How has BREXIT impacted on Pacha Studios

Recently, we at Pacha have been questioned about whether we would consider sharing our views on Brexit and the impact that this has had on us as a company. Obviously as an extremely diverse and multicultural company – with Pacha itself also being rooted in South American heritage, we thought that this might be something interesting to share.

Below is the transcript from an interview conducted by Tom Ravenscroft of Dezeen with two of our team

What impact have you seen so far?

Though we at Pacha have no official view on the overall concept of Brexit, we believe having diversity is important in an industry such as ours. Coming from several different backgrounds, we have all got different influences, experiences, ideas, and subsequently produce a dynamism that you just couldn’t get by not having international ideas.

How do you expect Brexit will impact the studio moving forwards?

Well, with an ethos for Cohousing we are quite fond of the EU because of their ambition for sustainable construction being much higher than across the channel. Looking to become more international within the next five-to-ten years, we do however feel that this might make work harder to come by within the EU – persuading clients that working with a UK practice will be as seamless as working with an EU practice will be a struggle.

Are you seeing issues with staff or suppliers?

Some of our higher quality materials used within construction have been becoming increasingly unaffordable.

I suppose we will have to simple wait and see how our economy settles and how this will play a role within the Foreign Exchange Market. Because of our import hassles this also means that we have had unimaginable delays in getting materials – timber and cement specifically! The price of timber has doubled and there is a three-month backlog on cement. When you are designing a building that will be built in a year or so you want cost certainty and no problems with things like this as they always amount to unforeseen additional costs.

On the upside, the UK construction industry will hopefully receive the kick forward that it needs now that some of the workforce will be returning to the EU.

What steps are you taking to mitigate the impact?

Well, as you know we are looking to open an additional studio within the EU at some stage in the near future – where this will end up being I do not know. I like Tuscany – and even have my own personal studio there but another problem about having such mixed interests within the company is that it can make it hard to come to a mutual decision about where the best place to expand will be! We are going to have to wait and see how each country responds to this to see where might necessarily be in the best interests of the company.

Why Co-Housing is actually so good?

As you readers are aware, at Pacha we are crazy about Co-Housing!

One of the obvious benefits are the economic advantages of sharing resources with other community members. Sharing tasks such as chores like cooking, providing childcare, carpooling, communal gardens where fresh fruit and vegetables are grown all year round…. These are invaluable for professionals. These can save so much time and money and offer people a healthier, happier way of life. Socialising also becomes rooted at the heart of this. Whereas people may not have exchanged a word with some of their neighbours before, you are almost prompted to do this via sharing tasks together.

Think of the children also. Where they may struggle to make friends at school or at clubs, they are almost guaranteed to make friends whilst hands-on together and performing community activities. Birthday parties become more intimate with your neighbours, games, movie nights and other events also become more frequent and enjoyable. It’s like having siblings that are not actually related to you! A “brother from another mother” you might go as far to say…

Senior and elderly members also benefit invaluably from Co-Housing. The potential feeling of loneliness and isolation that impacts so many of our older generations is eased knowing that you are living in such a tight-knit community like a Co-Housing community. If the elderly also require more long-term care, it makes it easier for them to move to the appropriate facility.

One notable example of a Co-Housing scheme that I personally designed was based on Bond Street in Nottingham. This was two towers of apartments that had a multifunctional performing arts space on the ground floor, which opened out into a courtyard encased in a canopy from the communal house. The road was pedestrianised and in turn acted as an extension of the neighbouring Sneinton Market. I cannot begin to list the benefits that this brought the area. As well as gentrification, it allowed for residents of the scheme an opportunity to sell some of the produce grown in the communal garden in a street market. In addition, at times when shows would take place, the communal house served as a kitchen, manned by the residents for people watching the shows. This was particularly lovely in the warmer summer evenings, where the canopy was lit up in an elaborate theatrical dialogue between the dancers, actors, and the whole site. I think the best way to experience this would be to go and see a show! It was definitely an excuse for me to step away from the office!

Now then, I will keep this post short as I believe Co-Housing is better experienced first-hand rather than over a blog post – but I just wanted to share some thoughts with you all from my personal experiences and encourage anybody looking to adapt to or try the Co-Housing lifestyle that is taking not only Europe but the UK by storm to go and see one of our sites for yourself. Step inside one of the houses and see first-hand how it compares to a conventional house in terms of warmth, style and daylighting, how the community are happy and reaping the benefits of shared chores and cheaper bills and I guarantee you, you won’t be able to say no to the lifestyle!

I look forward to hearing everybody’s reactions!

Yours Kindly,

Joshua Jones

Pacha Studios.