Build Architecture Awards

Build Architecture Awards 2015 78 Nick Baker takes us through how it feels to win this award and what the future has in store for his firm. We are thrilled and honoured for our work to be recognized with the award for Best Newly Constructed Residential Development. With Nick Baker Architects approaching their 10th year, and the project at Delancey Street having been part of the office for eight of these, the completion of the project and this recognition come at a poignant time for the practice. This award, and the completed building are the culmination of years of dedication to the principles of sustainable architecture, quality of detailing and commitment to the pursuit of high quality contemporary design within the historic context. Working in close collaboration with the engineering consultants and solar specialists we were able to deliver a project worth more than the sum of its parts. We were able to respond creatively and inno- vatively to what initially appeared to be urban constraints, creating a dynamic and sustain- able architectural feature in this challenging corner of Camden Town, London. Our firm is a well-established architectural practice based in central London, with a workforce of ten. We work in a variety of sectors with a particular focus on residential, education and conservation. Much of our work comes as a result of repeat business; we have a number of estab- lished clients including private individuals, bespoke developers, and UK Diocesan Boards of Education for Schools as well as London Boroughs. As an architectural practice we are always focused on the pursuit of quality, from the initial concept design through to the delivery of the completed building. Architecture is a blend of complex forces, from the needs dictated by individuals to the performance of building materials We believe there is design opportunity in every project and at every stage in the process. Understanding the culture, climate and identity of a place is key to a projects success. Every project is subject to ongoing in house design reviews, this process of demanding design selection ensures that the quality is maintained across all of our work. Solstice Point, our most recent and innovative project, is a design inspired by solar power. Analysis of the characteristics of the site identified a series of unique parameters. The south/ south west aspect and the fact that nothing could be built above the neighbouring railway line ensured a protected path to the power of the sun. Coupled with an aspiration to produce a new typology for sustainably supplying effective renewable energy to a residential development in a charismatic way, the project portrays the practice’s belief in working with its inherent environmental surroundings whilst pushing the boundaries of architectural design. Nick Baker Architects have coined the term ‘Eco-Functionalism’, a principle of evaluating environmental contextualism and producing architecture that performs to provide design solutions that inherently absorb energy to enable their functionality. Solstice Point is a typical example of Eco-Functionalism, exhibiting its solar ab- sorbing powers as a key element of its form and identity. We apply the principle of Eco-Functionalism to all project sizes and opportunities. The firm annually produces design projects in a process of architectural research. These self-initiated projects investigate locations/ opportunities within London that address existing but unidentified opportunities for enhancement. The Urban River Pockets and Best Newly Constructed Residential Development - Delancy Street – London, UK Nick Baker Architects Name: Nick Baker Email: [email protected] Company: NICK BAKER ARCHITECTS Address: 2nd Floor, Lindsey House 40-42 Charterhouse Street London, EC1M 6JN Telephone: 020 7490 0644 Fax: 020 7490 0595 Website: www.nickbakerarchitects.com