Jake Ireland received an award in this annual competition to challenge, reward and recognise talented young professionals in the built environment. Open to professionals aged 30 and under (40 in the case of architecture), and spanning across the construction, engineering, quantity surveying and architecture sectors, this award is intended to identify the next generation of future leaders/CEOs from within construction.

Emap Construct In association with Blackberry.

Published in Architects’ Journal, 21 January 2008.

Exhibited at The Building Centre, London WC1E, January to May 2008.

Featured in Open House London 2007 and 2009.

The proposal celebrates the harsh, saline conditions by conceiving of the beach hut as a timepiece. A simple ‘floating’ cubic form clad in metal panels of varying rates of corrosion, enabling the measurement of the seasons through subtly changing weathering patterns. It becomes an experiment into entropy and decay.

Strategic placement of openings in the slowly rusting skin responds to views and gives a changing quality of light and shadow to the calm interior.

A flexible space for sunning, resting, dreaming, changing, showering, watching, sketching, partying, dozing … as well as a home for wildlife.

Corten steel clads the large wall panel (folding down as a seating deck) facing the sea to the East; the remainder of the East façade is 3mm stainless steel plate, wrapping round to cover the North face (mirror-polished 316-steel, reducing corrosion rates and bouncing light in the space between huts). The West façade rusts rapidly while retaining integrity (4mm min. oiled mild steel proposed). Aluminium-bronze covers the South façade (highly resistant to atmospheric/ saline corrosion with an attractive gold-toned coloration), with photovoltaic panels.

The galv. steel frame is infilled with stud panels. The interior is designed for flexibility of use. Cladding to walls and floor is black-stained/ natural plywood panels, with folding-down panels for bed/ seating. Movable furniture is ply/acrylic. Kitchen and shower facilities are provided, with deck-chair storage. Exterior lighting below the cube enhances the ‘floating’ impression. Wheelchair access is by ramping up to the seating deck. Windows on the South and West sides are protected by sliding timber grilles. The frameless-glazed Southeast corner supplies views and morning sun.

A green roof – sedum, with wild flowers – supports insects. A Barn Owl ‘funnel’ box to the Northwest corner of the roof is appropriate for more isolated locations.

A beach hut to celebrate change and uncertainty.

The new Lift Parliament building must be a joyful celebration of community and cultural diversity and an exemplar of sustainable construction.

The building will be a temporary landmark that is able to generate and focus energy while also being recognisable, open and friendly. Calm, elegant contemporary detailing will enable it to fit in with the many different places it will visit. Flexible, welcoming and optimistic it is also highly sustainable.

The prefabricated system incorporates the following main features:

• Kerto timber structure – this is probably the most sustainable and efficient structural material readily available. A simple portal frame will be straightforward to hoist into place.
• ETFE panels will be very easy to install as both walls and roof, self-supporting between the Kerto frame, and supplying diffuse light, enclosure and thermal insulation.
• Freestanding concrete foundation pads suitable for almost all conditions.
• Photovoltaic panels (integral in the Zinc roofing system, which also enables a complete black out of main performance/ meeting space to be achievable).
• The wind turbine supplies energy and acts as a visual marker for the building.

Use of glass screens and the raising of some ETFE panels, to give a variety of visual and actual links to the local environment.

The team has previous experience of public consultations on major urban planning proposals and design of temporary structures and would welcome the opportunity of working with Lift on this vital project.

Shinkenchiku Residential Design Competition 2004 in collaboration with Japan Architect magazine

Isometric views

Perspective view

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