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CONTACT - Guernsey Chamber of Commerce

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coMpaNY proFile | ABM Architects<br />

➜<br />

with access to modern technologies<br />

and materials. We believe we have<br />

a moral obligation to be designing<br />

sustainable buildings that are less<br />

demanding in respect <strong>of</strong> energy and<br />

resources as we feel this will be ever<br />

more important in the future’.<br />

BaS Mooarc’s latest commercial<br />

achievement to date is the elegant<br />

Glategny court, a project that combines<br />

traditional overtones and state <strong>of</strong><br />

the art design to create a striking<br />

<strong>of</strong>fice development along <strong>Guernsey</strong>’s<br />

prestigious seafront. However the<br />

creation <strong>of</strong> bespoke homes on some<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Guernsey</strong>’s most sought after<br />

sites are some <strong>of</strong> the practices more<br />

challenging but rewarding work.<br />

Jamie explains, ‘client expectations<br />

are higher than ever before as people<br />

have access to far more information<br />

through the internet and programmes<br />

such as Grand Designs. i also believe<br />

as a community we are searching for a<br />

new vernacular - a modern response to<br />

how live today – the kitchen as a ‘hub’,<br />

taking advantage <strong>of</strong> natural light and<br />

stunning views, the idea <strong>of</strong> blurring the<br />

boundaries between inside and outside.<br />

all this makes for an exciting mix <strong>of</strong><br />

56 | <strong>CONTACT</strong> | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010 | www.guernseychamber.com<br />

demands from our living spaces and<br />

we really enjoy the process <strong>of</strong> sitting<br />

down with clients at the beginning <strong>of</strong><br />

a project to work out how we create<br />

those ‘Honeymoon moments’!<br />

two <strong>of</strong> BaS Mooarc’s recent projects<br />

- les Bardeaux in <strong>Guernsey</strong> and le Foin<br />

Bas in Jersey have been shortlisted for<br />

the riBa Downland prize, the results<br />

<strong>of</strong> which are due to be announced in<br />

a few weeks. they have also won two<br />

prestigious awards in the UK property<br />

awards 2010, in the category <strong>of</strong> Best<br />

architecture (Single residence) in the<br />

UK, again for le Foin Bas, Jersey and<br />

another for the lodge, <strong>Guernsey</strong> a<br />

stunning home next to the reservoir.<br />

Both houses now go forward to the<br />

best house in the world category.<br />

it certainly appears that this talented<br />

group <strong>of</strong> directors is spearheading a<br />

company with exacting principles<br />

and beliefs. ‘Whatever the project, the<br />

BaS Mooarc philosophy is to fuse the<br />

aspects <strong>of</strong> space, light and material.<br />

these are the central elements <strong>of</strong><br />

our work, which we balance with<br />

respect for the heritage <strong>of</strong> our island,<br />

the impact on our local environment<br />

and the sustainability <strong>of</strong> the work we<br />

Top: The Lodge at the reservoir, St<br />

Saviours. Far left: Le Foin Bas Jersey.<br />

Left: Collingwood in <strong>Guernsey</strong>. Above:<br />

The new Glategny <strong>Chamber</strong>s is<br />

<strong>Guernsey</strong>’s most energy efficient<br />

public building.<br />

produce,’ explains Jamie. ‘Maximising<br />

the potential and opportunity <strong>of</strong><br />

each property and most importantly<br />

adding value through design for our<br />

clients is central to what we do’.<br />

although riBa and other industry<br />

awards adorn the <strong>of</strong>fice, as do countless<br />

national and international magazine<br />

articles on the properties they’ve<br />

created, they remain clear about what<br />

makes a successful building. as Jamie<br />

emphasised ‘it all comes down to<br />

the people who are ultimately going<br />

to use the building. Whether it is a<br />

home or a workspace we aim to create<br />

spaces that enhance the lives <strong>of</strong> the<br />

occupants. if we achieve this, then<br />

in our eyes, we have succeeded.’<br />

BaS Mooarc is a close-knit<br />

team <strong>of</strong> creative individuals who<br />

thrive on pushing the boundaries<br />

<strong>of</strong> restrictions and constraints from<br />

planning to construction. this<br />

simple ethos has contributed to<br />

the innovation <strong>of</strong> <strong>Guernsey</strong>’s built<br />

environment and although at times<br />

this has split opinion, there is no<br />

doubt it has given <strong>Guernsey</strong> a legacy<br />

<strong>of</strong> exciting design which this practice<br />

believe will stand the test <strong>of</strong> time.

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