CONTACT - Guernsey Chamber of Commerce
CONTACT - Guernsey Chamber of Commerce
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.