Location

Shoreditch

When did the practice start?

2013

How many people?

8 so far and hopefully growing a bit this year, as more projects are secured by the practice.  

How long have you been in this studio?

We have been here for two years. 

How long has the practice been going? 

For five years. Both of us were previously at AHMM working on large public buildings. We really enjoyed being part of AHMM and we still have a great relationship with them. We learned so much while we were there and watched as the company expanded over the year, which was great to be a part of. 

After ten years of working together, we decided we wanted to start our own practice, setting our own agenda for how we wanted our office to be run. The process has been a challenging but amazing experience.  

Company ethos?

High-quality buildings focused on good design. 

We are keen not to be specialists but to work in as many sectors as possible and collaborate with as many people as possible. 

A few of us sit on different design panels, as well as teaching. We want to become advocates of good design and therefore create a better-built environment and better buildings for clients. You can create really good high-quality buildings out of things that don’t necessarily look that promising at the start. This doesn’t mean spending huge amounts of money but rather adopting an approach of careful consideration and innovative problem solving. Buildings should be clever and not just look good, though they can be clever and look good too. A lot of our buildings evolve in that way, a client might approach us with one brief and this often evolves into something else after getting to know them and discussing their requirements in more detail.

Current Projects?

Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up at the V&A

We won this in competition and worked in collaboration with the set designer Tom Scutt. The objects which were found in the Blue House have never been out of Mexico – her clothes, accessories and her possessions were locked away. The exhibition explored her dual identity, as a half-German half-Mexican, modernist and post-colonialist, a fiercely strong woman who was also disabled.

Lambeth & Southwark Housing Association and Kensal Road

We are also doing smaller residential projects with the housing association in Lambeth & Southwark. Quite a few infill sites, which are really interesting because you have such tight parameters to adhere to. Then on the opposite scale, we are doing a very large, 130,000 sq ft new build office space in Kensal Road. We are starting to develop the interiors – creating more of an art space for creative industries, rather than your usual west end office.

Five Charterhouse square

This involves the restoration of a heritage building that led to an invitation to develop a masterplan for the entire campus. 

Curtain Road

A small entrance in Shoreditch which revolves around making off-site and individual fittings. We were working with a bespoke lighting designer and the intervention has subsequently led to a bigger project developing shipping containers in the yard to create a series of incubator spaces. 

We believe this range and scale of projects is really important, allowing cross-pollination between sectors. 

Favorite part of the studio?

We love the fact the studio is double height. If gives a real sense of light and space – being on the mezzanine is a bit like being in a tree house.

Favourite nearby coffee shop?

The Grocery is really good and does great food too. There is also a fantastic coffee kiosk in the Perseverance Works Courtyard too.

Do you eat lunch together?

We do eat together sometimes. Perseverance Works has a beautiful, quiet courtyard which feels very far removed from Shoreditch. 

Pets allowed?

No pets allowed. 

Most played song/artist/musician in the studio? 

At the moment we are really into Four Tet. David Byrne. Gil Scott-Herron also gets a lot of air time too.

Architect/Architectural style you look up to? 

We think that a good building is good regardless of style or age. We are more interest in high-quality design rather than style. We do love a bit of Marcel Breuer though. 

Favorite building in London?

This is a really difficult question. I love the Camden Council housing pioneered by Sidney Cook, but I am biased as I live in one of them.