14 September 2009
ARTIST-LED BAT HOUSE GIVES A LEAD TO BUILDING DESIGN OF THE FUTURE
Diary date: 10.30am, Monday 14 September
Today’s centenary of the birth of artist and wildlife champion Sir Peter Scott is marked by the opening of London’s first architect-designed bat-house and a call for conservation to be built into new developments.
WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, SW13 9WT
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is marking today’s centenary of the birth of its founder, Sir Peter Scott, by urging architects, builders and home-improvers to follow his lead and do work which benefits wildlife as well as people.
The call coincides with the opening this morning (10.30am, Monday 14 September) of Britain’s architect-designed home for bats on a lakeside site at the WWT London Wetland Centre at Barnes.
The building results from an open competition, initiated by the Turner Prize-winning artist, Jeremy Deller and supported by a partnership involving Arts Council England, the Bat Conservation Trust, the Mayor of London, Plus Equals, the RSA Arts and Ecology Centre and WWT, with sponsorship from The Berkeley Group.
Speaking on behalf of the partners, before the opening, WWT director, Kevin Peberdy said: “Sir Peter Scott spent his life trying to bring people closer to wildlife. Today - the centenary of his birth - it’s clear we’re in danger of getting too close for comfort. The competition between us for space is growing, meaning that one challenge of the next 100 years will be to devise new and imaginative ways for people and wildlife to live together. The Berkeley Bat House is a symbol of what can be achieved when artists, architects, the construction industry and wildlife advocates collaborate. But symbols alone won’t carry forward Peter Scott’s legacy. We need to start thinking about the impacts on biodiversity whenever and wherever we take down old buildings, put up new ones or make alterations - and adopt designs, materials and methods which are good for wildlife and people.”
The bat house is based on designs by Jorgen Tandberg, of Oslo, and Yo Murata, of Tokyo, who met while studying at the Architectural Association’s school in London. Their plan was chosen by expert judges from over 200 international entries to a competition devised by Jeremy Deller.
He won his Turner Prize with Memory Bucket, which documented a trip he made across Texas and included film of three million bats leaving a Texas cave. While there, he saw how some Texans are helping bats by making artificial roosts and decided to import and expand the idea, with a bat house designed and built to specifications a bat ‘client’ would choose.
With the house now complete, Jeremy Deller says: “I'm very happy that these amazing creatures have such a stunning and practical place to live in. It makes me wish I was one of them!”
Among the building’s innovative features are its use of Hemcrete, a climate-friendly alternative to concrete, which is made from hemp and lime and ‘breathes’, so keeping the roosts at the right temperature.
Advice on the best designs and materials came from the Bat Conservation Trust. Its bats and built environment specialist, Carol Williams, said: “Many of Britain’s bat species are declining and a major factor is the loss of roosts. What we like about the Berkeley Bat House is that it showcases the best in sustainable building materials and provides a potentially valuable new home for bats yet without compromising on architectural quality or aesthetics. It sets an exciting example for the building industry to follow.”
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “This new bat house will be a fantastic addition to the WWT London Wetland Centre. I would encourage Londoners to visit and particularly schools to take up the free visit scheme to see see how art and architecture are providing an important habitat for the capital's bats.”
RSA Head of Arts, Michaela Crimmin, added: “Jeremy Deller is one of the world’s leading artists. Central to his work is collaboration. This project is exemplary in bringing together a diverse group of organisations to demonstrate how creativity, conservation interests and construction expertise can combine to highlight the sustainability challenges we face and, via co-operation, begin to address them.”
Tony Pidgley, Managing Director of The Berkeley Group, one of the key initiators of the WWT London Wetland Centre and a contributor of £150,000 for the bat house project, said: “Sustainability is part of the fabric of Berkeley and has been for a number of years. We have long recognised the mutual benefits of embracing sustainability for the environment and the communities in which we work. As a leading urban regenerator, we are proud to have been in partnership with the WWT for the last 16 years and to be the sole sponsor of the Berkeley Bat House at the London Wetlands Centre. The building proves that style, comfort and innovation can go hand-in-hand with sustainability. It also makes an eye-catching, iconic, addition to what is already a superb place to visit."
It is hoped that the first bats will move into the Berkeley Bat House this autumn when they begin looking for places to mate and hibernate. At least eight species of bat frequent the 42-hectare WWT London Wetland Centre – some of which should be in evidence on Thursday 17 September when a Big Batty Walk begins at 6.40pm. Tickets are £10 each. Advance booking is essential. To book: call 020 8409 4400.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Sir Peter Scott: 1909 – 1989
Peter Markham Scott was born in London on 14 September 1909 – the only child of the sculptor Kathleen Bruce and explorer Captain Robert Scott – Scott of the Antarctic - who died trying to reach the South Pole when his son was two. In a last letter home, Captain Scott urged his wife: “Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games”. ‘The boy’ grew up to excel at both, and more besides. His many sporting triumphs included winning medals for ice skating, becoming a champion glider pilot and representing Britain at sailing at the Berlin Olympics 1936 and in the America’s Cup 1964. He was also a war hero, inventor and highly-respected painter.
It is for his work with wildlife, however, as an artist, author, broadcaster and conservationist, that Peter Scott is best remembered today. His many important nature initiatives include setting up WWT (1948), co-founding WWF (1961) and devising the Red Data Books system, to monitor endangered species (1962). He is also credited with making millions of Britons more knowledgeable about nature - through his books, lectures, artwork, discoveries and as the popular presenter of the tv series LOOK (1955 to 1981). According to David Bellamy, Peter Scott is ‘the father of conservation’ while Sir David Attenborough describes him as conservation’s ‘patron saint’. In 1973, his work earned him a knighthood. He died in 1989, a fortnight before his 80th birthday.
WWT London Wetland Centre
WWT London Wetland Centre is a network of lagoons, reedbeds and other habitats created from the Barn Elms reservoirs, with generous help from The Berkeley Group and other funders. At 42 hectares, it is Europe’s largest man-made wetland; a haven for birds, animals and plants, including at least eight species of bat; widely acknowledged as the continent’s best place for urban wildlife-watching, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is also an award-winning visitor attraction. The WWT London Wetland Centre is open every day, except Christmas Day. For visiting times, directions and details of the latest events and attractions, please see www.wwt.org.uk or call 020 8409 4400.
The Bat House Project
Artist Jeremy Deller was inspired to suggest an architect-designed bat house after he saw how Texas bat-lovers were creating artificial habitats when he visited the State during the creation of his Turner Prize-winning artwork Memory Bucket. A hallmark of his work is collaboration. For the bat house project, this included bringing together a diverse range of partners and organising a design competition, with bats envisaged as the ‘client’. The competition produced more than 200 detailed entries from 24 countries – the best of which featured subsequently in an exhibition. After judging by a panel which included Jeremy Deller, Rowan Moore of The Architecture Foundation and bat experts, the commission was awarded to two Architectural Association students. For more information on the project’s origins and the competition, please see: www.bathouseproject.org/
The winning architects: Jorgen Tandberg and Yo Murata
The Berkeley Bat House which goes on public view on 14 September is built to designs by Jorgen Tandberg, originally from Oslo in Norway, and Yo Murata, from Tokyo, both 26. They met while studying for architecture degrees in London. Jorgen is about to start his final year of study; Yo graduated this summer. They live in Notting Hill. Jorgen says: “I believe that this project is a brilliant way to provide a valuable resource for some of our bats, whilst raising awareness of the vast biodiversity within London’s very urban environment”.
Bats in Britain – and Barnes
Britain has 17 native species of bat, at least eight of which have been spotted from the WWT London Wetland Centre. Most are under pressure – largely because of the loss of traditional habitats. Challenges for them include changes in agriculture; the demolition or conversion of favoured roosts, such as old buildings; increased use of building materials and methods which inhibit roosting or affect roost temperatures, and increased night-time noise/ light, which can disturb nocturnal hunters. Because bats occupy a wide range of habitats and are sensitive to change, they are important indicators of the overall health of the UK environment.
Project partners
Many individuals and organisations have been involved in creating a new designer residence for bats by one of the lagoons at the London Wetland Centre. Project partners and funders include Arts Council England, the Mayor of London, Plus Equals, and the following:
The Bat Conservation Trust is the UK’s only national organisation devoted solely to the conservation of bats and their habitats. Its work includes surveying roosts and hibernation sites and advising householders, builders, farmers and foresters on bat protection, including via its National Bat Helpline - 0845 1300 228. The charity is also active in providing guidance to the construction industry on materials, work methods and building techniques which benefit bats, biodiversity and sustainability. For more information, see: www.bats.org.uk
The RSA Arts & Ecology Centre was set by the RSA in 2005 to catalyse, publicise, challenge and support artists who are responding to the unprecedented environmental challenges of our era. Using their inspirations, RSA Arts and Ecology aims to create a positive discussion about the causes and the human impact of climate change through commissioning, debate, interdisciplinary discourse and a high-profile website: www.rsaartsandecology.org.uk
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust - WWT - works globally to save wetlands for wildlife and people. Its many international successes include improving the conservation status of 20 endangered species and support for research and breeding programmes. In Britain, it runs nine visitor centres it manages over 2,000 hectares of wildlife habitat – among them seven Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), six Special Protection Areas (SPA), part of a Marine Nature Reserve and six Ramsar sites. For more information, please see: www.wwt.org.uk
Project sponsors: The Berkeley Group
The Berkeley Bat House is named after The Berkeley Group, which has been a major supporter of the WWT London Wetland Centre ever since it began.
The principles of sustainability are at the heart of Berkeley Group’s business and cover everything from energy, transport, ecology, waste, materials and supply chain. In October 2007 the Group pledged that all of its new homes would meet a minimum of level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Berkeley Homes is part of the Berkeley Group, one of the UK’s leading urban regeneration companies, creating high quality homes and vibrant mixed use developments in excellent locations in London and the South East of England. Berkeley Group developments use 100% brownfield sites and focus on creating sustainable communities.
The Berkeley Group has been responsible for some of the UK’s most significant urban regeneration projects in recent years, such as Royal Arsenal in South East London and Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.
The Berkeley Group’s sustainability initiatives are constantly recognised through a range of national accolades including:
Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development (2008)
Number one ranking in the NextGeneration benchmark of UK’s housebuilders
Climate Change award (Sustainable Cities 2008)
WRAP Award for Sustainable Construction (Building Awards 2008)
Overall Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year (What House Awards 2007)
Overall Housebuilder of the Year (Sustainability Awards 2006 and 2007).
Regeneration Housebuilder of the Year (Regeneration Awards 2006)