Courtesy of The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

The Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) Future Trends Survey for May 2016 has reported modest changes from April results, with the private housing sector remaining the strongest driver of growth. While the public sector is yet to see improvement, practices showed an overall confidence for future workloads, with North England continuing to remain the most positive. The survey, established in 2009, uses a geographically representative sample of mixed-size practices “to monitor business and employment trends affecting the architects’ profession.”

The RIBA Future Trends Workload Index saw an increase of +1 from April to May, with a balance of +30, showing that practices remain confident about their workloads for the coming three months. North England, with a balance figure of +48 in May, has consistently reported the most positive predictions in recent months. Comparatively, London was more reserved, with a reported figure of +20. The definition for the balance figure is the difference between those expecting more work and those expecting less.

When broken down by practice size, large firms have reported the highest level of confidence, with a balance figure of +83. Following this, small sized firms (balance figure +29) and medium firms (balance figure +27) remain firmly in the positive spectrum. 

This significantly outlying result from large firms is not translated to the Future Trends Staffing Index, where they reported a zero balance figure. Small firms reported a figure of +11, and medium firms +14.

Despite a slight drop from +33 to +29 in the sector index, private housing remains the dominant workload driver. The decrease was offset by a modest increase in the commercial sector, which rose to +15 from +11 in April. The lowest two performing sectors remain the public sector, which moved up from -1 in April to +1 in May, and community sector which saw a modest drop, down to -1 from +3.

Full results of the survey, including a graphical analysis, can be viewed here, and is updated each month.

News via The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

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© Piotr Bednarski

In the autumn of 2014, Piotr Bednarski, a Warsaw-based architectural photographer, visited the municipality of Novi Beograd (New Belgrade), a planned city built in 1948 which constitutes one of Belgrade Serbia’s 17 municipalities. There, he quickly fell in love with the gritty Communist-era architecture of the area. He writes:

In Warsaw, where I’m from, most of the residential buildings from the Communist era [have been] turned into kitschy, colorful blocks… Seeing the dense, raw and, desolate modernist architecture, and rediscovering the atmosphere of my childhood made me fall in love with Novi’s neighborhood. I saw people from different social backgrounds living peacefully in one place.

Since that initial trip, Piotr has made multiple return visits to capture the city in a variety of thought-provoking ways, showing long span views of the city, the streetscape, and even the view from inside people’s apartments. He believes that there is much to uncover in Novi Beograd, and that his story with New Belgrade is not yet finished.

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

© Piotr Bednarski

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© Francisco Nogueira

• Architects: Coletivo Cais
• Location: Praça da República, 8500 Portimão, Portugal
• Area: 486.0 sqm
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Francisco Nogueira

• Authors: Guilherme Bivar e Marta Pavão
• Construction: PMJ Construções Lda
• Electric Project: Pedro Miguel da Luz Cortes
• Structure: David Camões

© Francisco Nogueira

From the architect. From the existing plot, there was a sunny playground with two paved grounds and several playground equipments. The project had the main goal of qualifying the playground, by offering a significant area of shade, so essential to the permanence of both children and parents in the park during summer months.

© Francisco Nogueira

Roof Plan

© Francisco Nogueira

The shading structure is developed in the longitudinal direction of the square and is composed by 8 gantries, in which between it is fixed a micro-perforated screen. The colors used, white and terracotta, are the predominant colors of the landmark buildings of the

© Francisco Nogueira

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Courtesy of Studio Bark

London-based Studio Bark has revealed its plans for Black Barn, an environmentally conscious family home in Dallinghoo, Suffolk.

Based on an interpretation of local black agricultural barns, the 300-square-meter house will be clad in charred timber, an ancient Japanese form of natural preservation as a way to enhance the longevity and beauty of wood.

Courtesy of Studio Bark

The design is a modern yet sensitive interpretation of the humble black agricultural barns that have scattered the East Anglian countryside for centuries said the architect. 

Courtesy of Studio Bark

As a completely self-sustaining structure, Black Barn will feature a variety of environmentally conscious features, such as a solar array, bio-diesel generator with heat recovery system, battery storage, on-site sewage treatment, and water sourced via borehole.

Courtesy of Studio Bark

In order to take advantage of solar heat gain, the structure incorporates a large gable end to the south and tapered roof to the north, which will minimize heat loss, as well as circulate fresh air through high-level openings in the gable.

Courtesy of Studio Bark

Courtesy of Studio Bark

Black Barn will additionally reduce its carbon footprint by utilizing locally sourced timber, aggregate, and flint, and will minimize food miles by planting a domestic orchard of local tree species and vegetables. 

Courtesy of Studio Bark

Furthermore, the building aims to have as little impact as possible on its surroundings, and thus it is designed as a floating sculptural form to look as if it was hovering over the wild grass meadow.

• Architects: Studio Bark
• Location: Dallinghoo, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13, United Kingdom
• Area: 300.0 sqm
• Photographs: Courtesy of Studio Bark

Learn more about the project here.

News via Studio Bark. 

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