About Robert Barker, Stolon
An architect & planner with 20 years experience, Robert is an RIBA fellow, recognised for expertise in flood-risk & sociable design.

Robert Barker is one of the co-founders of Stolon Studio Ltd and an RIBA fellow. He has 20 years experience in architecture, planning and landscape design. He has delivered some unusual and highly innovative architecture, such as Forest Mews, Kaolin Court co-housing, the Thames Amphibious House, the prefab Chichester Floating Home, and the flood-resilient property at the BRE park. He has developed various master-planning projects, such as flood-resilient housing in Essex, West Sussex, Norwich, the M55 metro extension in Amsterdam, ZAC Seine Gare Vitry in Paris and other water related plans in the UK. He has been responsible for numerous projects researching zero-carbon, climate adaptation and flood-resilience; and is now developing work on sociable architecture. At Stolon Studio he has developed a growing expertise in complex backland or infill sites, with unique projects located across London. He continues to innovate in each and every architecture project, evolving and exploring new concepts, different materials and working methods in a constant search to create better living and working environments. He is currently involved in a radical new modular construction system.
Robert trained at the Royal College of Art then worked for Birds Portchmouth Russum before setting up Barker and Couts Architects (Baca) in 2003. He went on to win numerous awards and recognition as one of the leading innovators in flood resilient and adaptable architecture and spatial planning. At Baca he led the Long-term Initiatives for Flood-risk Environments (LifE) project and the Climate Adaptive Neighbourhood (CAN) project, which won the RIBA Presidents Award for Research in 2009 and 2014, followed by a commendation for the Amphibious House in 2017. Robert co-authored the Metric Handbook Flood Aware Chapter (2015) and the RIBA book - Aquatecture (2016), he also contributed to the World Bank: Cities and Flooding and various other international books.
IHBC NewsBlog
HE’s Research Magazine publishes a major study of the heritage of England’s suburbs
The article traces the long evolution of an internal programme to research 200 years of suburban growth
IHBC Context 183 Wellbeing and Heritage published
The issue explores issues at the intersection of heritage and wellbeing.
SAVE celebrates 50 years of campaigning 1975-2025
SAVE Britain’s Heritage has announced events across the country to celebrate bringing new life to remarkable buildings.
IHBC Annual School 2025 - Shrewsbury 12-14 June
Themed Heritage in Context – Value: Plan: Change, join in-person or online.
200th Anniversary Celebration of the Modern Railway Planned
The Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on September 27, 1825.
Competence Framework Launched for Sustainability in the Built Environment
The Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Edge have jointly published the framework.
Historic England Launches Wellbeing Strategy for Heritage
Whether through visiting, volunteering, learning or creative practice, engaging with heritage can strengthen confidence, resilience, hope and social connections.
National Trust for Canada’s Review of 2024
Great Saves & Worst Losses Highlighted
IHBC's SelfStarter Website Undergoes Refresh
New updates and resources for emerging conservation professionals.
‘Behind the Scenes’ podcast on St. Pauls Cathedral Published
Experience the inside track on one of the world’s best known places of worship and visitor attractions.