News
“The room is the beginning of architecture”
(Louis Kahn, The Room, the Street, and Human Agreement, 1971)
The Cambridge Room is organising Ideas Competition and Logo Design!
The Cambridge Association of Architects in partnership with the University of Cambridge, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridge District Council are setting up an Urban Room for Cambridge, the Cambridge Room.
The Cambridge Room is a joint initiative to form an ‘Urban Room’ - a physical space where people can come together to understand, debate and participate in the creation of their local area. To find out more about the Cambridge Room, please visit our page.
We are asking our members to help us imagine what the new Cambridge Room could include and how we can start thinking about the village or city and the nature around and within them.
The room can be a specific or an abstract space, a single permanent location or many temporary pop ups. Unleash your creativity and share your vision with us.
We are also looking for a logo, which would capture the spirit of the Room and will be used to identify it and represent us on the shopfront of the physical space.
Please visit the Cambridge Room for more details on the competition.
CAA Monthly Social is back in person!
Wednesday, 6th September 2023 at 18:00
Starting from Wednesday 6th September, we will be recommencing our long-lost monthly socials. These will be held on the first Wednesday of each month from 6pm onwards. There has been much discussion about a regular venue, and we've aptly decided this should be The Architect on Castle Street (near Kettle's Yard). Therefore for those who wish to catchup with other members, please join us for a drink or two. We've also had approval the first 10-drinks (limited to one per-person) will be on the CAA, so an incentive to come in good time.
2023 Summer CAA Committee Update
We also wanted to take this opportunity to announce a few recent changes to the CAA Committee. The outgoing Chair, Anastasia Orphanidou gave birth to a healthy boy, Paris on the 31st May and we all wish her and Paris all the best in the months ahead. Anastasia decided to stand down as chair to focus on Paris and Patrick Usborne have taken over her role as the new Chair of the CAA. He is still very much in listening mode and have been taken aback with the commitment and enthusiasm of the CAA Committee, and its volunteers. We would also like to hear the views of members, and will be in touch again soon, however if anyone wishes to email the new chair in the meantime, please do so at chair@cambridgearchitects.org.
We have a new Communications lead, Risa Nagasaki who is a senior architect at Ingleton Wood. Risa will be reviewing the way in which we communicate to members and working closely with the committee and the editors of the Gazette to ensure our members are up-to-date with events and news from Cambridgeshire and beyond. This will include these Newsletters, Social Media, and looking at refreshing our website to ensure its relevant to the needs of our members. Along with all our existing committee members, we're looking forward to the year ahead.
We are currently updating this website behind the scene and hoping to launch at the CAA Annual Reception in October, so please bare with! In the meantime, please follow us on Instagram CAA - Cambridge Association of Architects (@riba_caa) • Instagram photos and videos !!!
Exciting chapter coming up for the CAA so watch this space!
Year in Review - 2022
A snapshot from our "Year in Review 2022" presented at the AGM February 2023! It's been rewarding looking back in the year to celebrate the various events the CAA have hosted in 2022.
The 2023 Committee
Welcome to our new Events Coordinator, Andreea Schiteanu of RH Partnership! Thank you to the outgoing one, Maja Maliszewska and outgoing Climate Champion, Byron Chan, for all their time and hard work in the past year.
If you'd like to put yourself forward and help the CAA to deliver or organise its events in the comming year, or just get involved please contact our secretary. at secretary@cambridgearchitects.org
Each position is refreshed annually, so all positions are reconsidered. We are still looking for a Communications Officer.
Thanks to the current committee and all the other volunteers that have helped to steer our events over the last year!
1. Chair - Anastasia Orphanidou
2. Secretary & Data Champion - Quratulain Hafeez
3. Treasurer - Kelly O’Doherty
4. Communications - (currently vacant)
5. Events - Andreea Schiteanu
6. Outreach - Ann Bassett
7. Climate Champions - Alice Hamlin
8. Urban Room - Ze’ev Feigis
What's involved - Find out more and use our contact page to email any of the above with your questions.
Annual General Meeting : Wednesday 1st February 2023 at 6.30pm
Hybrid: Online on Zoom and at 5th Studio
To ensure equal opportunity and fresh ideas once a year the elected positions of the committee are refreshed.
If you'd like to put yourself forward and help the CAA to deliver or organise its events in the comming year, or just get involved please contact our secretary.
secretary@cambridgearchitects.org
Each position is refreshed annually, so all positions are reconsidered.
Thanks to the current committee of dedicated leading volunteers that have helped to steer our events over the last year!
1. Chair (currently Anastasia Orphanidou)
2. Secretary & Data Champion (currently Quratulain Hafeez)
3. Treasurer (currently Kelly O’Doherty)
4. Communications (currently Vacant)
5. Events (currently Maja Maliszewska)
6. Outreach (currently Ann Bassett and Margherita Cesca Nelda-Haynes)
7. Climate Champion (currently Alice Hamlin and Byron Chan)
8. Urban Room (currently Ze’ev Feigis)
Find out more about each role here and use our contact page to email any of the above with your questions.
A fresh start for 2022 at the CAA
Welcome to our new chair for 2022 Anastasia Orphanidou, who has returned to Cambridge following a short stint in 5th studio's London office.
Anastasia joined 5th Studio following her graduation from the MPhil in Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Cambridge in 2016. And she recently achieved her Part 3 Professional Practice course from the University of Westminster.
We'd also like to welcome Byron Chan who will join Alice Hamlin to lead our future CAA Climate Champion initiatives.
If you'd like to put yourself forward and help the CAA to deliver or organise its events in the comming year, or just get involved please contact our secretary.
secretary@cambridgearchitects.org
Each position is refreshed annually, so all positions are reconsidered.
Thanks to the current committee and our outgoing chair Mart Barrass and all the other volunteers that have helped to steer our events over the last year!
1. Chair - Anastasia Orphanidou
2. Seceretary & Data Champion - Quratulain Hafeez
3. Treasurer (currently Kelly O’Doherty)
4. Communications (currently Mark Richards)
5. Events (currently Eliza Papoutsi-Lentzos)
6. Outreach - Ann Bassett and Margherita Cesca Nelda-Haynes
7. Climate Champions - Alice Hamlin / Byron Chan
8. Urban Room (currently Ze’ev Feigis)
What's involved - Find out more and use our contact page to email any of the above with your questions.
Annual General Meeting : Wednesday 2nd February 2022 : 6.30pm
To ensure equal opportunity and fresh ideas once a year the elected positions of the committee are refreshed.
If you'd like to put yourself forward and help the CAA to deliver or organise its events in the comming year, or just get involved please contact our secretary.
secretary@cambridgearchitects.org
Each position is refreshed annually, so all positions are reconsidered.
Thanks to the current committee of dedicated leading volunteers that have helped to steer our events over the last year!
1. Chair (currently Mart Barrass)
2. Seceretary & Data Champion (currently Quratulain Hafeez)
3. Treasurer (currently Kelly O’Doherty)
4. Communications (currently Mark Richards)
5. Events (currently Eliza Papoutsi-Lentzos)
6. Outreach (currently Ann Bassett and Margherita Cesca Nelda-Haynes)
7. Climate Champion (currently Alice Hamlin)
8. Urban Room (currently Ze’ev Feigis)
What's involved - Find out more and use our contact page to email any of the above with your questions.
ARB
Modernising architectural education and training
The survey will close on Monday 10 January 2022 at midday.
Read more about the plans for the biggest shake up of architectural education in 50 years on the ARB website.
RIBA Call for Evidence
Help shape the future of the Architect Profession
The RIBA is calling on its membership to help shape the future profession and would like your view. The RIBA's request follows a call for evidence made by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), for those working in architecture and the built environment and is part of a wider review aimed at modernising regulation, improving diversity and upholding the UK’s global reputation in architecture.
The consultation is running between 16 August - 7 November 2021.
Details of the consultation and how to get involved are linked below.
In Conversation with RTPI East
At this months CAA monthly meeting we caught up with Charlotte Burton, chair of the RTPI Eastern Region.
The RIBA and RTPI are looking at ways to collaborate and learn from one another through their membership. There were lots of great ideas discussed, including CPD, Case study site visits, talks and webinar sharing and social events. The ambition is to gain a better understanding of each others profession and come together on common goals, aspects of best practice, addressing climate change, and gaining a better understanding that will benefit our built environment.
What does an RTPI Planning Award look like?
New Format
To encourage engagement with local architects and practices the CAA's monthly meeting format has been changed!
At each meeting there will now be a 'Topic Talk' given by collaborating businesses, suppliers and providers.
THIS WEEK
Marketing Your Practice by Lo Marketing
with Susie Lober
missed the last one! Head over to the resources page for the presentation
CAA News
Welcome to Ann Basett and Alice Hamlin who are taking on co-ordination of the CAA's Outreach projects and Climate Champion initiatives respectively.
Ann replaces Carl Rowland who kick started the CAA's successful local projects with local schools and sixth form collages that engaged local RIBA architects, practices and building professionals to supported education design projects.
Ann Bassett - Outreach@cambridgearchitects.org
Following a growing interest by local architects to co-ordinate their efforts in tackling the Climate Crises a new position of Climate Champion has been created. Alice Hamlin of Mole architects, who have a long established design ethos predicated on building sustainably, will be taking on this increasingly urgent need.
Alice Hamlin - Climate@cambridgearchitects.org
See the list of this years CAA committee on our 'contact us' page HERE
In memory of Ivor Richards RIBA
"When all is said and done", he reflected, "someone has to draw the line'".
Ivor Richards, who has died aged 77, was the architect of a church and a number of distinguished houses in Cambridgeshire, author of a number of books and essays and, with his long-time colleague and mentor Sir Leslie Martin, designer among other things of the Gallery of Modern Art in Lisbon, which won the RIBA trustees’ medal in 1992. For half of his working life Richards not only practised architecture but also taught it, as professor at the universities of Cardiff then Newcastle and as a visiting professor at universities in the USA.
https://architecturetoday.co.uk/ivor-richards/
Cambridge Architecture - CA80 is out!
A sustainable future
If you've not received your free copy of the gazzette, then do not fear becuase the digital edition is now out too. Click on the Cambridge Architecture tab in the menu bar above.
Department of Architecture - On Line Year 1 Crits
Thursday 3rd December 2020 (09.00-13.00) and (14.00-18.00)
If you'd like to volunteer your professional design knowledge and help the next generation of architects currently starting out on their design journey, then here's a golden opportunity.
Contact: Mart Barrass - Chair@Cambridgearchitects.org
Postponed
Given the Corona-virus situation, we have decided to Postpone the 2nd April 2020 launch event for the upcoming issue of the Cambridge Gazette and the CAA+ Climate Action CPD series.
CA79 will still go out to all our members. It is an in-depth focus on the climate and biodiversity crises with some fantastic contributions from Mole, GHA and others across the construction industry - it should be an interesting read!
We will update you on our new program of events in due course.
Greater Cambridge Local Plan - The Big Debate!
Again! We hear you cry.
An evening of quickfire presentations from local groups and lively debate about the future of Greater Cambridge.
The presentations will be highly visual, and will range from the provocative to the poetic and everything in between. The event will start at 6.30pm promptly, but you can arrive from 6pm to grab a seat and a drink before we start.
Cambridge Corn Exchange, 18th February 2020
Booking details HERE
We'd like to wish all our supporters, members and associates
An active and collaborative New Year
You will not want to miss this. Its the CAA christmas social!
All the latest intell from the shakers and movers on the ground. Who are the rising stars, who are the ones to watch in 2020, and will your salary be going north or south next year...
Architecture Unwrapped
As you will have seen in recent news, the RIBA recently declared a Climate Emergency to acknowledge the urgent need for action to address climate change across the construction industry. (bit.ly/ca78climate) This prompted us to consider what we at the Cambridge Association of Architects can do to help address the climate and biodiversity crisis at local branch level, ranging from consideration of how we organise events, to minimising waste and our use of materials.
One of the main projects undertaken by the CAA each year is the biannual publication of “Cambridge Architecture” charting local news and issues relevant to the profession and wider community.
In recent years, we have reduced the footprint by using a recyclable plastic wrap for distribution of the publication, however the effect this has can only go so far. Despite labelling, not everybody would necessarily realise that the plastic wrap could be recycled, resulting in potentially recyclable material going into general waste in error.
How can we make a difference?
We consulted with our publishers, CPL, on possible alternatives to the plastic wrap. Options included paper envelopes, plant-based wraps made from potato starch, or removing the wrap completely.
Whilst a potato starch wrap sounds appealing, the wrap must still be disposed of correctly; either in food waste or used for compost. Worse still, inadvertently placing the wrap in general recycling potentially contaminates other materials, meaning less recycling and more general waste!
We also considered paper and other materials but, ultimately, the best way to minimise waste is to avoid creating it in the first place.
That’s why we unwrapped this edition of Cambridge Architecture for you.
In addition to the “unwrapped” edition, we have also reduced the paper thickness, minimising the amount of material used in the production and reduce the overall weight of each edition.
We hope you will agree that these small changes are worthwhile, particularly when multiplied over the number of copies printed and distributed each edition.
We would, of course, welcome your feedback either via email (editors@cambridgearchitects.org) or Twitter @RIBACambridge and if you get the chance, please tweet us @CamArchitecture with a photo of your new edition using the hashtag #ArchitectureUnwrapped so we can see how well it survived the post!
- The Editors
Greater Cambridge Sustainable Design and Construction SPD Consultation
Just before we headed off for our annual top-up of vitamin D, re-energise our minds and rekindle creative juices, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning issued a consultation DRAFT for Sustainable Design and Construction, that will go beyond current Building Regulations standards for Cambridgeshire.
The consultation DRAFT dated July 2019 is due to close soon...
It's a future HOW TO GUIDE for sustainability within Greater Cambridge that aims to drive up standards in the abscence of National Policy on sustainability. Once approved, it will take centre stage of future development policy.
Who will it affect?
Major developments
More than -
Nine residential units
0.5 Hectares (residential) and 1.0 Hectare sites (other uses)
1000 square meters of built floor space
The DRAFT document is not a light read and it currently proposes some significant proposals for future designs to demonstrate they'll meet the standards at the planning application stage. But who will provide the governance, the enforcement, the necessary additional resources demanded by such policy? Will it nurture innovation or stifle creativity?
Consultation deadline: 5pm Monday 23 September 2019
Contact Us Communications@Cambridgearchitects.org if you'd like to contribute to the CAA's response.
You will no doubt be aware of the forthcoming Global Climate Strike taking place on 20th September 2019. Greta Thunberg, who pioneered the school strike for climate movement, has invited everyone to support the youth climate strikers and make a stand for climate justice.
Join the UKGBC in London
For those willing to travel to London we recommend joining with the UKGBC who is calling upon their members and other supporters from the built environment sector to meet at The Building Centre, 26 Store Street, London WC1E 7BT, at 11:45, with the intention of marching to the main demonstration in Westminster.
Cambridge - CAM YS4C
Closer to home join supporters with CAM YS4C walking from Shire Hall 10.30 - King's Parade 11.30
Together we will make a difference - CAA
New RIBA CPD platform
The RIBA has updated the ten mandatory RIBA CPD Core Curriculum topics in response to the skills our members need to practise architecture now and in the future.
As part of the RIBA's enhanced member offer for 2019, the RIBA made some significant improvements to the CPD recording platform, with the goal of improving your experience and making recording CPD easier for you.
What's improved?
You only need to sign in once rather than twice
It’s much easier to use than the old platform: no more frustrating problems
Your progress is shown through helpful charts and graphs
You can download your records and dashboard
It’s mobile friendly, allowing you to add activities on the go - at the end of a CPD session, on your commute, or wherever and whenever is convenient for you
So far users spend on average 1 minute 33 seconds recording a CPD activity, which indicates just how quick and easy it is.
Design Awards
Twenty-three buildings and a masterplan for a new urban district in Cambridge have been shortlisted for RIBA East 2019 Awards.
This year's local shortlisted practices include:
Abode at Great Kneighton phase 2, by Proctor and Matthews Architects
Cambridge Assessment, by Eric Parry Architects
Eaton Socon Preschool, by Devlin Architects
Eddington Lot 1, by WilkinsonEyre with Mole Architects
Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, by Jamie Fobert Architects
Marmalade Lane Cohousing, Cambridge, by Mole Architects
North West Cambridge Utility Buildings, Eddington, by Robin Lee Architecture
Pavilion extension, nr Cambridge, by Ashworth Parkes Architects
Peter Hall Performing Arts Centre, The Perse School Cambridge, by Haworth Tompkins
Simon Sainsbury Centre, Cambridge Judge Business School, by Stanton Williams
The Dorothy Garrod Building, Newnham College, by Walters & Cohen Architects
Wesley House Theological College, Cambridge, by Cowper Griffith Architects
50 Year Anniversary of the Cambridge Central Conservation Area
'Conservation should not be a minority activity', says Duncan Wilson OBE, Heritage England CEO
Cambridge City Council in collaboration with Heritage England, Cambridge Past Present and Future gave us an insight into the foundations behind our Conservation Areas and an empassioned call for public awareness.
A public vote awarded the Jerwood Library by local practice Freeland Reece Roberts, for the best new Conservation, Alteration or Extension building within the Central Conservation Area over the last 50 years.