An icon lives on

 On a recent visit to London local architect Jane Faulkner was over awed by the presence of one key building, no not a contemporary building but St Paul's Cathedral. Despite its vast age now three and half centuries on (it was built in c 1685) its presence ever looms, made moreso during the festive period with its lighting amongst the festivities.

"I had been out for the evening with family to Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, an equal powerful experience. On our departure a glance out the window from the bar St Paul's was captivating across the Thames we couldn't not take a late evening walk after to it." Next to Shakespeare’s Globe theatre and offset against the 21st century Millennium bridge you walk this across the Thames with a sight line of St Pauls ahead of you. You can feel its raison d'etre across centuries, the then practice the pull for pilgrims across the land and from as far as Rome. Architect Christopher Wren was inspired by the dome design of St Peter’s Church basilica (you’ll know it’s by the equally famous Michelangelo) so planted a very similar dome here for St Pauls, yes albut a brand theme for religion I guess!. Indeed there is a mental link between this and St Paul's in religious terms and visually like an invisible silver line from Rome to London, & a landmark memory for the pilgrim. The streets around St Pauls are equally intriguing, street names such as Milk Yard, Gutter Lane and Honey Street you can feel the ancient mediaeval-ness of it! The Spanish Camino is on our bucket list, and this is definitely a walk from Rome to St Pauls also together with camera & travel log, I think it’ll be amazing” 

*Jane is principal of Jane Faulkner Associates, Jersey (JfA) specialising in house architecture & the challenges of property in an ever changing property market in one of the most successful property markets globally. Jane also assists in a unique role between architect and community with her work

Odeon Building Jersey - update

ODEON BUILDING JERSEY - UPDATE

Further to our spearheading a campaign in 2002 to save and list the Odeon building, the local Jersey initiative Festival of Words confirms viewings of the iconic building during its annual September festival. It rightly states the building is one of the Island’s most iconic buildings, i would add 20th century buildings. In the late 20th Century Society Elain Harwood Historian’s words:

“The Odeon is magnificent. It engenders all that post war austerity encompassed...."

Link to the Festival of Words Facebook page link -

https://fb.watch/m775FlwsrW/

*copy of imagery from our 2002 Report

How much space do we have - or need?

As Architect you are ever conscious on the one hand aiming to produce good design, on the other on a small island 9x5 miles how much building can it take.

My feelings are sceptical and errs on the safe side, preserve what you've got, that's worth it, on the other hand in an age of climate action regenerate existing before building anew as this accounts for 70% less CO2 emissions. Then the rather thorny issue of how much housing do you need for the population. The following is an interesting alternative calculation that builds in sustainable design by including the existing housing stock, and how this can be improved to avoid building more houses -

Take –

Detached house 10,808 26 29 Semi-detached house 7,990 19 19 Terraced house 4,528

*from the 2011 census and our calculation for the Housing need

Total the first column of existing Housing stock quota ie Detached House, semi detached House and Terraced House = 23,300* existing Houses

* potentially can be extended in comparison with the 4000 new Houses proposed to be built in the next 5 years

Allow 25% increase of the number of existing Houses (given the 10 years since the census was carried out). Round figures is 6000 more Houses ( of the '24,000' houses for the 10 year period) = 30,000 existing Houses in total that can be potentially extended

Given some dwellings not permitting extending/Heritage restrictions/Planning restrictions it could be argued that say 50% of 30,000 houses can be extended* = 15,000** homes

**an estimate at this stage

The calculation in fact interestingly reduces the need to build new houses to zero, except for those on the Housing list. And this would need review to check how many on the list could also extend their homes. Therein reducing the amount of new build housing if done will inevitably eat into the countryside and has considerable merit given the finite land resource of a small island. It does however rely on Islanders funding extensions/regeneration to their homes therein effectively funding sustainable housing policy. The Government would need to consider some grant system if not a Tax break for those that participate.

So how do Developers and Builders feel about the calculation? Does it reduce their profits? As a preliminary comment not at all as there will be considerable work with ‘redeveloping’ the existing stock and existing buildings to convert.

Compare other British territory islands

Bermuda

Bermuda has surprising similarities to Jersey Size – main island 14x1miles Overall area with smaller islands – 20.6 sq miles Population- 70k Green space - limited Pollution (air) - 12 Ug/m3 Environment - Car number restrictions – 1 car p/household

Jersey

Size – 9x5 miles, 45 sq miles Population- 108k, 770 p/sq/km is 3x higher than the Uk Cars – 87 cars p/1000 people Green space –

Building density –30-35 dwelling p/hectare Pollution – air pollution: Jersey breaches EU pollution limits in key places, worst in the UK 42.59Ug.m3 v London – 40.83Ug/m3 Environment - Car population the highest in the western world

Other pollution problems –

For the first time in its history a green sea lettuce appears on the beach in St Aubins bay each summer. Given as high nitrate levels in the water from intensive farming which has increased in the last 10 years when significant levels of immigration has occurred with no Immigration Government policy, a figure of some 10,000 persons.

Hong Kong

Size – 1064 sq miles Population – 7,552,801 *7.6M Building density - >100,000 p/km2 Green space – Parks, 75% is green Pollution – a serious problem, less than 8km for 30% of the year Cars – 76.3 cars p/1000 people

Pollution and air pollution levels are very high as are house prices, the highest in the world. The dynamic of the place seems certainly foolhardy in overriding these factors with a ‘just live with it’ approach.

A second related issue - how much population can a small island take v how much housing, amenity buildings, infrastructure and roads?

There must be some scientific measures for this and one that excludes the need to consider market forces as a starting point. Together with how much traffic there is, and many Islanders feel it’s about full to the brim. In comparison, Bermuda and Hong Kong make worthy comparisons, Bermuda being smaller but making sensible measures for its environment eg limiting car numbers to 1 per household.

Hong Kong dwelling density is the highest in the world, but in fact maintaining its green spaces quite well outside of the main urban style skyrise buildings of the built up area. How many historic buildings & setting did it have though? the enclosed photos indicates it would seem a few. This is a key point in considering historic St Helier, and Jersey's future urban appearance. For Jersey and its topography the car is needed but how many cars/people can the island take? Hong Kong has plenty of public transport to the main city eg. taxis, MTR - (an Underground metro). It also connects Hong Kong Island with outlying islands of Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau Island, our equivalent of St Helier to St Aubin, Gorey, St Peter Port, Alderney and St Malo – there’s an idea. There’s also buses, minibuses, tramways, we don’t have all this in St Helier as it stands.

Back to the point. We aren't having our hand forced to build more, nor substantially more, market forces or not. Nor to adopt calculations that overlook vital sustainable measure v market forces to a small already crowded island. Further question is how exactly we want to leave it for future generations. The rest i'll leave up to you for your next vote – as perhaps it is the Polls that can help to direct this, in the will of our future politicians.

* Footnote:

In making these observations I do so in my personal capacity, not on behalf of my practice and I would not seek to criticise, the comments in this note are merely observations albeit informed observations. Nothing in the note should be taken as a criticism

Jane Blakeley is Director of JfA:Architects - Jersey, principally a House architect. Jane has strong interest in sustainable design for architecture. She was Remedials Architect to the reknowned Chumbe Island eco tourism project, Zanzibar, East Africa which first inspired her thoughts on sustainable design, how things fit & the remaining space around development. She has more recently for 2021 joined forces with Tectomic Architects, Jelena Tomic has similar focus together they will be exploring sustainable Housing solutions & appropriate development and design

3 Eco steps to improve your Home and its energy efficiency - full version

Beginner’s Guide to a zero carbon footprint home – a 5 minute Step by step guide

Locally the States of Jersey have agreed to a zero-carbon emissions strategy to be in place by 2030. That’s no mean feat. To assist the Homeowner with methods to meet this policy and therein halve or zero your Utility bills - Read on

In a cost effective step by step breakdown:

Step 1

List your Utility bills, in Jersey it’s usually: Oil/Gas, water, electricity. Next to each item note the monthly and annual cost. File this note, to then add updated costs if you install renewable and energy saving products

Step 2

Consider ways of zero-ing your energy costs & your input to helping the environment:

For Water heating and Space heating – consider installing an Air Heat source pump. This attaches neatly to the outside of your Home, provides electricity and heating. How does it do this? It draws in fresh air from outside, through turbines, which create space & water heating

https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2016/02/pros-and-cons-of-air-source-heat-pumps

For Oil replacement – as above install an Air Heat source pump, so you can take out your Oil tank giving added room to your garden. What is oil doing for our planet? Not only is it due to run out, the process in extraction is damaging & the burning of oil, to you a fossil fuel, emits harmful CO2 emissions

Solar panels – next affordable item. If you have a south facing roof consider installing a few solar panels. In short, photovoltaic (more expensive) serves space heating and water heating. Basic solar panels (called collectors)  are more affordable but are limited to water heating only. You need a water container for storage of the solar energy or batteries. Links as below

http://isle-eco.com/services/solar-thermal/

Water – rainwater collection to use for grey water. Why not? There are many quick and easy devices to achieve this and given the amount of rain each year your Home could really cash in therein zero-ing your Water rates

Step 3

Insulation

As you continue your Notes. Do your own recky survey of your Home.  How much insulation do you have in your loft, ground floor, walls? Do you have double or single glazing?

Once you’ve established answers, consider the following:

Roof insulation, use insulation boards to between the Roof rafters

Ground floor insulation – this is one of the worst areas for heat loss. Consider taking carpets up if not new floor finishes in areas and install a minimum of 25mm Floor insulation, the old finish can go over the top or consider some new floor finishes

Windows – consider installing double glazing if you don’t have it

Wall insulation – if cavity wall and no insulation consider the blown insulation method into the cavity. There are a few Installers locally. Or you can install an external cladding system with the necessary insulation.

https://www.kingspan.com/gb/en-gb/about-kingspan/kingspan-insulation

Extensions/renovations

If you are thinking of extending or renovating, think of adding larger areas of glazing to the south of your home or glazed addition. This adds passive solar heating, yes it is separate to adding solar panels. In short it means with this key south facing glazing you add warmth to your home at no cost to you

Overall

Now you’ve completed your own survey, how easy was that. A great intro to just what you can do for your Home and your pocket. The last bit, you will expect to have a period of time to pay for the products, usually given as a 5 year ‘pay back’ period. After this, it’s all for free. There will be a kit of parts for slick swift installation coming soon including options to the above. Watch this space!

Jane Blakeley Architect

Jane Blakeley BA Hons Dip Arch Cert Urban Des RIBA qualified in architecture in 1992 at Canterbury College of Art School of Architecture, Kingston University then taking a further qualification in Urban Design at Oxford Brookes University before returning to the Island in 1993. Jane worked with one of the larger local practices gaining experience on a wide range of projects from large scale commercial, residential design & one off domestic projects. She set up a boutique Architect practice JFA Architects in 1996 working on a range of project type and with particular focus to House architecture - one off Houses, refurbishments & extensions to small developments of Houses with a policy of no Project being too small. Jane also gives focus to commercial projects, urban design solutions, environmental and ecological design having been Remedials Architect to the reknowned eco Tourism project in Zanzibar East Africa in 1998. She practices an open door policy to answer any architectural or now eco questions and welcomes interest in architecture, the wealth this brings to the community and the challenges this now faces in our modern Age.

3 Eco steps to improve your Home and energy efficiency

From July 2020 Jersey Life magasine the above article appeared, as below -

https://issuu.com/thejerseylife/docs/jl-aug-20/29?fbclid=IwAR0mMIpSmPhABD7hIkOXYNRHEu6Hz5ShMOMla3CIfrWK0K76FdLBDLaFT4w

Between Building & Landscape

In celebration of JFA's 21st birthday last year, and following on from a drive and direction that the JFA Facebook page has been directing, is the notion 'between Building & Landscape'.

Much of this surfaces from my own dilemma in the division between design for landscape or building. Having trained in architecture, and then worked in landscape architecture by choice as an additional year of work experience between my degree in Architecture and the last two years of Diploma studies, i remember a conversation with in fact the Professor who interviewed me for my Diploma studies where i also considered a unit in landscape architecture. The Professor, i forget his name, but who directed the landscape studies at Edinburgh Uny, said to me what an interesting dilemma i was experiencing but how more interesting it would be to complete my architecture studies with this vein running through. It was sound advice, not least the looming 90s and Noughties recessions it would serve me in good stead being qualified in both.

I am launching with this Blog one of the JFA's Facebook postings which looks at the purety of the Icelandic landscape. This is to focus on 'pure landscape' before adding further Blogs via the FB page to see how buildings have both captivated and interfaced the division between the two. The first Posting Web reference for ‘pure landscapes’ as below, please do take a look a the below link which shows and captures a complete set of photos of the Icelandic landscape - this time devoid of architecture and building. Grateful thanks to Justin - Lauren Photo Blog for the borrow

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/justin-plus-lauren-12200235/myvatn-iceland-video-landscapes-north-iceland-5395739089

The impact of a Drawing

We are exploring new ways of describing a project to enthuse and assist our clients in understanding our proposals, by the same token the enjoyment of drawing as an art form in many ways helping to translate our clients' desires into real projects is such an exciting experience. Drawings are the raw essence of our design thinking, the unique means of capturing a design idea and the very reason of fascination that many people have with the work of an Architect. New drawings for a project coming soon!

Historic: Challenges Part 2