A group of architects and engineers is working to convert shipping containers into intensive care units to help hospitals that are running low on space for COVID-19 patients.

The open-source project, dubbed Connected Units for Respiratory Ailments (CURA, or Latin for "cure") is harnessing the skills of experts from around the world to develop self-contained, mobile ICUs that can be plugged into hospitals or installed in parking lots.

"At the beginning we had around 100 people working on the design. But since making it public, over 2,000 people actually got interested in the project," Carlo Ratti, CURA co-founder and director of MIT's Senseable City Lab, told Day 6 host Brent Bambury.

Ratti said the first prototype unit, currently under construction in Italy, is nearly complete and is scheduled to be deployed in a hospital in Milan, one of the country's epicentres for the COVID-19 pandemic.

CURA units are designed to be far more than a giant metal box with a couple of beds inside. Each is set up with negative air pressure, creating a "bio-confinement" environment that can restrict the virus from leaving the chamber, Ratti explained.

It's one major advantage over the tent city-like triage centres that hospitals have been setting up to cope with the influx of patients, which Ratti said couldputdoctors and other health-care workers at risk of infection.

"By using containers, we are trying to combine the best of both worlds: having something as quick to deploy as a tent, but also safe to operate as a proper hospital with negative pressure in bio-confinement," he said.

Since the approximately six-metre-long shipping container design is more or less standard around the world, said Ratti, the CURA design should be more or less adaptable around the world.

"I think the most complicated thing is all the mechanical components inside in order to create negative pressure, to do heating and cooling. But once you sorted that out then it's quite easy to produce it," he said.

The medical equipment for two beds in each pod adds up to about $150,000 US ($210,000 Cdn) per container. Ratti said teams in Asia, Europe and the Americas are working on prototypes, and hope the price tag can be reduced if production begins to ramp up.

Federal health officials in Canada said Thursdaythere could bebetween 23,000 and 46,000 ICU admissions over the course of the pandemic, if 2.5 to five per cent of the country's population became infected with COVID-19.

In Ontario one of the provinces hardest hit bythe pandemic modelling releasedApril 3 showedit would need to add an extra 900 intensive care beds to cope with a projected steep rise in COVID-19 patients over the following two weeks.

Ratti hopes that his project will help shift a popular view both among outsiders and some in the profession that architecture is concerned first and foremost with aesthetics and beauty over form and function.

"If, as designers and architects, we keep on looking at you know, just beautifying useless objects, then it's going to be oblivion," he said, channelling a quote from American architect and theorist Buckminster Fuller.

"But if [we] are going to tackle the main challenges that we have today think about climate change; think about, in this case ... the response to the pandemic, but many, many others then architecture and design can really play a central role in our society."

Written by Jonathan Ore. Interview produced by Yamri Taddese.

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Architects and engineers are turning old shipping containers into mobile intensive care units - CBC.ca

For the duration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, AN will use this column to keep our readers up to date on how the pandemic is affecting architecture and related industries. This weekly article is meant to digest the latest major developments in the crisis and synthesize broader patterns and what they could mean for architecture in the United States. The previous edition of the column can be found here.

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to pummel the entire country, it is hitting certain populations harder than others, particularly black, Latino, and Native American people. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the CDC released its first national data tracking race among COVID-19 patients, which showed that in March, the percentage of black [hospitalized COVID-19] patients (33 percent) was much higher than the percentage of African-Americans in the population as a whole. Local data from cities and states tracking race among COVID-19 patients showed that the health disparity is even worse in certain areas: In Louisiana, about 70 percent of the people who have died are black, though only a third of that states population is; African-Americans account for72 percent of virus-related fatalities in Chicago, even though they make up a little less than a third of the population, according to the Times; the virus has killed more people in the Navajo nation than in the much larger state of New Mexico; and, as of Thursday,all the people who have died in St. Louis so far from COVID-19 complications have been black.

Why is this the case?

The answer could have something to do with architecture, particularly housing. According to public health experts, while other factors, like implicit bias in healthcare and higher rates of heart disease and diabetes, certainly play a role in the racial coronavirus disparities, crowded housing in low-income neighborhoods could be facilitating the spread of the disease and increasing weathering, or the wear and tear of environmental stresses on the body, which increases the severity of coronavirus cases.

Urban design inequities also almost certainly play a role in transmissioneven with social distancing rules in full effect, subway stations in predominantly black and Latino neighborhoods in the Bronx in New York City are packed with commuting essential workers.

COVID-19 has been a magnifying glass on the weaknesses in our systems, said Kimberly Dowdell, principal at HOK and president of the National Organization for Minority Architects (NOMA). Though racialized housing disparities are nothing new, the stark death toll of the pandemic is harshly illustrating those disparities effects.

Theres a saying that when America sneezes, the black community catches a cold, Dowdell said, pointing to an enormous wealth gap between black and white Americans as one of the main reasons why black people in the U.S. suffer more acutely during crises like the current one.

The Brookings Institution recently reported that in 2016, the net worth of a typical white American family ($171,000) was nearly ten times greater than that of a typical black American family ($17,150). While a variety of discriminatory policies have sowed the seeds for the current imbalance, racist urban planning has played an enormous part. Redlining, which started in the early 20th century and often continues in some form today, is a term for the once-legal practice of denying investments and bank loans to predominantly black neighborhoodsbanks would outline such areas in red on maps. The practice discouraged investment in black-owned homes and businesses, which lost value over generations, resulting in not only a racial wealth gap but spatial disparities, as well. Many predominantly black neighborhoods have fewer grocery stores, are closer to polluting industries, and lack high-quality affordable homes.

Even after the pandemic subsides, vulnerable populations will still be at risk from the next crisis and will potentially be in even a weaker state. One answer, Dowdell said, is for communities to invest in predominantly black and brown neighborhoods to decrease the wealth gap and increase resiliency. That kind of recovery will require a mix of policy, development, and design professionals working together, ideally with teams that reflect the communities theyre serving.

Diverse teams are really important, Dowdell said. Architecture should reflect the communities that they serve form a racial perspective.

Dowdell pointed to Chicago, where she lives, and where Mayor Lori Lightfoot has focused on the citys racialized spatial inequality in her mission to eliminate endemic poverty within a generation.

If theres a team that goes into certain communities, it would be great if there were certain people who were from that community or at least have some level of familiarity with the culture and of the community, Dowdell said. For example, if were looking at the South Side of Chicago [which is over 90 percent African American], and you dont have African-African team members, thats a missed opportunity.

Building teams that reflect underserved neighborhoods could be more difficult after the pandemic, as the economic downturn may be harder on architects who come from those areas.

I do think that black communities are going to have a harder time recovering, Dowdell said. Its going to be a challenge for everyone, but I think that given the wealth gaps, architects of color will probably struggle to get back to where they were.

As jobs, internships, and salaries decline, even if only temporarily, as a result of the pandemic, those without a cushion of family money or who financially support loved ones could have to leave the profession for greener pastures. The racial wealth gap means that black and other minority architects may flee in greater numbers, damaging diversity in a profession that is already overwhelmingly white. As of 2019, only 2 percent of NCARB certificate holders identify as black or African American, and less than 1 percent identify as Latino.

What can architects do? Dowdell touted NOMAs national network as a way for architects of color to support each other and find opportunities, including the groups new NOMA Foundation Fellowship, which offers a stipend and internship for architecture students. NOMA is launching a new weekly web series, Stay All In for NOMA, which will help members stay informed during the pandemic. Dowdell also suggested that architects get involved with local NOMA chapters to organize and advocate for city and state planning policies that invest in underserved neighborhoods. For those already working on projects advancing social justice, NOMA is partnering with the NAACP and the SEED Network advocacy group on the Design Awards for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI), which will recognize excellence in those categories.

No matter what, Dowdell said, an architect can do something.

In other corona news from this week, AN covered new hospitals and healthcare spaces deployed for the pandemic, and the AIAs new assessment tool for adapting existing buildings into coronavirus treatment sites. The crisis continues to demand innovative thinking, and in Florida, autonomous vehicles are delivering medical supplies. For the housebound, we also highlighted many exhibitions you can check out from home, including robot-assisted gallery tours, a French show exploring AI and architecture, virtual Frank Lloyd Wright tours, and a virtual exhibit on a balmy shore. We picked some picks to catch up on, too.

Enjoy, and be well!

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How architecture is exacerbating the coronavirus crisis for minorities and black Americans - The Architect's Newspaper

in a rural area of northamptonshire in the UK, will gamble architects has completed a sensitive extension to a grade 2 listed victorian house. the project makes use of a disused cattle shed and the ruins of a former parchment factory and scheduled monument. using a selection of honest materials, the new intervention is inserted into the remaining traces of the structures, blending the past and present together in one symbiotic relationship.

all images johan dehlin

the clients initial brief was to convert the cattle shed and demolish the factory ruins to make way for a new extension. rather than viewing it as a constraint, will gamble architects saw the ruin as a positive asset and instead proposed a building within a building where two lightweight volumes could be delicately inserted within the masonry walls in order to preserve and celebrate it.

a palette of honest materials was chosen both internally and externally which references the sites history and the surrounding rural context. externally, corten steel, oak, and reclaimed brick has been used. the extension was built out of upcycled materials predominantly found on site which was both cost effective and sustainable, while allowing the proposal to sensitively blend into its surroundings.

internally the structural beams of the existing cattle shed were exposed as well as the steelwork to the new parts the stone walls were re-pointed and washed in lime to create a mottled effect and a concrete plinth was cast along the base to create a monolithic skirting. a contemporary kitchen (also designed by will gamble architects) juxtaposes the uneven and disordered nature of the ruin and continues the theme of a modern intervention set within a historic context.

project info:

project name: the parchment works house

project type: residential

location: northamptonshire, UK

architect: will gamble architects

duration: 2017 2019

photography: johan dehlin

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readershere.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom

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will gamble architects inserts a contemporary extension into factory ruins in the UK - Designboom

entitled 12, a cabin dwelling designed by ORTRAUM architects is completed along the edge of helsinkis jollas peninsula. the 72 square meter timber house was planned as an addition to an existing 150 square meter home built in the 1960s. the client couple needed two main spaces a ceramics workshop and a music composing studio while the organization of the plan needed to be flexible enough to function additionally as a guest house and future home for one of the two children in the family, so bathroom and kitchen spaces were included.

all images by marc goodwin

12 by ORTRAUM architects is designed to serve as a model structure for environmentally friendly architecture and infill projects within its suburban finnish context. the building is built on top of the existing 6x6m concrete foundation of an old garage, avoiding groundwork on site completely. timber elements were ordered tailor-made, and installed on top of the concrete base within one day, creating a minimal impact on the neighborhood. the building is ventilated naturally. the roof slopes towards the south and is equipped with solar panels, providing the energy for running the ground source heat pump of the main home.

the massing of the house is divided into two levels, an organization expressed visually from the dwellings exterior. formalized as an irregularly shaped volume stacked upon a rectangular block, these volumes each represent two different programs. the design team playful formal strategy generates a dynamic and sculptural architecture which expresses a different character when viewed from each perspective, reacting to the corner location on the property with by-passers moving closely around the building. the exterior timber cladding will turn grey with time and blend in with the adjacent forest and rocky surroundings.

project info:

project title: 12

architecture: ORTRAUM architects

location: helsinki, finland

photography: marc goodwin

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ORTRAUM architects plays with volumes in the design of its dwelling: '12' - Designboom

How Will the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package Affect Architects? | 2020-03-27 | Architectural Record This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

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How Will the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package Affect Architects? - Architectural Record

I dont have a creative mind can i still be an architect? | Forum | Archinect '); }, imageUploadError: function(json, xhr) { alert(json.message); } }}); /*$(el).ckeditor(function() {}, {//removePlugins: 'elementspath,scayt,menubutton,contextmenu',removePlugins: 'liststyle,tabletools,contextmenu',//plugins:'a11yhelp,basicstyles,bidi,blockquote,button,clipboard,colorbutton,colordialog,dialogadvtab,div,enterkey,entities,filebrowser,find,flash,font,format,forms,horizontalrule,htmldataprocessor,iframe,image,indent,justify,keystrokes,link,list,maximize,newpage,pagebreak,pastefromword,pastetext,popup,preview,print,removeformat,resize,save,smiley,showblocks,showborders,sourcearea,stylescombo,table,specialchar,tab,templates,toolbar,undo,wysiwygarea,wsc,vimeo,youtube',//toolbar: [['Bold', 'Italic', 'BulletedList', 'Link', 'Image', 'Youtube', 'Vimeo' ]],plugins:'a11yhelp,basicstyles,bidi,blockquote,button,clipboard,colorbutton,colordialog,dialogadvtab,div,enterkey,entities,filebrowser,find,flash,font,format,forms,horizontalrule,htmldataprocessor,iframe,image,indent,justify,keystrokes,link,list,maximize,newpage,pagebreak,pastefromword,pastetext,popup,preview,print,removeformat,resize,save,smiley,showblocks,showborders,sourcearea,stylescombo,table,specialchar,tab,templates,toolbar,undo,wysiwygarea,wsc,archinect',toolbar: [['Bold', 'Italic', 'BulletedList','NumberedList', 'Link', 'Image']],resize_dir: 'vertical',resize_enabled: false,//disableObjectResizing: true,forcePasteAsPlainText: true,disableNativeSpellChecker: false,scayt_autoStartup: false,skin: 'v2',height: 300,linkShowAdvancedTab: false,linkShowTargetTab: false,language: 'en',customConfig : '',toolbarCanCollapse: false });*/ }function arc_editor_feature(el) { $(el).redactor({minHeight: 300,pasteBlockTags: ['ul', 'ol', 'li', 'p'],pasteInlineTags: ['strong', 'br', 'b', 'em', 'i'],imageUpload: '/redactor/upload',plugins: ['source', 'imagemanager'],buttons: ['html', 'format', 'bold', 'italic', 'underline', 'lists', 'link', 'image'],formatting: ['p'],formattingAdd: {"figcaption": {title: 'Caption',args: ['p', 'class', 'figcaption', 'toggle']},"subheading": {title: 'Subheading',args: ['h3', 'class', 'subheading', 'toggle']},"pullquote-left": {title: 'Quote Left',args: ['blockquote', 'class', 'pullquote-left', 'toggle']},"pullquote-centered": {title: 'Quote Centered',args: ['blockquote', 'class', 'pullquote-center', 'toggle']},"pullquote-right": {title: 'Quote Right',args: ['blockquote', 'class', 'pullquote-right', 'toggle']},"chat-question": {title: 'Chat Question',args: ['p', 'class', 'chat-question', 'toggle']}, "chat-answer": {title: 'Chat Answer',args: ['p', 'class', 'chat-answer', 'toggle']}, },callbacks:{ imageUpload: function(image, json) { $(image).replaceWith('

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I dont have a creative mind can i still be an architect? - Archinect

Bungie has earned a large fan base with the popularity of its Halo andDestiny franchises, but the developerseems to beworking on something new. Previous statements suggestDestiny 3 isn't coming anytime soon, and Bungie confirmed last September that it's looking beyondDestinyto develop new franchises. Little is known about Bungie's next game, but one fan may have figured out what it will be about.

The current season of Destiny 2, called Season of the Worthy, has brought the game into a bit of a content drought. There's still the returning Trials of Osiris PvP mode, of course, but the general lack of other exciting things to do has led some fans tobelieveBungie's focus has turned away from Destiny 2 entirely. With Bungie hinting that Destiny 3 might not launch until after 2020, it appears the studio's focus is on its new IP, rather than a Destiny 2 follow-up.

Related:Destiny 2's Rasputin Bunker Slide Is The Game's Freshest Content

Reddit user DovahSpy recently shared a theoryon what this next game could be about. In the Halo series, players who went out of bounds during a multiplayer match were automatically killed and received the message "Killed by the Guardians."In Destiny, player characters - called Guardians - instead receive the message "Killed by The Architects,"so it follows that Bungie's next IP will star a player character faction called Architects. It's a simple theory, but a sound one, as Bungie's games have a habit of referencing one another. A Halo: ODST Easter egg, for instance, teased Destiny before it was announced.

If the protagonists of Bungie's new game are indeed called Architects, it could shed some light on the new game's premise. Since Destiny's Guardians protect humanity and Halo's Spartans are legendarily skilled warriors, Architects might build or design something in the new game's world. Still, this alone isn't much to go off of, but Bungie has indirectly revealed other details about its new game that create a clearer picture.

Bungie filed a trademark for a project called"Matter" in 2018, which suggests an emphasis on physical substances (and, if it's about Architects, perhaps building materials). Additionally,BungieMatter job listingshinted at a "comedic," "lighthearted," and "whimsical" game focused on competitive play, as well as an emphasis on "combat animation" and on "how character design can enable fan cosplays."While mentions ofRPG-like gameplay systems and loot drops suggest otherwise, these other details bring to mind Fortnite, a whimsical, competitive shooter with iconic character designs and in which players build things. Perhaps Bungie is aiming to capture some of Epic Games' success with its next game, whetherMatter turns out to be Destiny 3 or an entirely new franchise.

Next:Bungie Says Destiny 3 Fans Will Need To Wait A Little Longer

Tiger King: Where Are All Of Joe Exotic's Husbands Now?

Camden Jones is a freelance reporter and regular contributor to Screen Rant. He also contributes to sites like GameRevolution and ESPN Esports, and he is a former Game Informer intern. A graduate of the the Missouri School of Journalism, Camden writes mostly about video games and the people who play them, but he has dabbled in topics such as the Missouri state government and artificial cattle insemination.Visit Camden's website to see his full portfolio of work, including features, podcasts, and videos. You can also follow him on Twitter @CCJ1997 for updates on his latest work and thoughts on gaming, environmentalism, and K-pop, or email him at ccj1997(at)gmail(dot)com.

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Why Destiny 2 Fans Think Bungie's New Game Will Be About Architects - Screen Rant

This photo shows the software in use; although this shot was taken in an office, many architects are currently working from home. Courtesy of Spacemaker

The coronavirus outbreak isnt halting some architects from plunging ahead on early-stage design concepts. In fact, Norwegian company Spacemaker has seen an increase in the use of its software since lockdown took place in European countries. Find out how its AI-based software is not only a solution in times of crisis but for the future of design.

Many countries in Europe are currently mandating either semi or total lockdown, forcing citizens to remain at home. Before the outbreak, certain companies were already allowing employees to work from home but many companies were still resisting the home-office trendexcluding industries in which it is impossible. Now, companies who can enable home-office are finding its the only way to maintain progress.

Were undergoing an interesting time in history, where Artificial Intelligence and Robotics are pulling through as essential tools. As many professionals are homebound, its the perfect time for Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has already taken over a number of industries and disciplines, to spread faster in the field of Architecture.

Although the use of AI in architecture is still in its infancy, a few companies are providing AI-tech solutions for project design.

Spacemaker, for example, has developed a game-changing AI technology that helps users discover smarter ways to maximize the potential of a building site. Users can generate and explore a multitude of site proposals for which the software provides a detailed analysis. The software is also a platform for collaborative workflow among architects, engineers, real estate developers and municipalities.

We developed a self-service software for our subscribers. The users are expertsthe architects, urban planners, engineers, already working on urban projects. AI will never replace these experts, only help them complete their tasks quicker, Spacemaker CEO and cofounder Havard Haukeland told ArchiExpo e-Magazine in an interview via video conference.

As most mistakes occur during the early stages of building design, only to be realized six months down the line or during construction, the software focuses on that phase. The original version relied perhaps too much on AI technology, according to Haukeland; users would plug in the details of their needs and the software would provide smart proposals, making it less flexible for the creative mind of an architect.

Architecture and the exploration of design is about collaboration and using intuition, which cannot be handled mathematically. For our second version of the tool, we decided to combine architecture intuition and artificial intelligence. AI becomes a proactive support without running the show, so to speak.

The first version had only been available for six months when the team at Spacemaker expanded the product, doubling the amount of code in eight weeks to combine data automation with AI-driven design, real-time analysis and a collaboration platform. The software is also made compatible with other drawing tools such as ArchiCad and Rhino.

[When we published our second version], we really saw a major increase of use. Weve also found that users tend to start with our software first, then move to drawing software because [ours] is more specific and its easier to set up a sitethe software can generate a 3D model in several minutes.

Were still at the beginning of the journey, according to Haukeland. Riding the AI wave in all its excitement is precisely the moment to take caution. We can get too distracted by the amazement of AI, he said.

We need to put importance on the customer value of technology instead of saying AI should be used for everything. If we dedicate our work to the opportunities of AI, we might miss the real objective: helping people.

Our software will continue to evolve but we will focus on the end users needs.

At the current moment, the Spacemaker software is a hybrid AI systemusing AI to manage workflow and generate faster results while maintaining human intuition. The company plans on building new products in the future to be more dedicated to the value chain and mix-use projects such as offices, hospitals and schools. At this time, its software is mostly used for residential projects often located in urban settings. Architects and urban planners are the main user types, exploring design options the software generates that meet city requirements and client needs, such as avoiding noise pollution from traffic.

Architecture professionals embracing AI software are several steps ahead of those who dont, according to Haukeland.

Our belief here at Spacemaker and what our customers tell us is that once youve seen the opportunities of AI and other technologies, like the Cloud, but the architects who use AI will surely replace the architects who dont. AI will never replace the architect. Those who embrace will get a step ahead of those who dont.

Read a similar interview we published recently: AI Software by Habx Generates Personalized 7-minute Floor Plans. Both Habx and Spacemaker are a part of the Intelligence Artificielle et Architecture exhibition in Paris, currently closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. The video below is in French only.

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Interview. Homebound Due to the Coronavirus Outbreak, Architects Use AI Software to Progress - ArchiExpo e-Magazine

Steel stilts elevate Narula House, a British dwelling on banks of a River Thames tributary that has been designed by John Pardey Architects to endure flooding.

The wood-clad Narula House is intended to evoke an abstract object beside the river Loddon near Wargrave, which is identified as a flood zone.

John Pardey Architects (JPA) completed the house for a client who wanted a striking property that overlooked the river and offered plenty of space to entertain guests.

It is raised on stilts to keep the house and its services well above predicted flood levels, while allowing the clients to "enjoy life as if on a cruise liner" during times of flooding.

"The client had been dreaming for some time of building their own 'wow' house, a comfortable modern home to enjoy as a couple and a great place for entertaining large gatherings of family and friends both inside and outside," JPA's Chris Gray told Dezeen.

"The new house and all servicing has been raised well above predicted flood levels which allows the client to embrace flooding as part of the life on the river," Gray continued.

"During the days floating above the flood water, they enjoy life as if on a cruise liner!"

Narula House is the third dwelling completed by JPA along the banks of the Loddon, and so it was familiar with the challenges and demands that came with building in the flood zone.

According to the studio, the potential flood depth for the site is recorded as 1.17 metres so the dwelling is positioned 2.2 metres above ground to accommodate the potential threat of increased water levels caused by climate change.

"It is very much a response to this particular site and client brief, however many aspects of the design would be familiar to anyone looking to build in a flood zone," said Gray.

"The basic approach is for the house to sit lightly on the ground, keep the house and services well above predicted flood levels and allow the free-flow of floodwater across the site."

Narula House has a slender steel framed structure that is raised on piled foundations. Its site has been landscaped to allow the free flow of floodwater across it.

It is distinguished by a single, linear form that aligns with the north and south cardinal points contrasting with the meandering river over which it looks.

"The logical placement of the house might have been to align it with the river's edge, so it would face south-east however we chose to align it so as to play off the diagonal path of the river with accommodation facing south," said JPA.

"The rectilinear house aligned with the cardinal axes counterpoints the meandering river beautifully, reinforcing both."

Narula House's materiality was intended to evoke an abstract object hovering above the meadow, and features sweet chestnut cladding with a translucent preservative coating that offers a light, white finish.

This is teamed with fibre cement panel infills around its glazed areas, and an earthy grey brick chimney structure that extends up from a ground level barbecue area.

The dwelling is accessed by an open tread staircase, which leads onto an entrance deck with a sheltered front door made from natural iroko wood.

This opens into a generous lobby area and central courtyard, which features a second staircase down to the grassy riverbank.

On the westside of the courtyard is a large open-plan living space, which has unbroken views of the river.

It is enveloped by a balcony sheltered by an overhanging roof, which JPA designed to offer solar shading.

The same roof overhangs the east side of the house, which contains the residence's private living spaces.

Branching off a linear hallway that runs the length of the house, these private living spaces include a study, utility room, cloakroom, and three ensuite bedrooms.

Throughout the home, the interiors feature deliberately simple, light finishes to help create the feeling of openness.

They are lined with timber flooring and decorated with the client's own furnishings including many 20th century design classics in a bid to create a "wonderful autobiographical feel".

Narula House is complete with an annexe for guests accessed from the home's main entrance via a glass-lined corridor.

The annexe takes the form of a freestanding pavilion and has a lift for access.

JPA is a Lymington-based architecture studio founded in 2000 by John Pardey.

In December 2019, Narula House's site flooded after a period of extreme rainfall that raised the water table significantly. This was captured in a photo by the client.

Other recent projects on Dezeen that are designed to endure flooding includes Bates Masi's Kiht'han house on Long Island, which is lifted above the ground and features lower-level screens to let water pass underneath.

Photography is by James Morris and drone footage is by Electric Blue.

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Narula House raised on stilts over River Thames flood zone - Dezeen

Mario Cucinella, Grimshaw, Archi-Tectonics, WORKac, Ennead, FXCollaborative, Weiss/Manfredi Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, SHoP Architects, Behnisch Architekten, 3XN Architects, GCA architecture: these are the 12 architectural studios featured in The Architect Series, the event format SpazioFMGperl'Architettura has been offering to the public since the spring of 2018.At this suspended time, when the rhythms of our working day have changed and the populations of countries all over Europe and the world are living under lockdown, web portals and corporate web sites have been making their content archives available to the general public via streaming, and online entertainment has become a valid way for people to enjoy interesting and educational content in their free time. SpazioFMGperl'Architettura offers users of the Floornature portal the complete series of 12 events in The Architect Series, the exhibition format created by The Plan magazine for the gallery and showroom of Iris Ceramica and FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti, top brands in the Iris Ceramica Group. While waiting for the thirteenth event in the series, cancelled in compliance with the Italian regulations for containment of the covid-19 virus, everyone can take a peek behind the scenes of selected well-known architectural practices through the documentary films in the series. Each episode is a double event, as video interviews conducted by The Plan in SpazioFMG per l'Architettura during meetings with the architects and extracts of their lectures in Milan are now also available online.

The series began with a look at an important Italian architect, Mario Cucinella, and his studio MC A. The event offered the audience at SpazioFMG per l'Architettura a sneak preview of the exhibition Archipelago Italia for the Italian Pavilion at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, as well as introducing the theme of sustainability and the work of SOS - School of Sustainability.Sustainability is the cross-cutting key concept also present in other architectural studios projects, from the Sustainability Pavilion for Expo Dubai 2020 by Grimshaw and presented by Andrew Whalley, the studios Deputy Chairman, to the digital crafting and innovative approach of Winka Dubbeldam, the architect of Dutch origin who founded Archi-Tectonics. As well as the work of architects Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, founders of WorkAC, through integration of functions combining architecture, landscape and ecological systems. Complete, sustainable projects made possible by the discussion, collaboration and cooperation underlying major international studios and collectives such as Ennead, presented by founding Design Partner Tomas Rossant; FXCollaborative, presented in SpazioFMG by senior partner Dan Kaplan; SHoP Architects with co-founder Corie Sharples, Behnisch Architekten with Stefan Behnisch and 3XN Architects with founder Kim Herforth Nielsen. Multidisciplinarity and research are the key themes of the presentation by architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi of WEISS/MANFREDI, Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, founded in New York in 1989, and Kai-Uwe Bergmann, partner in BIG, Bjarke Ingels Group. The last episode in the series before this obligatory break, only recently made available online, is a documentary film focusing on GCA architecture, presented by its founder Josep Juanpere with Andrea Navarro and Juan Velasco (associate members).br />(Agnese Bifulco)

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All the events in SpazioFMG's The Architect Series now available via streaming - Floornature.com