Messages from the British Embassy in Paris: Insights and Reports
The British Embassy in Paris recently played host to the UK Architecture Showcase, a two-day event aimed at celebrating the country's innovative and groundbreaking architects and engineers. Organized by the Department for Business and Trade, the event provided an opportunity for various practices to display their work to predominantly French investors, contractors, policymakers, and clients.
Prominent UK politicians, including Deputy Trade Commissioner Europe Jo Hawley, HM Trade Commissioner for Europe Chris Barton, and Gareth Thomas, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade, were in attendance.
Participating architecture practices included Bennetts Associates, Grimshaw, RSHP, WilkinsonEyre, Hawkins\Brown, GROUPWORK, David Kohn, Stanton Williams, Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, Design International, Allies & Morrison, WW+P, and Mamou-Mani. Engineers were also represented, with Atelier One, Buro Happold, Eckersley O'Callaghan, Price & Myers, Mott MacDonald, and Webb Yates taking part.
Many architects showcased their expertise in specific sectors. For instance, Sebastian Ricard from WilkinsonEyre presented the Battersea Power Station project, demonstrating the practice's proficiency in integrating industrial heritage within urban regeneration projects. On the other hand, Rob Naybour from WW+P showcased a series of infrastructure and transport projects, predicting that future cities would be judged as much for their transportation and infrastructure hubs as for their historical landmarks. Nick Gaskell from Hawkins\Brown focused on the practice's portfolio of workplace-led urban regeneration projects.
A unique collaboration was formed by The Stonemasonry Company, Webb Yates engineers, and Amin Taha's GROUPWORK. They showcased their work on prefabricated off-site solutions for load-bearing and post-tensioned stone structures, expressing their belief that pre-tensioned stone-and-timber hybrid structures would gradually replace concrete and steel frames as the norm for infrastructure and buildings. Neil Thomas, from structural engineering firm Atelier One, highlighted the importance of partnerships and collaboration in the battle to avert climate catastrophe. Their firm has invested in a company that provides affordable bamboo housing and is working with international governments to develop the necessary regulatory frameworks and expertise to accelerate the use of engineered bamboo.
The event blend elements of trade show and diplomatic soiree, offering a slightly surreal yet intriguing atmosphere, reminiscent of Merchant Ivory meets MIPIM.
Attendees were treated to a spectacle of UK architectural prowess and innovation, showcasing the country's commitment to collaboration, sustainability, and forward-thinking projects in the built environment.
[Relevant information from Enrichment Data: UK architecture practices like Hawkins\Brown exhibit their commitment to sustainability through innovative projects such as the "Brick from a Stone: Arch Revival" installation, showcasing stone brick construction without steel supports at Clerkenwell Design Week. Zaha Hadid Architects actively engage in events promoting architectural materiality and design, further highlighting their international presence and commitment to the built environment.]
- At the UK Architecture Showcase, engineers like Atelier One emphasized the significance of partnerships and collaboration, particularly in fighting climate change, as they've invested in a company that provides affordable bamboo housing.
- Zaha Hadid Architects, a UK practice known for their international presence and commitment to the built environment, actively participate in events promoting architectural materiality and design.
