Categories All A new housing development which won the RIBA Stirling Prize for 2019 has been making headlines not only in industry magazines and websites but in mainstream news. The Goldsmith Street housing estate in Norwich was a popular nomination and most experts predicted well in advance that it would be a clear winner. I have written in the past about what makes a great family home (Faris Mousa: The Most Important Piece Of Furniture In Any Home) so let’s look at what makes this an award winning development Energy efficiency
Climate change is something which is affecting us all, and for which we all have a responsibility to address. Modern day architects must not only employ sustainable working practices, but also create buildings which are themselves energy efficient. Goldsmith Street was built to Passivhaus environmental standards, which is considered the ultimate goal. This covered even the tiniest of details, from the angle of the roof designed so that it didn’t cast shade on a neighbour, to external letterboxes which won’t create draughts through the front door. Not only is this great for the planet, but it will save residents an estimated 70 on their energy bills. Social harmony The development contains 105 homes, and they have been laid out in a way that encourages social interaction. Isolation can lead to poor mental and physical health, but in this neighbourhood it’s easy for residents to get to know their neighbours. Plenty of green space and childrens’ play areas have been located away from roads, too, which means they’re safe from traffic. Innovation There will be many social housing projects built this year and next year, across a great number of councils, by a variety of architects. And the easy choice is to build something exactly like everything else that has gone before. But Norwich’s council members had the bravery and ambition to try something new, and Mikhail Riches Architects and Cathy Hawley had the ability and expertise to create something completely truly original. So by breaking from the norm, the two have created something which benefits the residents, shines a positive light on Norwich, and hopefully will inspire others to be a little bolder.
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In a recent blog (Faris Mousa: The Pantheon still amazes nearly 2,000 years on) I said that the Pantheon was such an incredible feat of architecture that I wanted to write about it all by itself. I think it’s worthy of its own post, but that’s not to say it’s the only spectacle worth seeing in Rome. There are many more great buildings, both old and new, and here are a few more that I recommend for any traveller or fan of architecture.
Teatro Marcello This theatre was completed in 11BC and is still revered by architecture enthusiasts more than 2,000 years later. Its arches, columns and tunnels were revolutionary at the time, and its ability to comfortably hold an audience of 20,000 was a great showcase of Roman ingenuity. In fact, it was the inspiration for the much better know Colosseum, built around 70 years later. St Peter’s Basilica Rome is home to a great many religiously significant buildings, including an estimated 900 churches. The Vatican’s basilica is the most widely recognised, and it’s easy to see why. It took more than 100 years to build and was completed in 1626. Its design is the work of a string of world renowned architects, including Michelangelo who helped design the iconic dome, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, a sculpture who is responsible for much of its decoration. The Supreme Court One of the most important buildings in the country, where the ultimate rule of law is decided, it is also fittingly one of the most imposing and eye catching. The architecture is inspired by late Renaissance and Baroque styles and is so opulent (and took so long to build) that many locals still question how it was funded. But to the casual tourist, it’s an incredible sight. The National Museum of the 21st Century Arts Rome is recognised for its historic architecture but has continued to innovate and modernise. One of the best examples from modern times is Zaha Hadid’s MAXXI museum. Its sharp angles and bold curves, which provide a backdrop for the many contemporary exhibits and events which take place there, stand in stark and exciting contrast to the surrounding ancient buildings. There is plenty more to Rome than fantastic architecture — we haven’t even touched upon the magnificent food, culture or sport — and these four buildings (and the Pantheon, of course) are just a few of the many examples of iconic buildings. But hopefully this will give you enough of a taste to go and explore this beautiful city for yourself. In a recent blog (Faris Mousa: The Pantheon still amazes nearly 2,000 years on) I said that the Pantheon was such an incredible feat of architecture that I wanted to write about it all by itself. I think it’s worthy of its own post, but that’s not to say it’s the only spectacle worth seeing in Rome. There are many more great buildings, both old and new, and here are a few more that I recommend for any traveller or fan of architecture.
Teatro Marcello This theatre was completed in 11BC and is still revered by architecture enthusiasts more than 2,000 years later. Its arches, columns and tunnels were revolutionary at the time, and its ability to comfortably hold an audience of 20,000 was a great showcase of Roman ingenuity. In fact, it was the inspiration for the much better know Colosseum, built around 70 years later. St Peter’s Basilica Rome is home to a great many religiously significant buildings, including an estimated 900 churches. The Vatican’s basilica is the most widely recognised, and it’s easy to see why. It took more than 100 years to build and was completed in 1626. Its design is the work of a string of world renowned architects, including Michelangelo who helped design the iconic dome, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, a sculpture who is responsible for much of its decoration. The Supreme Court One of the most important buildings in the country, where the ultimate rule of law is decided, it is also fittingly one of the most imposing and eye catching. The architecture is inspired by late Renaissance and Baroque styles and is so opulent (and took so long to build) that many locals still question how it was funded. But to the casual tourist, it’s an incredible sight. The National Museum of the 21st Century Arts Rome is recognised for its historic architecture but has continued to innovate and modernise. One of the best examples from modern times is Zaha Hadid’s MAXXI museum. Its sharp angles and bold curves, which provide a backdrop for the many contemporary exhibits and events which take place there, stand in stark and exciting contrast to the surrounding ancient buildings. There is plenty more to Rome than fantastic architecture — we haven’t even touched upon the magnificent food, culture or sport — and these four buildings (and the Pantheon, of course) are just a few of the many examples of iconic buildings. But hopefully this will give you enough of a taste to go and explore this beautiful city for yourself. Categories All In 2020, there’s a podcast for every occasion. They’re relatively inexpensive to make, and easy to access — you can listen on your way to work, at the gym, or while doing DIY or jobs around the house. That means there’s a show for every interest, and architects and people interested in architecture are well catered for. Here are some of the more popular shows freely available today. The Architecture Happy Hour
Offered in bitesize chunks, Happy Hour won’t take up too much of your time but does give fun and informal insights into current architecture stories, ranging from career advice to buildings in the news (see Faris Mousa: The Notre Dame fire was a tragedy and a cause for optimism) Buildings on Air For something more in-depth, Buildings on Air offers lengthy shows in which the hosts and a varied cast of guests discuss a wide variety of architecture-related topics. Failed Architecture As the name suggests, this is one of the more informal architecture podcasts, but is very popular with its audience as it isn’t afraid to have frank discussions about architecture and its place in society, and even criticise bad architecture. Scaffold Scaffold is a fascinating podcast if you’re interested in learning more about the personalities that shape modern-day architecture and trends, with regular long-form interviews with people in the news. About Buildings and Cities This British-made podcast lives up to its name, but there’s much more besides. It’s a podcast about architecture, buildings and cities, from the distant past to the present day, but its hosts are fond of drifting off onto other topics that are just as informative and fun. 99% Invisible One of the most popular podcasts of the moment, 99% Invisible takes a look behind-the-scenes of the way everyday things are designed and built. This fascinating insight has created a huge audience ranging from industry insiders to the layman and offers something of value to every listener. Categories All Helical Bar has said that it is ‘definitely looking to buy more in Manchester’ following its acquisition of Dale House, a 42,000 sq ft office in Manchester, for £7.6m. The deal represented a 6.4% yield. The seven-story corner block in the Northern Quarter is multi-let to 12 tenants, at an average passing rent of £12/sq ft, and was sold by private individual Faris Mousa. Dale House is Helical Bar’s second purchase in Manchester in the last year, after the acquisition of the 250,000 sq ft Churchgate & Lee House in 2014 for £34m.
Will Parry, asset management executive, confirmed that the company was ‘definitely looking to buy more in Manchester’ although he said there was no set figure that Helical was looking to spend in the city. “We love the city, and we’re trying to be as active as possible,” he said. “We’re looking at city centre offices, and have also recently added to our industrial portfolio. The Northern Quarter is of interest, it has a Shoreditch feel with lots of interesting older buildings. However we review each asset on a case-by-case basis so are not targeting a particular type of building.” The sale of Dale House is the latest Northern Quarter block to attract investment from major London property companies, after Urban Splash’s Smithfield building in Oldham Street was bought by Kames Capital last September. The Dale House vendor was unrepresented. Adam Roberts of Zaman Roberts advised Helical Bar. Roberts said: “We believe there is a real rental growth story in the Northern Quarter, as the expansion of the city centre is going that way. This purchase was secured in an off-market deal, which we are pleased with as we believe that if the asset had been brought to market it would have been keenly sought after.” |
AuthorFaris Mousa is an entrepreneur based in Manchester who has worked on many residential and commercial projects. Faris Mousa is Director of Bluefig Investments (UK) Limited. It is a property investment and urban regeneration company. The company was incorporated on 2nd December 2014 and has registered offices located at 260 – 268 Chapel Street, Salford, Manchester, M3 5JZ Archives
July 2023
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