Jas Bhalla Works has gained a growing reputation as experts in strategic masterplanning, innovative housing and the adaptation of existing buildings.
The team leverage this cross-disciplinary skill set to provide valuable insights for clients. Their urban scale work is influenced by an understanding of how individual buildings come together, just as their architectural endeavours draw from broader social and physical contexts.
This unique knowledge base marries strategic thinking and technical rigour, giving them the ability to translate ambitious visions into deliverable solutions. All their work is underpinned by rigorous analysis, constructive dialogue and meticulous research to create design solutions that are genuinely innovative.
What do you think is the most important issue for architects to focus on right now, and what are you doing as a practice to tackle it?
Jas Bhalla: The twin crises of climate breakdown and housing affordability are undoubtedly the biggest issues currently facing the architectural practice. As a practice we are leveraging our multidisciplinary background – which marries strategic urban planning with expertise in Passivhaus Design – to meet these dual challenges.
We are working on a number of housing projects that look to optimise land for much needed new housing whilst minimising environmental impact and encouraging less carbon intensive lifestyles. A particular area of our expertise includes master planning and suburban housing. Last year we published guidance on behalf of Essex County Council that seeks to promote a new development model on green field sites.
At present, the vast majority of new housing schemes are built at low densities and organised in ways that embed car dependency. Through a combination of research and live projects we are unpicking the myriad of challenges that results in sub-optimal design outcomes, as we strive to cultivate new neighbourhoods capable of delivering better outcomes for people and planet.
What do you think architecture practices need most support with during this recession?
Jas Bhalla: In many ways, the downturn of the last few years has been more challenging than the financial crisis of 2008. The previous recession – although incredibly deep – was comparatively short and the sector was able to bounce back after a seismic shock. This time the downturn has been far more complex as it has been comprised of several sequential setbacks, such as the pandemic, inflation, and regulatory changes. The level of uncertainty has made it much harder to plan for the months ahead.
I think practices would benefit most from wide ranging business advice, such as how to break into new markets, manage cashflow and temporarily reduce expenditure, all of which would allow the professional to proactively plan during a challenging period.
The UK Government has made building new homes one of its top priorities. How can architects ensure they play an active role in helping the government meet this challenge?
Jas Bhalla: Labour also reiterated its commitment to deliver the next generation of new towns as it seeks to deliver 1.5million new homes over the course of the next 5 years.
It’s fair to say that collectively as an industry we’ve struggled to consistently deliver new settlements of enduring quality. There are notable exceptions (such as Eddington or – like it or loathe it – Poundbury), but many places have struggled to cultivate thriving ecosystems or generate authentic character.
If this next generation of New Towns is going to provide genuinely desirable homes and places, we need to leverage the energy, insight, enterprise, and innovation we’d normally associate with urban regeneration, as well as learning from the way settlements have historically developed. Successful garden communities require a design team capable of balancing long-term optimism with economic pragmatism, and an ability to deploy big strategic moves underpinned by meticulous detail.
Despite short-term challenges, the medium and long-term outlook for the housing sector feels more positive now Labour has illustrated a willingness to engage with the housing crisis. As architects and designers, we can make a huge contribution to delivering new communities if we’re willing to take a more adaptive approach and move beyond our comfort zone.
What is most exciting project you’ve got coming up and why?
Jas Bhalla: We are currently working on an incredibly diverse range of projects and have several interesting things in the pipeline, including delivering much need social housing as well as strategic urban design projects. One project we are very excited about is Colchester Tendering Borders Garden Community as it marries several of our practice interests.
We are part of a multidisciplinary design team working on behalf of Latimer (by Clarion Housing) to design a new community, which once complete, will deliver approximately 7,500 homes, employment opportunities, new schools, and open spaces. Tendering Colchester Borders will be a model for 21st century sustainable living incorporating regenerative approaches to place.
We are working alongside a stellar team that includes Haworth Tompkins, Bell Phillips and Landscape Architects Periscope on Phase 1 of the development, which will include around 800 new homes, a local centre and a range of green spaces and infrastructure. The project offers us the opportunity to marry our extensive knowledge on strategic master planning and garden communities with innovative suburban housing typologies that look to reduce car dependency. The team are working towards a planning submission next year.
How do you think we can make architecture more accessible to people of all backgrounds?
As a second-generation South Asian immigrant, increasing diversity in architecture is a subject very close to my heart. I was the first person in my family to attend university and my route into architecture was fairly unorthodox ; I trained as a town planner before securing a Fulbright Scholarship to study architecture at Yale University.
Whilst I think my multi-disciplinary background ultimately serves me well in practice, I found a route into the profession unnecessarily complex and burdensome. Opening up new avenues to qualification, including to those without an undergraduate degree in architecture, will go a great way to making the profession more inclusive. It should also serve to reduce “group think” by diversifying the training process.
Beyond this, I strongly believe one of the biggest barriers to making the profession more attractive to people from working class backgrounds remains poor renumeration and working conditions. If we are serious about becoming more equitable we need to get better at demonstrating how architects can add value to the development process, helping us to secure higher fees to increase pay.
