Flooding causes untold damage. But architects can help, argues Robert Barker, director of Baca Architects
Over the last nine to 10 years, Baca Architects has developed a keen interest and knowledge in water and architecture.
When establishing the practice, the diectors - myself and Richard Coutts - set out to leave a positive environmental legacy through our architectural designs. This includes the need to adapt to the effects of climate change, as well as to mitigate it.
Flooding, which is a natural but infrequent phenomenon, is one of the most visible effects of global warming and changing weather patterns. As the practice has taken on more water work, it has expanded to cover a wide range of projects from one-off projects to masterplans and infrastructure design, and all the time supported by regular research work for the government, the Technology Strategy Board, the World Bank and more.
Now that these projects are being approved, detailed, funded and constructed, we hope to expand to carry out more public realm and public buildings to help manage flood risk.
The recent weather reminds us that we need to better understand how water interacts with the built environment and endorses some of the messages the practice has been trying to make regarding ‘working with water’ rather than trying - and failing - to keep water out. The aim is to develop more resilient communities rather than just resilient buildings.
Historically, flood protection has been the role of engineers. But we believe we have demonstrated the benefit of an architect’s involvement.
The Amphibious House in Marlow can cope with over 2 metres of flood water. This is now under construction.
Another house in Oxfordshire, also under construction, is elevated above the peak flood levels on stilts, with a sustainable drainage system alongside to soak up rainwater. (Image credit: Baca Architects)
The Tidal Lagoon at Littlehampton West Bank is designed to relieve pressure on existing defences and properties by diverting storm water into a large inland storage lagoon before releasing it at low tide. (Image credit: Baca Architects)
Students from Liverpool University (Chantelle Arnold, Nikita Butler and Pradumn Pamidighantam) explored designs for a plaza that can flood, as part of the Littlehampton West Bank Regenerations
The Rain Square in Norwich soaks up the water during a rain storm before slowly releasing back into the ground. (Image credit: Atelier PRO)
Cluster Homes in Holland provide safety in numbers by providing a shared access and egress route without losing space for water. (Image credit: Baca Architects)
The ‘Drinking Policeman’ in London which is a cross between a sleeping policeman (or speed bump) and a swale, slows the traffic and the flow of water during a storm. This is combined with a green roofs, green walls and a large below ground attenuation tank to create a sustainable drainage system. (Image credit: Baca Architects)
A semi-external foyer space onto the canal front, doubles as a safe haven from flooding for the occupants of the new studio building and passers by. (Image credit: Baca Architects)
This concept of a safe haven has been extended to provide a safe refuge for residents of the lower ninth ward in New Orleans during hurricanes and flooding, set within in a former military building. (Image credit: Baca Architects)
The practice has also used water to the benefit of the design such as: The Sail and Ride Station in Amsterdam, which locates the new train station in the middle of the canal (where there are no other services) and the roof of the tunnels for pontoons to moor boats. (Image credit: Baca Architects)
A floating promenade and street will bring new life into the Salthouse Dock as part of a comprehensive Water Space Plan for Liverpool South Docks. (Image credit: Baca Architects)
In Dordrecht we proposed putting a park space on water, so that the valuable land could be used for development – a plan that may serve former dock cities in the UK well, such as Manchester, London or Glasgow. (Image credit: Baca Architects)
Each spate of flooding brings new enquiries, but we will only take on projects where there is an opportunity to reduce flood-risk overall. We are not interested in building afresh on floodplains, but where there is a need to regenerate brownfield sites or redevelop existing buildings that are at risk we will do so responsibly, working with the water, to make sure that the occupiers are safe; and that the neighbours are a little bit safer as a result of the new building work. Every small improvement we make will help to make the UK safer from flooding now and in the future.
We have turned down many enquiries for developers who have brought cheep land on the floodplain with the hope of unlocking it with floating building technology. Fundamentally the Environment Agency will not support residential development on the floodplain. The practice reviews each enquiry on a case-by-case basis and our focus has been to prioritise brownfield sites where there has been a clear case for betterment through an innovative approach. It has generated innovation in both theory and built work, while on occasions this may take longer to develop ultimately it results in projects which leave a positive legacy for future generations.
