the flood-resilient planning theory that informedthe designs.
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We are pleased to report that BACA has been appointed to design a new marina building located on the tranquil River Stour in the heart of Christchurch.
Willow Way Marina is a family-owned and operated marina that has experienced business growth, especially since the pandemic, as boat owners favour staycations, and the existing workshops and sheds have reached capacity.
The new building will provide a showroom, chandlery, meeting spaces, and new staff welfare facilities.
We are pleased to report that BACA has been appointed to design a new marina building located on the tranquil River Stour in the heart of Christchurch.
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We are pleased to report that the Sulby Riverside Planning application on the Isle of Man has been submitted. The £40m scheme will provide a ‘major boost’ to Ramsey town centre and will include 205 new homes, retail units, business workspace, three public parks, and a riverside gastro-pub with function rooms.
In 2019, at the ICAADE (Internal Conference on Amphibious Architecture, Design, and Engineering) in Warsaw, Richard Coutts, Director of BACA architects, presented “Blue Drempel – a thesis on urban flood-resilient design,” which built on the earlier philosophies developed with funding from Defra for BACA’s LifE Project. The masterplan at Sulby Riverside demonstrates proof of concept of this approach and was developed in partnership with hydrologists and flood modellers JBA and HR Wallingfords.
“Blue Drempel” or Blue Thresholds is a non-defensive planning strategy that locates architectural housing types according to flood risk: floating within the river; amphibious; elevated; resilient (dry proof and wet proof) to traditional to correspond with diminishing flood risk. It connects these with the least amount of road and servicing infrastructure to allow as much space for natural landscaping. This landscaping is multi-functional, accommodating places for play and sustainable urban drainage designed to anticipate flooding. It keeps water away from housing for as long as possible during a flood event. In the event of the landscaping being breached during an extreme flood event, the resilient and adaptable measures of each architectural housing type help keep occupants dry and safe.
Detailed modelling was carried out to demonstrate that the scheme poses no risks to the river’s flow, either upstream or downstream.
“At its heart, Sulby Riverside is about place-making,” says Richard Coutts. “These proposals are about opening a site that has been unavailable to the public for many years and organizing a new residential community around open spaces, public footpaths and trails, and the riverside walk. It’s a progressive approach to flood mitigation that can unlock strategic sites.”
Key features of the proposals include:
- A new riverside walk
- Three new parks and play areas
- A new spine road linking Poyll Dooey Road with Gardener’s Lane
- Ample car parking, with extensive provision of electric charging points
- Low-energy design features throughout all homes
- Significant job-creating investment, including a new riverside gastro pub
- A new parade of shops
- A cluster of kiosks next to a new riverside nature trail, for seasonal use
As published on the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-61711140
We are pleased to report that the Sulby Riverside Planning application on the Isle of Man has been submitted.
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Many few will know that through our association with water, and particularly our amphibious approach, we have become the friends of the Royal Marine Commandos. To date we have designed and constructed memorials to honour past and current events including memorials at the National Arboretum, Bordeaux (Cockleshell heroes), Iraq, Afghanistan, and others. This year is the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.
Located on a defunct helicopter pad at Port Stanley, we worked with Leander Architectural at a forge in Derbyshire to craft a three-dimensional emblem that adorns a rock from the nearby hills of goose green. Some more personal plaques are bound to the hillside where heroes made the ultimate sacrifice.
Veterans of the campaign and their families, bereaved family members, and civilians who supported the Armed Forces will attended a commemorative event at the National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield, Staffordshire on Tuesday 14 June.
Many few will know that through our association with water, and particularly our amphibious approach, we have become the friends of the Royal Marine Commandos.
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On our site visit to the coast, we called into Yanbu al Nakhal, Saudi Arabia; which means "Spring of the Date Palms", about 30 miles northeast of Yanbu al Bahr, which means "Spring of the Sea".A thousand years ago, this valley was in its prime. It was dotted with more than 300 thriving villages. Today, there are only 24. Oral history from the villagers indicates that the valley was dotted with neatly planted and watered farms. This area was well known for wild date farms and sweet and sour lemon orchards. Now, it is known for growing watermelons, henna and vegetables.
Thousands of years ago, channels were built to bring water from the mountains to the valley. There are thousands of channels around this valley. They can usually be found near a village or farm. Water was available to the farms even during droughts in the valley. But this water was not enough for the farms to be successful. They needed to store water when it was plentiful. For many centuries, drinking water was carried by camel and donkey to stone lined watering places that were built approximately every 6 miles on this plateau (Al Baydhah). They built 3 ft stone walls around the water channel to keep out sand and debris. These water storage places were replaced when the government built freshwater pipelines.
Given the heat and the sand, it’s really a surprise to see the wadi’s filled with vegetation and the odd stream, with the backdrop of the ancient settlement. For those usually dealing with European river catchments this a contrasting climate and sustainable issues than we’re usually used to. A thoroughly enjoyable visit and nice surprise.
On our site visit to the coast, we called into Yanbu al Nakhal, Saudi Arabia; which means "Spring of the Date Palms".
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This year the AJ Summit is going digital!
BACA director Richard Coutts will be among the speakers.
The annual conference will take place virtually on the 25th of March.
You can read the full details for the event by following the link here
This year the AJ Summit is going digital!
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BACA architects are honoured to update the chapter: Flood Resilient Design in the forthcoming 6th edition of the Metric Handbook.
The metric handbook is the major handbook of planning and design information for architects and architecture students. Covering basic design data for all the major building types, it is the ideal starting point for any project. For each building type, the book outlines the basic design requirements and all of the principal dimensional data, whilst also providing succinct guidance on how to utilise the information and any comply with design regulations.
As well as building types, the Metric Handbook deals with broader aspects of design such as materials, acoustics and lighting, and general design data on human dimensions and space requirements. The Metric Handbook provides an invaluable resource for solving everyday design and planning problems.
The updated chapter will feature the newly completed Shipston Road Flood Resilient Multiple Unit Housing scheme in Stratford-Upon-Avon in the UK - which is in close proximity to William Shakespeare’s birth-place!
BACA architects are honoured to update the chapter: Flood Resilient Design in the forthcoming 6th edition of the Metric Handbook.
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The whale is making a big splash!
Architecture and Design is ‘Australia’s largest commercial architecture, building, construction and design media network’ and have published an article on the new ‘Australia Underwater Ocean Discovery Centre’ designed by BACA architects; of whom marine contractor, Subcon, appointed as lead architects for the project.
A&D wrote:
‘An underwater marine observatory resembling a huge whale surfacing from the sea will soon come up off the coast of Geographe Bay in Western Australia.’
‘Designed by London-based architecture studio, BACA architects for marine contractor, Subcon, the $30-million Australian Underwater Discovery Centre (AUDC) will be Australia’s largest natural marine observatory on completion. Located two hours to the south of Perth, the new marine observatory will be built at the end of Busselton Jetty, two kilometres out at sea, replacing an existing observatory that has reached capacity.’
‘From the three designs developed by BACA architects, the Cetacean design mimicking a whale emerging from the water was selected through a public voting process.’
‘Construction on the AUDC is expected to begin in the middle of this year, with the underwater centre to open by December 2022. Once operational, the marine observatory is expected to draw more than 900,000 visitors annually.’
‘The AUDC aims to become the world’s biggest natural marine observatory, complete with an underwater trail and dining facilities among others. Describing the approach to the observatory, the press statement says that guests will be taken ‘through a landscaped sequence from their moment of arrival, where they will leave their car behind in a park graced with rain gardens’.’
Read the full article here
The whale is making a big splash!
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'The Australian marine observatory by BACA architects [appointed as lead architects by Subcon] will resemble a whale emerging from wayer' is the headline used by Dezeen to cover the press-release of our Underwater Ocean Discovery Centre destined for western Australia.
Dezeen wrote:
‘BACA architects is a London architecture studio founded by Richard Coutts in 2003. While the AUDC marks its foray into underwater architecture, the firm is familiar with building on the water and creating flood-resilient structures.’
Read the full article here
Dezeen have featured BACA architects and the new and exciting AUDC project.
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