Reconsidering Payment and Adjudication: Consultation on the 2011 Changes to the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (the “Construction Act”)

The UK government is currently consulting (until 19 January 2018) on the impact of the 2011 changes to the Construction Act and whether these changes have met their objectives.

In this article, Andrew Croft and Laura Lintott highlight industry concerns in relation to the Construction Act and its impact on late payment. They also consider the aim of the current consultation, the areas that the consultation will cover and provide information on how to get involved in the consultation.

To read the full article, please click here.

Written by: Andrew Croft and Laura Lintott of Beale&Company

Movie Night - Within Formal Cities

2017 was a very successful year for attendance of the AIA UK movie series, and we are most grateful to our membership & non-members for the support. We wound up tour 2017 series with the screening of 'Within Formal Cities,' by Brian Gaudio & Abe Drechsler.

The two young directors have architecture & urban planning experience in the USA, South America and Europe. They are both 2014 graduates of North Carolina State University, USA, and upon graduating, they received a grant to travel to 5 cities in South America. The cities studied were Lima, Santiago, São Paulo, Rio De Janeiro, and Bogotá, and they studied how architects & designers were trying to solve the housing crisis.

Their documentary covered the role of design in addressing the global housing crisis – no small ambition. "By 2050," the directors argued, "one fourth of the global population will live in informal settlements. Many people will lack adequate housing and infrastructure.”

Many thanks to all who attended this final screening, and we look forward to welcoming all of you back to the BFI in 2018 for more screenings & debates!

Written by: Chris Musangi, AIA

AIA UK Co-Sponsors Large Firm Roundtable

In association with chapter sponsor, Beale & Company, a meeting of representatives from a number of large firms took place on Friday, the 2nd of November.   Beale hosted the event at their offices in the City.  The purpose of the Roundtable was to facilitate discussion on subjects of common interest to large firms practicing in the UK.  The attendance was very good with 26 people participating.  Among the firms represented were; AHMM, Rafael Vinoly, Zaha Hadid, Calison RTKL, Jestico & Whiles, and Gensler.  The AIA UK was represented by President Fatos Peja, Deborah Bartlett, and Michael Lischer.  James Hutchinson from Beale chaired the discussion and kept the pace lively.

The agenda items included;  getting paid, the trend for contracts to put more liability on the architect, professional indemnity issues post Grenfell Tower, succession planning, and Brexit.   These topics generated some very interesting discussion and was an opportunity for participants to share their experiences in an open and congenial setting.  After the formal roundtable, most participants reconvened at a nearby pub where Beale provided drinks and nibbles.

The Roundtable was very productive and the feedback from the participants has all been very positive.  One attendee stated, "it's nice to know we are not alone"!  Thanks to Beale & Co. for their hospitality and organization of the event! 

Written by: Michael Lischer, FAIA

AIA UK 2018 Board - Call for Nominations!

If you are interested in getting involved with the AIA UK Chapter, please consider nominating yourself for a position on the 2018 board of directors.

You are welcome to make nominations for the board of directors and the four officer positions. The officer positions, are ideally held by a US licensed architects, but we will accept foreign licensed architects for nominations as well.

The only requirement for a board of directors positions is enthusiasm and a willingness to help with events and other chapter activities throughout the year.

If you would like to find out more about the positions, please contact Michael Lischer, FAIA at membership@aiauk.org by Friday 01 December, 5pm.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Eat Chelsea: Food-themed Proposals at the AIA UK Student Charrette 2017

Students from the University of Portsmouth and University of Westminster working on a biblical collage for their proposal ‘Infinity Bread.’

On October 21st, 48 students descended upon Chelsea to participate in the annual AIA UK Student Charrette at the Roca London Gallery.  The students represented universities from across the UK: teams were assembled from University of Kent, University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Ravensbourne, University of Portsmouth, University of Westminster, Oxford Brookes University, and Robert Gordon University.  Student teams were paired with AIA members who mentored them during the day-long event.

The second University of Kent team, presenting their cronut proposal with delicious imagery.

This year’s brief drew inspiration from the history of the region and its home to the Chelsea bun. Teams were asked to consider a food or beverage and the architectural and urban implications of producing, consuming and disposing of their product.  Responses were diverse – and some quite extreme – from urban farms that produced edible vegetables, and edible insects, to an ‘infinity bread’ that granted 100 years of sleep to the rich while using the proceeds of production to throw a feast for the poor.  

The furthest travelled team, Robert Gordon University from Aberdeen, presenting their proposal for an urban farm that grows produce and insects as the future of food.

Following presentations to the jury, comprised of Stephan Reinke, FAIA, David Bromell, and Amrita Raja, the students and mentors enjoyed a relaxed drinks reception before the winner was announced.  The jury commended the Oxford Brookes / Robert Gordon team, mentored by Kevin Flanagan, for their project ‘Moo-vement,’ a ramped grazing plane for the local production of ingredients for the Chelsea bun, and awarded the grand prize to the University of Kent team, mentored by Bea Sennewald, who proposed a bread factory that worked with the local tide and created a 7-hour cycle of production, consumption and distribution.  Members of the winning team took home a lovely gift pack from our sponsors, which included the recent publication, MAD Works MAD Architects.

The winning team, University of Kent, their mentor, Bea Sennewald, and the jury, Stephan Reinke, FAIA, David Bromell, and Amrita Raja.

Many thanks to our sponsors, Roca and Laufen for their hospitality and support.  As always, the Roca Gallery was an inspiring place for the students to work, and this year’s Roca team did a spectacular job from assisting students with printing, to jumping in as an impromptu jury member!  Thanks also to our jury and mentors: Bea Sennewald, Alex Miller, Alex McMillan, Elizabeth Daily, Francis Hur, Lutz Barndt, Kevin Flanagan and Stephen Lawler. The students truly appreciated your insight and guidance.  And to the students who came from near and far – we hope you had a fun time, and look forward to seeing your classmates next year!

Written by: Amrita Raja, AIA

Image Credits to Barima Owusu Nyantekyi (https://www.barima.co)

Please click here to see more photos of the event.

NEW SPONSOR, BAUDER, JOINS THE AIA UK

The AIA UK board of directors is delighted to announce Bauder as a new chapter sponsor! 

For over 150 years Bauder has been developing, manufacturing and supplying premier flat roof waterproofing systems. As Europe’s largest privately owned manufacturer of waterproofing membranes and insulation products, Bauder supplies all key system components and guarantees availability of supply over the lifetime of the roof.

Bauder provides a free of charge technical service offer from initial condition surveys, specifications, detail design and all relevant calculations - i.e. wind uplift, thermal etc. through to pre-start meetings, regular monitoring of the installation on site and sign off for guarantee. This service offer is provided by a nationwide team of 40 Technical Managers and 14 Site Technicians and supported by a large Technical Department based at its Ipswich headquarters.

Bauder’s range of flat roof waterproofing and insulation solutions ensures that they can provide the right system for your individual project:

• SBS Elastomeric Bituminous Membranes with a range of systems and installation methods
• Single Ply Membranes - Thermofol (PVC) and Thermoplan (FPO)
• Cold Liquid Applied Systems – for roofing, balconies, terraces and walkways
• Hot Melt Monolithic Membrane – Bakor 790-11 EV
• Green Roof Systems – a wide range of sustainable solutions for extensive, biodiverse and intensive green roof projects
• Insulation, Rooflights, Outlets and Accessories
• Photovoltaic Systems – lightweight, zero penetration, fast installation systems suitable for both new build and refurbishment projects

Installation is provided by a nationwide network of approved roofing companies who are fully conversant with Bauder’s roofing system requirements. All operatives undertake individual system training by Bauder and are issued an approved operative badge listing the systems they are trained to install. The company works closely with its approved contractors to provide comprehensive system guarantees.

For more information, simply call +44(0) 14 7325 7671 or email info@bauder.co.uk.

Please join us in welcoming Bauder to the AIA UK!

Written by: Yevgeniy Beylkin, Int. Assoc. AIA (with support from Bauder)