Location?

Bussey Building

When did the practice start?

2006

How many staff?

10 full time employed with support from a talented pool of freelancers

How did you meet?

Tarek: We met whilst working with Will Alsop at his studio in Battersea. We were there during the golden era from 2000 - 2010. I spent my time working on two large buildings and Julia was working on masterplans, we started crossing over [on projects] in the mid-2000’s. We won a competition to design a beach hut for the 21st century in Lincolnshire that eventually got built and was our first project. We took Will for a glass of red to explain what we were up to and he was extremely gracious and helped support us and gave us time off in the week to work on it. 

We have been lucky enough to work with some lovely people over the years; Architects like Will Alsop, Norman Foster and Buckley Grey Yeoman, to great names in interiors from Philippe Starck to Kelly Hoppen. A broad range of clients from educational & arts institutions like the London School of Economics and Sadler's Wells and some big developers like Urban Splash and British Land as well as private residential clients . All of whom have really helped us in shaping the way we approach design, we have learned so much from our clients and mentors.

Company ethos?

Tarek: Our ‘thing’ if we have a ‘thing’ has always been that we design from the inside out, all our projects are generally about the interior experience and how that affects the architecture. This is why we have a very balanced team of architects and interior designers, it is very important to us that we work together, we don’t differentiate.

Julia: Yes, although, we also try not to take ourselves too seriously.

Tarek:  Yes! That’s definitely something we learnt from Will [Alsop]. Always find the funny, the sense of humour in everything.

You both studied architecture, when did interiors become as imperative to your practice?

Tarek:  I think this is perhaps another influence from Will [Alsop] who always said to work from ‘masterplan to fork’ which I think translates to everything is design and that is very true for us as well. Everything is part of the experience, everything is architecture, the city is architecture, the building is architecture, it is just that we have to give these things names and define them but we try not to think like that. Skills are different and nuanced but the experience that you are trying to engender is the same.

Our ‘thing’ if we have a ‘thing’ has always been that we design from the inside out, all our projects are generally about the interior experience and how that affects the architecture. 

Tarek:  We have just finished The Conduit members club which we are really proud of. It took about 3 years from start to completion and Julia was onsite for over a year making it all happen. 

It is part of a new breed of member's clubs, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and social good. It's really a diverse mix of people who are passionate about making some kind of positive change in the world. 

The project comprised of the full refurbishment and extension of an existing eight storey building with a bar, restaurant, event and co-working spaces and a beautiful extension on the roof. 

Sustainability lies at the heart of The Conduit’s philosophy which was a key driver in the brief, and we carried the principles of reclaim, reuse, recycle throughout the project. An array of innovative eco-conscious materials construction techniques and engineering mechanisms were embedded into the project, trying to build these in to the fabric of the building itself. For example hemp plaster throughout rather than traditional man-made plaster, living green walls and regenerative lift technology which means it takes the energy from the decent and uses it to power the ascent. 

Julia: They really put a massive emphasis on recycling materials as well because it was an existing building, anything in the building that they couldn’t use they gave away or sold. One of the feature walls on the fine dining floor was made up from a collection of the original old doors in the building, anything from fire doors to wood-panelled doors, the idea was to mix and match as much as possible and then paint them all over - they make for a surprisingly beautiful feature.

Also in the hospitality sector, we are doing a hotel in Hamburg and pitching for some hotels in Poland, in Warsaw and Krakow which is very exciting.

Tarek:  We have just won the commission to do the refurbishment of Walworth Town Hall. A beautiful heritage building on the Walworth Road - the old Town Hall for Southwark Council which has remained closed for many years after a insignificant fire. 

Thankfully despite the fire, a lot of the original features of the building remain - its stone walls, beautiful fireplaces, and ornate columns and tiles - so there is actually very beautiful interior features that we can bring back to life.It is going to become this new local community hub, that will include a restaurant and cafe and local art installations as well as co-working and creative office spaces.

There will be a community space completely given over to community use, with zero profit, zero rent which will be managed by the developer but curated by the local community. It is going to be a wonderful new project, particularly for that area and will have a big role locally. Hopefully people will once again feel part of the building which has been closed for over six years now.

Finally, we are working on some new housing projects, working with local authorities, which has historically excluded smaller practices just because of the way the procurement works.

Also, new builds - we always said a new build house would be our dream project and then at the end of last year we got one and the beginning of this year we got another one and now we are pitching for a third. We are thoroughly enjoying these projects, they are like dream projects for us.

Julia: It definitely feels that we are at a point of change and the studio is taking on a different scale, our projects are getting bigger and we are getting bigger - we are growing up!

How long have you been in this studio space?

Tarek: This is our third year here. We have shared the space with lots of artists which has provided interesting opportunities to collaborate and connections for the future. Unfortunately, the artists have now moved on but we do actually need the space now! We are trying to use the space as they once did as a creative space working on art projects if we can.

Favourite part of the studio?

Tarek:  The light here is amazing, it is north facing which actually works really well, you get the diffused light all throughout the day. Despite the freight trains, it feels quite quiet here. We are in Peckham and in the Bussey Building which is full of architects, designers, and makers with rooftop cinemas and beer gardens - we are in the thick of it which we love.

Julia: I think that is the best thing about the studio, is not just the space itself, which is great but the sense of community that the Bussey Building offers.

Favourite nearby coffee shop?

Julia: My favourite is Brickhouse just across the road. It’s an expensive coffee, but as I’m not a morning person, I’m happy to pay good money for that all important shot of caffeine in the morning!

Tarek: There is a cross-fit yard downstairs and their coffee is £2.30 if you bring your own keep-cup and it is certainly the strongest coffee in Peckham!

Do you socialise together?

Julia: We try to - we are a small practice so the team pretty much have lunch together every day but we try to have a more organised team outing every few months - whenever we win a job for example.

Most played song/artist/musician in the studio?

Tarek:  If it is me it is Justin Bieber or Ariana Grande...

Julia:...and then everyone else puts their headphones on!

Architect/Architectural style you look up to?

Tarek:  I think we would say that we don’t subscribe to the idea of a style. There is no house style, every project is unique and different as it should be. Things that we admire in others is their approach or a particular collaboration or if the function of the building is interesting or engaging within the wider community.

Julia: I was thinking about our earlier projects and I certainly don’t look back and think “ooh, look how different we were 10 years ago” and that’s hopefully a good thing. We have more experience now and we might approach projects differently but our design principles have remained the same.

Favourite building in London?

Julia: My answer to that used to be Centre Point. I really love a prefab concrete facade! We are currently working with a client based in the West End close to Welbeck Car Park, which upsettingly is about to be dismantled but I really like the style of it and the amazing facade. I wouldn’t say they are my favourite buildings in London but I like buildings with a striking, interesting facade, there are too many glass boxes in London.

Tarek:  I think the reason I love London is that it is constantly evolving and there isn’t one fixed thing. I am pleased that there are a lot of heritage and conservation buildings but things change and a city is dead if it stagnates and doesn’t evolve. Even though we sometimes can loose gems like Welbeck, I still believe in the philosophy that change is good and there will be other moments in the city elsewhere that you will fall in love with in the future. 

The best is yet to come, watch this space!

Favourite building you have designed?

Julia: We are fundamentally very different and we tend to disagree a lot but that is also why we work so well together. We have a lot of healthy debates and ultimately it is the best solution that comes out of that rigour. It does feel amazing to see your designs come to life - ultimately that’s why I wanted to be an architect. I am forever critical, it’s a bit like a song you’ve heard too many times. I spend a lot of time on site at the coal face of the building process and when it’s finished I need a break from it in order to be able to appreciate it for what it is.

Tarek: I think it hasn’t been built yet.

The best is yet to come, watch this space!