B3R BbB flipbook

Affinity (a natural liking, the degree to which substances can combine with each other) Competition entry by B3R Architects This submission does not contain one catch-all proposal, instead it comprises a collection of ideas that can be grouped into three strands which connect procurement with sustainability with design. We believe that the affinity between these ideas enables one to feed off the other, and the harmony created by doing so further empowers the parts. The ideas are based in low- tech, humanist design that seeks a return to simpler pleasures, to repurpose communal ownership and to expel urban loneliness. Section 01 © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 1

Affinity Our proposal has three interconnected strands, specifically designed to improve the wellbeing of the inhabitants, to create an integrated community fully invested in the building and to promote a sustainable and ecologically responsible habitat. No one strand addresses all issues and no one issue controls the final design, but we believe there is a natural affinity between the ideas. We have titled these three strands, ‘Fit-out buy-in’, ‘Larder Living’ and ‘Design Synergy’. diag 1. We have titled these strands ‘Fit-out buy-in’, ‘Larder Living’ and diag 2. Fit-Out Buy- In split ‘Design Innovation’. Section 02 © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 2

Fit-out Buy-in (see charts page 2) The cost of starter homes is prohibitive for many at the moment, and part of this is because purchasers must buy pre-finished apartments complete to specifications prescribed by the delivery team. Our experience with plug-and-play fit outs in pre-existing shells leads us to believe this is a viable delivery route for new build. This provides the purchaser with financial flexibility – if, for example, they do not want, or have the means, to fit out an en-suite bathroom at the time of initial purchase they can use this room as a store or study. Likewise, they may live a few years with cheaper fittings and finishes and upgrade as and when they can. For developers, providing just the serviced shell offers the benefit of reduced build cost and faster delivery times. A proposed split of cost/ design contribution is shown in the table on the preceding page. Larder Living (see diagram page 2. 1) We believe that sustainable developments should be designed to blend low-tech lifestyle gains with the latest technological advances, and we have developed designs that exploit this. Through their arrangement and fabric design they create thermal zones which buffer the heating and electrical load requirements, allowing the controlled gain and loss of heat through specific room uses. The graduation of the zones allows for specific benefits at each end – aquaponics and water preheat in the hot (south) end and natural larders and heat exchange on the cold (north end). This unit arrangement is connected to the whole building systems which combine air source heat pumps with rooftop allotments and greenhouses. These promote community activity and are used as a heat exchangers and water preheats which, together with PVU’s and the unit thermal buffers aim to result in zero cost hot water / heating for residents. Design Synergy (see diagram page 2. 2) There are several aspects to this, and they are very site specific in application. Through our site appraisal/viability work we have developed a variety of apartment typologies and main building arrangements that exploit synergy to create a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. We have developed this design strategy to: • Maximise unit orientation to avoid single aspect north/ • Exploit common parts designs to provide communal facilities that are east facing units and promote dual aspect even on tight / expensive/eco-unfriendly when provided within individual units, namely: overlooked sites. o Spare bedrooms o Laundry facilities • Exploit the building section to maximise net to gross by o Communal Wi-Fi hot desk office minimising lateral circulation. o Community rooms for residents to provide services to the wider public, and for the wider public to hire to bring life/revenue into the development. © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 3

Proposal Diagram 1 © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 4

Proposal Diagram 2 © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 5

B3R Architects Practice Bio >> Circus Architects Michael Aukett Architects B3R Architects (Unity Street, Bristol) (Streatham Hub) (Draycott) Section 03 Set up at the end of 2015 B3R are a relatively young practice, although the partners have worked together for many years, firstly as partners in Circus Architects and then as directors in Michael Aukett Architects. This has provided them with a knowledge and experience of all types of development, especially, residential. The project values of schemes personally designed and managed by the partners range from £90m (Streatham Hub) down to £200k (Camden). © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 6

Recreational Room (not during Granny Alice’s birthday!) Both partners live in south London and have active links with Corydon through the company’s As a company just under 50% of the staff are women and 40% are from the BAME community, Office Manager, Kim Bryan (wife of B3R partner Chris). Kim’s parents, as part of the Windrush each year we offer work experience positions to students from a south London School and as a Generation, settled in Thornton Heath in the late 60’s and worked in the health service until practice we have a commitment to providing an environment free from discrimination, bullying, they retired. The extended family live across the Borough of Croydon and when celebrating the and harassment, where all colleagues are respected and valued. We are very aware that whilst the 90th birthday of Kim’s grandmother, ‘Granny Alice’, the family more than filled The Recreational number of female architects working in practice is increasing the number of BAME architects is Room at the Fairfield Hall. not, and this needs to be actively addressed. In addition to this B3R were early signatories to the ‘Architects Declare’ charter. We confirm that we hold PII levels in excess of £2million. © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 7

Interests that drive B3R’s designs Ownership and community Ecology and the Spirit We believe that successful developments must promote a sense of community stemming from a sense of belonging and ownership. We believe that sustainable ecological design cannot be achieved through passive technology alone (i.e. increased insulation, PVU’s This is best promoted through design involvement which etc) but must engage the occupant in the benefits of a simpler, determines outcome. This ability to determine your environment lower carbon existence. is imperative to the sense of place, the sense of home. We believe that successful developments should promote a low technology lifestyle blended with modern conveniences in order Rooftop Farm (Brooklyn) Rooftop Allotments (Tokyo) to promote eco-wellbeing. What is good for the planet can be good for the spirit too. Section 03 © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 8

Challenge and response > We enjoy challenging sites and aspirational briefs and we are willing to spend the extra time it takes to unlock the opportunity in both. We learn from previous experience but do not allow it to drive the process. Every site is different, and each has a blue sky over it. Doughnut Economics Action Lab Apartment (B3R as MAA) Design development sketches Holistic economics We believe in doughnut economics Humanism Above all we believe that buildings should be designed for those that occupy them. They must not only provide for their needs but also feed them joy. If you love where you live you take pride in it and both the development and the community prosper. Apartment (B3R as Circus Architects) © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 9

The Streatham Hub The Gardens House Housing and Leisure centre UK Property Awards Best Residential Property Leige Mobile Cinema Unfolds - 100 seats Circle 33 Faversham Barn. Letchworth Masterplanning Europan Awards Winners Cinemas Millennium Products Winner Housing Association Competition Finalists RIBA regional awards winner Garden City Eco Competition Second round elimination Section 03 - Examples of B3R’s Work © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 10

Bishops Gate The L House Fulham Camden 3.25m wide site Design Studies for London MET Backland development Forest Hill New house, Sheerness Steatham Ice and Leisure Centre Redbridge LA, Farnborough LA UKActive Awards Finalist © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 11

Proposed Team CV’s Having qualified at UCL, Chris started his architectural Studied Design Management and graduated at the Nigel graduated from Edinburgh University in 1988. career at Circus Architects, a practice fascinated with University of the Creative Arts in Farnham. Isaura In 1991, he was a founding partner of Circus Architects how we live and interact with the city and during his joined Michael Aukett Architects in 2007 as a young and in 1994, the practice won an international 8 years there he helped them develop the practice graduate furthering her skills in various architectural housing competition (Europan ’94), building on this into one of the leading designers of the ‘loft living’ sectors as a Design Manager and in Design Document success to become one of the leading practices of movement. While winning a number of housing Control. the ‘loft living’ movement. This led to further success awards with them he also gained specialist knowledge with bars, restaurants, offices, shops and hotels and on temporary and mobile structures, assisting them Later, in 2016, she joined B3R and has since developed schemes, varying in size from one-off boutiques to to win the Highlands and Islands Mobile Cinema, her skills in both graphic and architectural design to roll-out programmes worldwide – from single bars awarded ‘Millennium Product’ status in 2000. He then become a key design member of the practice. to continental concessions and from residential joined Michael Aukett Architects in 2003, becoming a extensions to high density city blocks. Director in 2007. He used his skills to lead a wide range She is a valued colleague not only because of her of residentially focussed led mixed use schemes and breadth of experience and knowledge in the industry Experimental and ground-breaking ideas were throughout his time at the practice he was involved but also as a qualified ballet teacher at the Royal given free reign, particularly in the design of mobile with projects that required an innovative and flexible Academy and as a mentor in the FYF ‘Filipino Youth architecture, for clients including British Aerospace, approach; none more so than in the designing and Foundation’ she ensures that we do not think that Classic fm and the Highland and Islands Arts Board. building of the unique Streatham Ice and Leisure Architecture is the only art form. For the latter, the practice designed a hydraulically Centre and, indeed, his own house that he designed unfolding 110 seat mobile cinema; which was and built on a 3 metre wide strip of land in Camden. Isaura Kalyan awarded Millennium Product status by the Design Council in November 1998. Chris regards every project as an opportunity to build lasting relationships with clients and an opportunity Nigel Reynolds to create buildings that are beautiful and simple, with the ability to surprise. © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 12 Chris Bryan Section 03

Chris Bryan E: [email protected] T: 07776 241019 4 Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1A 2RP Office: 0751 770 9926 E: [email protected] W: www.b3rarchitects.com © Copyright 2020 | B3R Architects LLP | All Rights Reserved 13