BACA Architects
Areas of expertise: Enabling, designing and building on, in, near and under water
BACA Architects specialise in immersive hospitality and leisure projects that are in, on, near, and under water. They craft extraordinary experiences, where luxury, style and elegance find their perfect expression: from private islands in the Maldives and lakeside spa retreats in the English countryside to cliffside escapements by the Red Sea.
Enabling this is a parallel effort for regenerative site restoration to safeguard and restore the pristine environments in which we build. BACA collaborate with scientists, engineers, and marine researchers to deliver low carbon construction and schemes which are restorative sanctuaries. Within this specialism they have also developed an expertise in floating and flood-resilient building typologies and embrace water as an opportunity, rather than a threat, to engage with this constraint early in the design process and never as an afterthought.
This leads to innovative designs in elevated, floating and amphibious architecture to design flood resilient masterplans.
Phone 0207 397 5620
Address Unit 1, 199 Long Lane, London SE1 4PN
Website www.baca.uk.com
Instagram BACA Architects
The Power of Water in Shaping the Future of Leisure and Hospitality Design
In the early 1980s, biologist E. O. Wilson put forward his biophilia hypothesis, suggesting our brains are wired to seek out connections to nature because of the environments we evolved in – which is vastly different to the ones most of us live in today. Blue spaces, especially coastal, often have patterns of change that you don’t get with inland settings. The tide ebbs and flows and the waves lap at the shore. Accompanying this constant motion are changes in sound, and even light. There is a unique soothing energy to these environmental shifts which can be translated into a businesses’ brand - from its architecture all the way down to its employee’s nametags.
Our founder, Richard Coutts, co-authored Aquatecture: Buildings and Cities Designed to Live and Work with Water, described by Sleeper magazine as “One of the most innovative hospitality designers to hit the scene in years”. His research, development and theories are deeply ingrained in our design approach, from the smallest tree house to our more complex resorts. Our flood resilient masterplans consider both droughts and floods and are complemented by floating and amphibious homes. Water isn't just a backdrop for life – it is an active participant in shaping spaces that are both sustainable and restorative. We pair this approach with a tactile design process because we believe in the power of hands-on exploration, using materials like ceramic and timber to build physical models to iteratively test our ideas. We work closely with skilled craftspeople and specialist contractors, ensuring that this rich process is translated and brought to life with a commitment to quality and tactile engagement.
This commitment to water-conscious design speaks directly to today’s traveller—a generation that seeks more than just luxury. They recognise the importance of preserving resources and are drawn to developments that embody these values. They are selecting destinations that are not only beautiful but are actively contributing to the preservation of the planet - to offer spaces where luxury and responsibility coexist. Whether it’s a private island in the Maldives, a lakeside retreat in the English countryside, or a cliffside resort by the Red Sea, we are building a global portfolio of destinations that fuse indulgence with stewardship. At the heart of this philosophy is our focus on regenerative site restoration. By working with scientists, engineers, and marine researchers, we ensure our developments promote low-carbon construction and restorative practices that safeguard the environments in which we build. Water plays a crucial role in this process—helping to preserve the local ecosystem and ensuring that each development is both flood-resilient and energy-efficient.
Water’s role in architecture transcends aesthetics. It reflects our deep connection to the natural world. By embracing its ability to nourish and protect, developers/operators can create environments that are not only functional and stunning but deeply attuned to nature’s rhythms. Let us help you design spaces where sustainability, elegance, and resilience flow together - creating memorable ‘best-in-class-resorts’, one where water and design are in harmony.
