With their expertise in flood mitigation Baca Architects have developed proposals for a new gateway tower building on a strategic development site near Wembley that currently suffers from flood risk issues. The under used site is directly opposite a mainline railway and underground station with a tributary of the Brent river running through the middle of the site. Currently there is no public access and proposals will look to provide strategic new public routes across the site and open up the landscape around the river for public enjoyment and create more sustainable natural habitats for local wildlife. To develop a scheme that puts both the development and the river flood plain on an equal weighting Baca Architects have employed innovative flood mitigation techniques to the landscape and suggested low-risk ground floor uses while protecting the most vulnerable residential uses above. Proposals explore a mixed-use scheme with car parking, commercial, public spaces and 60 residential units. Options explore several different ways to open up the site to create a unique conversation between the new towers and the river landscape below.     

On a small garage site in a prime Lewisham location Baca Architects have developed a sympathetic terrace of four new family homes. The design provides four high quality residential units with front and rear gardens perfect for young and growing families. Each dwelling is arranged over three floors and provides open plan kitchen, dining and living room that open up to the rear garden. Externally the houses provide a modern interpretation of the traditional London terrace typology. Taking inspiration from the local context and with the aim of respecting and enhancing the character of the local area the materials chosen are yellow brick and white render. The facade articulation is directly inspired by the design of the neighbouring victorian stock. The building will be environmentally sustainable through solar orientation and high performance insulation. This development is a high quality addition to this part of Lewisham and will be an exemplar and benchmark for future modern terraces around London.     

In collaboration with GL Hearn Baca were asked to look into the potential for the future expansion opportunities to support the growth of the West Sussex town of Littlehampton. Baca carried out initial feasibility studies on over 30 sites to determine the most suitable opportunities. From the 30 sites 8 sites were considered potentially suitable to deliver the 1000 home strategic objective of the Littlehampton Economic Growth Area. Following identification of suitable sites a coordinated and integrated strategy was implemented to create sustainable development and infrastructure able to support the economic growth targets. Due to the potential for flooding in and around Littlehampton Baca Architects strategic specialism in flood mitigation solutions to create safe new development was drawn on to provide a coherent and feasible framework for future development. The new development will not be fully defended and Makes Space for Water by retaining effective flood plain across the site where suitable. The proposals include flood resilient homes, flats over car parking that will be allowed to flood in extreme flood events and elevated mixed-use schemes.     

Planning has been granted for a bold new extension to the Creekside Discovery Centre within the Deptford Creek Conservation Area of Lewisham. The Centre is run by local charity Creekside Education Trust who helps people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the physical and natural environment and help maintain and protect the local urban wildlife on the site and along Deptford Creek. The repurposed building seeks to minimise the impact of expansion on the wildlife habitats in the site by using a playful portal frame that spans over the existing building to support new facilities. Recycled shipping containers are plugged into the frame to make new teaching and ancillary blocks, which double the buildings occupancy. A carefully laid out podium deck also provides a unique outdoor education experience with a sunken auditorium, over the top of the existing roof, that provides an elevated vantage point for visitor’s to view wildlife habitats across the site. The exposed structure and raw materials are inspired by the local context and aim to preserve some of the industrial character of the area.      

With a record number of entries, from small practices through to large commercial firms, BD Architect of the Year Awards announced the shortlist for 2016. With great excitement, Baca Architects has been shortlisted amongst the finalists for the category Individual House of the Year, again!  Link to the website http://awards.bdonline.co.uk/2016-shortlist/  The 12th edition of the awards is set to be bigger and more exciting than ever. They will take place on 9 March 2016 at London ExCeL’s Platinum Suite in collaboration with Ecobuild , the leading exhibition for the construction and energy market. The awards will be held on the evening of Ecobuild’s Architecture day, creating one of the largest gatherings of architects in the UK. This new combined offering creates a valuable and unique opportunity for the most innovative and established practices to meet, celebrate and do business.      ​

Planning has been granted for a contemporary new house within the Brockley Conservation Area of Lewisham. This contemporary three bedroom dwelling is enclosed by a ground floor brickwork wall to match existing garden walls in the surrounding area. The Building forms a self-contained dwelling with primary views facing into a generous courtyard. The courtyard forms the heart of the modern open plan living space. The proposed building has been designed to mark the corner and entrance into the mews and create a strong connection between the primary road and the mews, leaving a positive legacy. The materials chosen are inspired from the local context and aim to enhance the character of the conservation area, as well as making the building sit comfortably within its context. The scheme was reviewed by the Lewisham Design Review Panel prior to the planning decision. They described the proposal as ‘an exemplary scheme, which will be bold and imaginative with the potential to breathe life into an apparently unloved mews’.      ​

Robert Barker and Richard Coutts are hosting an exciting book launch event in the prestigious Florence Hall at the Royal Institute of British Architects on the 9th of February 2016. This will celebrate the completion and publication of their new book ‘Aquatecture: Buildings and cities designed to live and work with water’ and is a chance to say thank you to all of the patrons, supporters and contributors who have been involved over the last 10 years. If for some reason you have not received your invite please e-mail Valentina who will help (vfranconi@baca.uk.com)      ​

During the UK’s most recent floods we have been inundated with enquires from news agencies from across Europe asking whether the threat of water can be mitigated. We believe it can, but only through an integrated approach that makes space for water alongside resilience and traditional defences. A home for the flood resilient property showcase has been found at the BRE innovation park. Baca are now working with the BRE and industry experts to deliver this demonstration for the end of 2016. After 2 years of writing and preparation ‘Aquatecture: Buildings and cities designed to live and work with water’ by Baca Directors’ Robert Barker and Richard Coutts (consisting of 50,000 words with over 500 illustrations) has gone to print. The book brings together over 10 years of research by the authors with exciting case studies from around the world. Early reviews have been very positive. “This book will make a fascinating read for all those concerned with planning, architecture, design and engineering… by turning water into an opportunity rather than a risk.” Professor Chris Zevenbergen, UNESCO-IHE “Aquatecture is an exciting contribution to the growing body of literature on how applying water-conscious design allows us not just to live with water, but to thrive with water.’ Elizabeth C. English, University of Waterloo School of Architecture, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada  “This book is an important contribution to meeting the challenges that climate change is providing to the built environment as it encourages new developments to be resilient, sustainable and attractive.” Dr Stephen Garvin, Director, BRE Centre for Resilience “Defra wants to see more resilient places, where local people have the ability to reduce, prevent and cope with floods. This book can help professionals in the construction world understand what can be done to help this happen.” Robbie Craig, Defra Policy Official Please follow links to our book and recent news http://www.ribabookshops.com/item/aquatecture-buildings-and-cities-designed-to-live-and-work-with-water/81927/ Water Lane, a recently complete elevated house in Oxfordshire:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVF65N_PqvU    ​

Planning consent has been granted for the 2nd Amphibious House in the UK in the seaside town of Salcombe. The innovative scheme, includes the construction of a new flood resistant dwelling within the envelope of an old stone store building and the replacement of a small boat shed with an elegant amphibious studio as part of the overall dwelling. Check Salcombe Video Here The first amphibious house was featured on ‪Grand Designs Season 16 Episode 8 – The Floating House: Revisited, and has been published in numerous articles.     ​

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     ​