Simon Allford marks 100 Days In 17.12.21

Simon Allford recently marked his first 100 days in the role of RIBA President with a special event at 66 Portland Place, the headquarters of the RIBA - which he plans to transform into the House of Architecture. You can watch Simon’s speech and hear more about his ideas and priorities for his two-year term of office here.

Review of 2021 17.12.21

This time twelve months ago we were all hopeful of a gradual return to some version of pre-pandemic conditions during the year to come. The reality has turned out to be more challenging, but the agility and adaptability of our teams has allowed us to continue to deliver ambitious architecture throughout 2021, and there has been much to celebrate, with 11 projects being granted planning consent, 15 projects completing on site across the UK and the US, and the practice’s work continuing to be recognised with a string of awards.

So while 2021 has seen a more tentative re-emergence than we might have wished for, we enter the coming year in a spirit of optimism and anticipation, of new project opportunities on the horizon, as well as a number of complex and long-awaited projects finally coming to fruition. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy reading our Review of 2021.

Planning approval for Riverside community living scheme 16.12.21

AHMM’s proposal for Riverside community living development in the Canton area of Cardiff has received planning approval through committee. The proposed development will contain 41 one and two-bedroom apartments for older persons, and provide communal facilities and a new community centre on the ground floor together with a multi-use games area and community garden. The site is one of three community and older persons’ developments for Cardiff Council. Planning decisions for schemes in Butetown and Splott are expected in the new year.

The Post Building wins WAF Award 24.11.21

The Post Building has been announced as the winner of the Completed Buildings - Mixed Use category of the WAF Awards, having been presented to judges in October.

The project will now be presented again to the WAF ‘Super Jury’ during the World Architecture Festival from 1-3 December, and considered for the overall award to be announced on the final day. Located at a key intersection of neighbourhoods in central London, the Post Building has redeveloped the site of the former West Central mail sorting office, retaining part of the existing building structure and adding new cores and mezzanine levels to create a mix of office, retail and amenity space, as well as delivering affordable housing on the site and new public space within and around it.

The World Architecture Festival is the world’s largest annual international architecture event, and the live ‘crit’-style awards presentations are a key part of the programme which also includes talks and fringe events. Read more about the Festival here.

AIA Oklahoma Design Excellence Awards 2021 22.11.21

Three AHMM projects have been recognised at this year’s American Institute of Architects Central Oklahoma Design Excellence Awards, presented last Friday (18 November).

Social Capital, which has reinvented a former transmission shop to create a new bar with the city’s largest rooftop terrace, was awarded both the Honor Award in the adaptive reuse category and the COTE Award, which highlights projects that meet the AIA Committee on the Environment's rigorous criteria for social, economic, and ecological value. Meanwhile, Classen 16 received the Honor Award in large commercial architecture category. Judges commented that it ‘is a well-executed design for a project that is typically challenging, developer driven and with severe budget constraints, from the site plan to the street frontage, to the turn of the corner the project is well integrated urban design… This is a very considerate project that comes together in a beautiful integrated complete package.’ Wheeler Office also received a Citation Award in the large commercial architecture category.

Planning approval for 115-123 Houndsditch 19.11.21

Planning approval has been granted for a new office-led development in Houndsditch in the City of London. AHMM’s proposals for Brockton Everlast include office, flexible retail, café, and community space as well as a new enhanced public realm with opportunities for on-street traders. The design addresses the challenges posed by carbon reduction and the post pandemic era and will deliver a flexible building targeting the highest standards of BREEAM, LEED and WELL; the project will also offer an energy transfer to residential neighbours and enhance the surrounding area. The improved public realm, active frontages and urban greening will transform this part of London and create a new place within the city. Construction on the scheme is expected to start in 2023.

Plans submitted for Holloway Prison site 18.11.21

Peabody has submitted a detailed planning application for a 60% affordable housing-led scheme on the former Holloway Prison site, following extensive consultation with the local community. The plans developed by AHMM open up the historic site to the public for the first time and deliver 985 new homes, including 415 for social rent, together with a 1.4 acre public park, a Women's Building, and new commercial spaces. The development will include over 2,000 cycle spaces and create new connections throughout the site, with parks, private gardens, green roofs, and a sensory garden. To meet local housing need, most of the social homes will be two- and three-bedroom homes for families, and there will be 60 Extra Care one-bedroom homes.

Work on the site is expected to start at the end of 2022, and will create 51 apprenticeships, with an ambitious target of 30% of these for women. Prior to demolition, a legacy project will identify which elements of the former prison can be retained and how the site's past can be honoured in the future public spaces. Consultation events and hundreds of hours of community meetings have been held to understand the priorities of local people, and feedback from these has helped to shape the plans. Local residents, community groups, former staff and women with lived experience have been welcomed on over 100 tours of the site. Find out more about the proposals here.

AJ Architecture Award for Workplace 18.11.21

AHMM’s transformation of the Grade II-listed 1 Finsbury Avenue has been presented with this year’s AJ Architecture Award for Workplace Project (10,000m² and over).

Designed in the early 1980s by Arup Associates (Peter Foggo), 1 Finsbury Avenue was the first building in the Broadgate development and was listed in 2015.

The ‘Raw is More’ approach to the redevelopment of the building for British Land led the design team to make modest interventions, stripping back years of added decoration to reveal and celebrate the existing fabric of the building. Judges commented that ‘AHMM has clearly and sensitively dialled into the building’s unique history’ and ‘treats the existing with a lot of respect.’

The AJ Architecture Awards are organised by the Architects’ Journal and recognise excellence in architecture across building types and scales – read more about the winners here.

The Well opens 17.11.21

The Well, a unique community-focused health and wellbeing building, has opened in Norman, Oklahoma. The occasion was marked on 12 November with a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration event attended by the client and stakeholder organisations and AHMM team members Dan Govin and Jessica Beebe.

A partnership between Cleveland County and the Cleveland County Health Department, the new facility will be an inclusive hub and events space for activities and services including fitness programmes, cooking demonstrations, classes on a range of topics from financial literacy to nutrition, and health services from the Norman Regional Health clinic. The Well will also be the new home of the Norman Farm Market. Read more about The Well here.

British Homes Awards 15.11.21

Following its success at the Brick Awards last week, the Officers’ House at Royal Arsenal has picked up another award last Friday (12 November) for Development Transformation of the Year at the British Homes Awards. The Officers’ House has redeveloped a dilapidated Grade II listed barracks building (Block A) and provided additional housing within a new twin block (Block B), delivering a total of 19 new homes. Block A was fully refurbished after 30 years of neglect since the Ministry of Defence vacated the site, and effectively saved from Historic England’s At Risk register. The award judges praised the scheme as ‘a bold and exciting project that sensitively restores an at-risk heritage building whilst highlighting its historic character with a contrasting contemporary twin building. The shared access walkway adds further interest with its playful nature and the use of MMC brings another dimension to the 'old versus new' design concept. A strong statement worthy of high praise.’ Read more about the British Homes Awards winners here.

Brick Award for the Officers’ House 11.11.21

The Officers’ House at Royal Arsenal has been presented with the Brick Award for Medium Housing Development at a ceremony held in London last night (10 November). The annual awards are organised by the Brick Development Association, and have celebrated the best examples of the use of clay brick in the built environment for over ten years.

The Officers’ House scheme has refurbished and extended a Grade II listed former barracks building and introduced a new ‘twin’ connected by a courtyard and access bridges. New brickwork has been incorporated into the existing envelope, carefully matching the Flemish-bonded London stock brickwork. Original features such as the porch, pediments, extensive leadwork and arch-topped gable windows have also been retained and repaired.

Migrateful Cookery School opens 27.10.21

The charity Migrateful has celebrated the opening of its new cookery school designed by AHMM, and the practice has been one of the first groups to book in a cookery class.

In nine months a former office space in the Peel Institute’s Three Corners Community Centre in Islington has been transformed into a flexible cookery, teaching, and hosting space. The open plan kitchen has 12 bespoke mobile cooking stations, which can be reconfigured depending on the class requirements, or moved aside for larger events. The dining area has two large dining tables to accommodate up to 24 diners.

AHMM has supported Migrateful since 2017, offering financial support, booking regular cookery classes, and more recently providing pro bono design services for the new kitchen. As part of the practice’s Black History Month events in October staff took part in an Eritrean cookery class, where they learned how to make traditional dishes such as Adas, Hamli, Timtimo and Shiro. Find out more about AHMM’s partnerships and pro bono work here.

Planning success for the TQEC Research Hub 25.10.21

Bristol City Council has granted planning for the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC) Research Hub, which will transform two Victorian sheds on the site of the former Bristol Gas Light Company adjacent to Bristol Temple Meads train station. The TQEC Research Hub will be the first piece of a wider University of Bristol 'Innovation Campus' that will regenerate a large post-industrial site in the heart of the city. 

The linked stone structures will be restored and repurposed as a quantum computing research institute, film studio, instrumented auditorium and other associated workspace. This will bring together researchers, commercial partners, performers and the public to test innovative digital content and develop new technologies that will enhance our futures.

The first phase of the development is due to open in early 2022 with the works fully complete by early 2023.

Seven young practices join AHMM at White Collar Factory 21.10.21

The Architecture Foundation has announced the seven young architecture practices for the 2021/22 residency programme at White Collar Factory following the call for applications in July. 

Artefact, Fisher Cheng, Found Order, Madeleine Kessler Architecture, Urban Radicals, Wadhal, and Xcessive Aesthetics will join AHMM at the practice’s recently completed White Collar Factory office space, where they will be provided with free desk and storage space and access to meeting rooms, breakout space and other amenities. 

Director of the Architecture Foundation Ellis Woodman said "We were delighted with the quality of the submissions: the seven successful firms are all very talented and worthy beneficiaries. It is very generous of AHMM to have provided space and I am hopeful that it will prove a really transformative opportunity for the practices that have been awarded one of the residencies." Read more about the programme and new residents here.

Bristol Civic Society Design Awards 21.10.21

The Vincent has been named as one of only three recipients of this year’s Bristol Civic Society Design Awards. The awards recognise developments in Bristol that are visible from a public place and make a positive contribution to the local environment through design excellence. Bristol Civic Society is an independent, voluntary organisation that exists to improve Bristol’s built environment and celebrate its heritage.

The award for the Vincent follows the scheme’s recent success at the Housing Design Awards; it was awarded the HAPPI Award, which recognises exemplary later living developments that best reflect the principles proposed in the Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation report.

AIA Central States Awards 13.10.21

Social Capital, a community-focused craft beer hall in Oklahoma, has been awarded a Merit Award for Preservation/Adaptive Reuse at the recent American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central States Region Awards.

The former transmission shop retains much of its original structure but has been reinvented to create a multi-level flexible space on a prominent corner within Oklahoma City’s Core to Shore strategic framework. 

AHMM has also been named as one of the 2021 Emerging Professional Friendly Firms, an award that celebrates architectural practices that create nurturing environments and professional development opportunities for students, recent graduates, or architects licensed within the last 10 years. You can find more information about the Emerging Professional Friendly Firms awards here.

Hawley Wharf overall winner at Housing Design Awards 11.10.21

Hawley Wharf has been announced as the Winner of Winners at this year’s Housing Design Awards. The recently completed masterplan for a key part of the canalside in Camden includes 195 new homes, as part of a mixed-used scheme that includes a new primary school, market, workspace and cinema. While praising the homes themselves, CEO of Design for Homes and Housing Design Awards judge David Birkbeck also noted that ‘[Hawley Wharf’s] value to those that don’t live there is huge. Councillors love how it’s mended a corner of Camden that canals and railways sterilised for centuries, stitching in outdoor spaces you discover serendipitously. And the judges were struck by how many constraints it addressed so well.’ Watch Design for Homes’ short film about the project here. 

Founded in the 1940s by Aneurin Bevan to raise the standard of post-war housing, the Housing Design Awards draw on expertise across built environment professions to highlight exemplary housing design from the public and private sectors. Read more about the awards here. 

1-4 Marble Arch tops out 08.10.21

Construction work at 1-4 Marble Arch (formerly Project Nash) has reached its highest point.

The project team marked the occasion with a ceremony held on site, hosted by Galliford Try and attended by the client, The Portman Estate, and members of the AHMM team. The project sees the total reinvention of a 1930s mansion block close to the Marble Arch itself.

Due for completion in 2022, the mixed use development retains, restores and extends the existing Portland stone façade, while internally the structure has been completely replaced to accommodate 5,000 square metres of Grade A office space and 2,200 square metres of retail over basement, ground and first floors.

Liverpool Architecture Festival 04.10.21

Today (4 October) marks the start of the first Liverpool Architecture Festival, a ten-day series of events celebrating the buildings and architecture of the city. The festival has been created by the Metro Mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram and Paul Monaghan, the Liverpool City Region design champion. The festival, which is also supported by the Liverpool Architecture Society, the RIBA and Liverpool Young Architects, aims to bring together the local architectural community to highlight outstanding work, share ideas and raise design and building quality standards.

Simon Allford will launch the festival in his role as RIBA President with an event held at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre this evening.

More information about the Liverpool Architecture Festival can be found here.

Wheeler Block 13 completes 01.10.21

Wheeler Block 13, a three-storey office building in Oklahoma, is now complete and has welcomed its first tenants. The project client Humphreys Capital has moved to the double height upper floor of the building into an office space also designed by AHMM.

The modern warehouse-style building with its distinctive barrel-shaped roof provides 18,000 square feet of office across the upper levels, with 9,000 square feet of commercial space at ground level.

One of three AHMM projects in the Wheeler District of Oklahoma located on the south bank of the Oklahoma River, it joins the recently completed nearby Western Gateway Elementary School and the soon to be completed Wheeler Residential.

One Portwall Square tops out 30.09.21

This week Executive Directors Peter Morris and Nigel Harris joined the One Portwall Square team to celebrate the project reaching the highest point of construction. The topping out ceremony was marked with the Scandinavian tradition of lifting a fir tree over the building by tower crane, coinciding with the start of the roofworks.

Once complete, One Portwall Square will be the new home of AHMM’s Bristol office, with the practice taking the ground and first floors of the building. The new office space will include reception, workspace and meeting rooms on the first floor, and canteen and multifunction event space on the ground floor.

With an emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability, the scheme is targeting BREEAM Excellent accreditation as well as an EPC rating of A. It is believed to be the first office building in Bristol to use an in-slab cooling system and will also connect to the city’s new low carbon district heating network. Additionally, the development will achieve a WiredScore and Cycling Score Platinum certification in recognition of its commitment to outstanding connectivity and exceptional cycling amenities.

Planning approval for 334 Oxford Street 29.09.21

Westminster City Council’s planning committee has voted unanimously in favour of the refurbishment and extension of 334 Oxford Street, the site formerly occupied by Debenhams. AHMM’s scheme, which has been managed by the London based commercial real estate practice Capital Real Estate Partners, proposes the retention of three floors of retail, the reuse of the existing building’s structure, the introduction of new facades and three additional storeys at upper levels with terraces benefiting from urban greening. At upper levels, the plans will introduce high-quality Grade A flexible workspace space at upper levels, and a flexible mix of uses on Vere Street, Marylebone Lane and Henrietta Place.

AHMM commits to science based carbon reduction targets 28.09.21

AHMM has signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative committing us to doing what science dictates is necessary to reduce the destructive impacts of climate change on human society and nature: to reach net-zero global emissions by 2050 at the latest in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C. In doing so, the practice has aligned its climate mitigation targets with the most ambitious aim of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

By committing, the practice aligns its ambition with keeping warming to 1.5°C and reaching science-based net-zero emissions by 2050 across all aspects of our operations. AHMM’s science-based emissions strategy will be verified and validated by the SBTi to ensure it is robust and meaningful.

The practice has also signed up to the United Nations Global Compact Business Ambition for 1.5°C. ‘Business Ambition for 1.5°C’ is an urgent call to action from a global coalition of UN agencies, business and industry leaders, in partnership with the Race to Zero. 

Through these commitments, AHMM hopes to lead the way in low carbon architecture in its operations and design.

Pedelle 2021 21.09.21

Two AHMM Directors, Ceri Davies and Hazel Joseph, have completed the Club Peloton Pedelle 2021. The three-day cycle event for women in the construction industry raises money for the children's charity Coram, Cyclists Fighting Cancer, MSA Trust and Tom's Trust. Over three days the cyclists covered a distance of 412km through the Cumbria, Yorkshire and Lancashire countryside, taking on some of the top 100 climbs in the UK.

If you would like to sponsor the AHMM team you can still do so at Ceri and Hazel's JustGiving pages.

New London Awards shortlist 2021 20.09.21

The new showroom and office for brick supplier EH Smith is part of the shortlist for this year’s New London Awards, announced this morning (20 September) by New London Architecture. The project, which has transformed a space in Clerkenwell into a flexible showcase for the builders’ merchant, has been shortlisted in the Welcoming category. Proposals for Belgrove House, a new life sciences-led office building in King’s Cross which also features in this year’s RA Summer Exhibition; the mixed use redevelopment and extension of a 1970s building on Berkeley Street in Mayfair; and Lansdowne House, a new sustainable office-led development on the historic Berkeley Square, also in Mayfair, have also been shortlisted in the Unbuilt project category. Winners will be announced at the NLA’s annual lunch in November – read more about the shortlist here.

Western Gateway Elementary welcomes its first students 15.09.21

Western Gateway Elementary, AHMM’s first school to be built in the US, has opened its doors. Designed as a 380-student pre-kindergarten through to fourth grade elementary, the school will initially cater to pre-kindergarten to first grade.

The project was delivered on an extremely fast timeline, with AHMM’s appointment in February 2020 and the school completing in August 2021. Due to COVID restrictions the whole project was delivered while the design team was working from home.

Western Gateway offers a dual-language immersion approach, with pupils learning in both English and Spanish.

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021 14.09.21

A model of Belgrove House has been selected for this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, which held its Varnishing Day for artists yesterday (13 September) prior to opening to the public on 22 September. Held every year since 1769, the Summer Exhibition is the largest open-submission art exhibition in the world, and features paintings, prints, films, photographs, drawings, sculptures and architectural models. This year’s exhibition coordinator is Yinka Shonibare RA, who chose the theme Reclaiming Magic, and Sir David Adjaye RA has curated the architecture room with the theme of Climate and Geography.

The Summer Exhibition runs until 2 January 2022. Find out more and book tickets here.

RIBA National Awards 2021 09.09.21

The Ray Farringdon has been announced as one of the winners of this year’s RIBA National Awards. Designed for developer Viridis, the project has redeveloped the former site of the Guardian newspaper’s headquarters on Farringdon Road to create 100,000 square metres of office and retail space within a building that uses varied brick types and bonds to reflect and enliven the character of this part of Clerkenwell. Describing it as ‘a bright and fresh contemporary office building that fits effortlessly into its urban context,’ the judges also praised the project’s ‘exquisitely composed’ elevation and response to its varied context. You can read the full judges’ comments here.

National award winners will be considered for the RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist, which will be announced next week; the winner will be named on 14 October.

Building and British Homes Awards shortlists 07.09.21

Shortlists for the Building Awards and British Homes Awards have been announced. The Alder Centre has been shortlisted for the Building Awards Small Project and Social Value categories; Park Central West and East for Housing Project of the Year; and Hawley Wharf for Project of the Year. AHMM has also been shortlisted for Architecture Practice of the Year. Meanwhile, the British Homes Awards shortlist includes Hawley Wharf for Regeneration Scheme of the Year; The Post Building for Affordable Housing; Park Central West and East for Development of the Year (over 100 units); and The Officers’ House at Royal Arsenal for Development Transformation of the Year.

Both awards schemes’ winners will be announced in November.

Open House London 2021 02.09.21

This weekend (4-5 September) AHMM will be participating in Open House London, the annual architecture festival that gives access to hundreds of buildings across the city, many of which are normally closed to the public. 1 Finsbury Avenue, The Bower, Burntwood School and New Scotland Yard will be opening their doors for architect-led tours, while The Ray Farringdon will be offering an online presentation. Visitors can also join tours of AHMM projects The Library at Willesden Green and Barking Town Centre. The following Saturday (11 September), AHMM will be hosting its popular Mini City Home Inventors workshop, which invites families to decorate and model a tiny fun place to live and add it to a miniature city. 

Organised by Open City, the 2021 Open House Festival runs from 4 September to Sunday 12 September. Read more about Open House and browse participating buildings and events here.

Simon Allford becomes President of the RIBA 01.09.21

Simon Allford has today (1 September) taken up the role of President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Having been elected last September, Simon will serve as the institute’s 79th President for a term of two years until September 2023. 

A key element of Simon’s campaign, and an issue to which he will be firmly committed as President, is increasing engagement with the RIBA by architects, members of the public and government. His aim is for the institute to become a generous host to broad and detailed debate - an Institute of Ideas, or The House of Architecture@RIBA. 

The role of RIBA President was established in 1835 and is the highest elected position in UK architecture. The President chairs RIBA Council, which acts as the representative body for the membership. Read more about Simon’s new role here.

2021 RIBA London region awards 27.08.21

The Ray, a new office building on the site of the former Guardian headquarters on Farringdon Road; the refurbishment of 1 Finsbury Avenue, an office building originally designed by Arup Associates in the 1980s; and the redevelopment of the former Officers’ House at Royal Arsenal have all been announced as winners of this year’s RIBA London region awards.

Judges noted AHMM’s ‘radical yet light-touch makeover’ of 1 Finsbury Avenue and its ‘reworking of this architecturally significant, ground-breaking office building, so extending its life by at least 15 years and given back the City a new and highly useable beacon.’ Meanwhile, The Officers’ House, a project that has effectively saved a building previously considered ‘at risk’ by Historic England, ‘breathes new life into a derelict and badly dilapidated existing listed building… [and] succeeds on many different levels’. Finally, The Ray in Farringdon was praised as ‘a bright and fresh contemporary office building that fits effortlessly into its urban context… like all great architecture, its interior speaks directly to its exterior: natural connection to the public realm, access to greenery, and a playful use of bricks that roots the building in this characterful part of London.’

The three projects will now be considered for national awards, from which nominations for the RIBA Stirling Prize are chosen. Read more about the awards and recipients here.

Malcolm Wicks House and Bloom House reach practical completion 25.08.21

Two buildings at Taberner House in Croydon have reached practical completion. Malcolm Wicks House, a 21-storey residential tower which had its ribbon cutting ceremony this week, provides 90 affordable apartments. The neighbouring Bloom House for L&Q, which features a communal garden for residents, completed earlier this month creating 84 new homes across 13 storeys. The entire Taberner House scheme, which includes two further residential towers, new public realm and the revitalised Queen’s Gardens, is due to complete early next year.

AJ Architecture Awards 2021 shortlists announced 24.08.21

Six AHMM projects have been shortlisted for this year’s AJ Architecture Awards organised by the Architects’ Journal. The new Clerkenwell showroom for builders’ merchant EH Smith has been shortlisted in the Leisure category; with another notable use of brick, the redevelopment of the Officers’ House at Royal Arsenal in Woolwich has been shortlisted in the Refurbishment category. Also in Refurbishment is the redevelopment of Riverside House, part of the New Bailey masterplan in Salford, Greater Manchester; while in Liverpool, the new dedicated home for the Alder Centre for Child Bereavement, recent winner of a European Healthcare Design Award, has been shortlisted in Health and Wellbeing. In central London, the Post Building, which has redeveloped and retained elements of the former West Central mail sorting office site, has been shortlisted in Mixed Use. Finally, the refurbishment of 1 Finsbury Avenue, originally designed by Arup Associates in the 1980s, has been shortlisted in the Workplace over 10,000sqm category. 

Simon Allford joins RIBA President’s Medals judges 16.08.21

Simon Allford has joined the judging panel of the 2021 RIBA Silver Medal, 35 years after being jointly nominated in the same category with Jonathan Hall, Paul Monaghan, and Peter Morris - a moment that marked the inception of AHMM.

The Silver Medal is one of the RIBA President’s Medals, which were established in 1836. They are the RIBA’s oldest awards, regarded as the most prestigious awards in architectural education worldwide. The Bronze and Silver Medals are awarded to the best design projects completed by students during, respectively, RIBA Part 1 and Part 2 courses (or equivalent), while the Dissertation Medal rewards accomplished written work produced at either RIBA Part 1 or Part 2 (or equivalent).

Judging of the three awards will begin in October 2021 and winners will be announced in the first week of December 2021.

Simon will be taking up the role of RIBA President on 1 September.

Read more about the 2021 President’s Medals and view the work of past winners and nominees here.

AHMM Summer School 2021 03.08.21

AHMM’s annual summer school took place last week; this year’s was the biggest yet with 32 young people attending from across the UK, and from Uruguay and Hong Kong.

Now in its third year, the aim of the week-long summer school is to provide access for 14-19 year olds to experience in the architecture profession. Throughout the week students were introduced to digital design, architectural drawing and 3D model making using SketchUp. There were also drawing exercises and model making workshops where participants were challenged to create their ideal space using materials found around their homes.

By the end of the week participants had created work that could be added to their portfolios, and presented it to their mentors, tutors and peers.

AHMM director honoured in Oklahoma awards 28.07.21

Director Wade Scaramucci has been named as one of the honourees of this year’s Journal Record Excellence in Construction and Real Estate awards. Established in 2020, the awards recognise professionals who have made a positive impact in the construction, real estate and related industries in the state of Oklahoma, and will be presented at the Oklahoma History Center in September. Read the full list of honourees and find out more about the awards here.

Architecture Foundation residencies for young architects 27.07.21

The Architecture Foundation has launched a free residency programme to support young architectural practices, in collaboration with Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. Supporting young architectural talent is at the core of the Architecture Foundation’s mission, and it is especially important to support the next generation after the COVID-19 crisis, so they have teamed up with AHMM to offer eight residencies at White Collar Factory on Old Street in London.

Running for six months from September 2021 to February 2022, the residency programme will provide free desk and storage space alongside AHMM's staff. Successful candidates will be selected by a jury composed of Simon Allford, co-founder of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Betty Owoo and Amandeep Singh Kalra, co-chairs of the Architecture Foundation's Young Trustees, Ellis Woodman, Director of the Architecture Foundation, and Rosie Gibbs-Stevenson, Curator of the Architecture Foundation.

Applicants must employ no more than two members of staff, have been set up in the last three years, and be based in London, or able to commute to London. Submissions from practices led by individuals belonging to groups presently underrepresented in the architectural profession will be particularly welcomed.

Applicants should submit a digital portfolio of no more than two sheets of A3 identifying the scope of their past and current work, and describing their career trajectory to date. The deadline is midnight on Friday August 20 2021. Apply here. 

Victor Kite Award for Design Technology 26.07.21

This year the Victor Kite Award for Design Technology has been awarded to Keene Chua. The award for students at The Bartlett School of Architecture recognises the best work in Design Technology (year 2) and is usually awarded at the school’s annual summer show.

The award was established in 2013 by former AHMM staff member and Bartlett tutor, Scott Batty, in memory of architect Victor Kite. Victor was a mentor to Simon, Jonathan, Paul and Peter as Part III students, and later to many others at AHMM, playing a significant role in the practice and its work.

This year’s Bartlett Summer Show is available to view online here.

Awards update 19.07.21

Television Centre has won the Golden Pineapple for Place of the Year in this year’s Pineapple Awards, announced last week on the final day of the Festival of Place. The Pineapple Awards are organised by The Developer magazine in association with the Design Council, and recognise places that make a positive social, environmental and economic impact.

Meanwhile, three AHMM projects are included in the WAF Awards and BCI Awards shortlists. The Alder Centre and the Post Building have been shortlisted for the BCI Awards, which will be announced in October. The Post Building also features alongside Belgrove House in the shortlist for this year’s WAF Awards, which will be judged and announced at the World Architecture Festival in Lisbon. Read more about the WAF Awards shortlist and the World Architecture Festival here.

Planning approval for 330 Gray’s Inn Road 09.07.21

Proposals by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris for developer Groveworld to create new homes, workspaces and a lifestyle hotel at 330 Gray’s Inn Road, the former home of the Royal Nose, Throat and Ear Hospital, have been approved by Camden Council’s planning committee.

Over 50% of the homes will be delivered as affordable housing, while 14,000 square metres of office space will be able to support a variety of businesses, including lab-enabled workspaces and life sciences, further strengthening the Knowledge Quarter’s reputation as a centre for innovation. The hotel, which incorporates the historic 330 Gray’s Inn Road building, will create an attractive space with amenity for residents and visitors. At the heart of the development will be a public courtyard, designed in collaboration with EAST, a soft-landscaped residents’ courtyard, and two public routes from Wicklow Street that will make new connections within the wider King’s Cross area. Having been approved by the council, the proposals will now be considered by the GLA for final planning consent.

Elephant and Castle phase three welcomes its first residents 08.07.21

Elephant and Castle Park Central West and Park Central East have now both been completed onsite.
This project milestone marks the completion of the third phase of the wider Elephant Park masterplan, which also includes the recently completed new park by Gillespies. Each of the AHMM designed plots consist of a 25 storey tower block and mansion buildings, situated around a new landscaped podium and extensive public realm. Completed in May 2021, the two plots provide 829 mixed tenure homes, retail units, and new communal amenity spaces. Residents have already moved into the affordable rented portion of Park Central, with private tenants now moving into the privately rented homes.

Supporting future architects 08.07.21

After a very difficult year for all, and particularly for students of architecture and their teachers, we are delighted to have been able to offer a three month placement course for 12 Part I students who completed their time with the practice last week. Through an open call and advert, we offered the opportunity to gain the relevant experience they need to progress in their studies to students from the University of Bath, Birmingham City School of Architecture, Cardiff University, the University of Dundee, the University of Hertfordshire, the University of Liverpool, London South Bank University, Newcastle University, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Reading, the University of Sheffield, and the University of the West of England. We are also pleased to be supporting student summer shows and prizes at the Bartlett, Bath, the LSA, Loughborough, and Sheffield.

AHMM’s Head of Sustainability joins the Architects Declare Steering Group 07.07.21

AHMM Associate and Head of Sustainability Dr Craig Robertson is one of the new members of the Architects Declare Steering Group. Architects Declare was founded in 2019, and Allford Hall Monaghan Morris was a founding signatory  of the open letter calling for architects and the wider construction industry to take collective action to address the climate and biodiversity emergency.

Now with over 1000 signatories, Architects Declare has become a collective voice liaising with other industry-based organisations and networks, constructively engaging with government, clients and the architectural press. The steering group of 15 members from across the industry will meet regularly to drive the direction of the movement. Read more here.

Migrateful Cookery School starts on site 06.07.21

Work to create a permanent cookery school, professional kitchen and dining space for Migrateful has started on site at the Peel Institute’s 3 Corners Centre in Clerkenwell. This will be a new space where refugees and asylum seekers can teach people to cook and share their traditional cuisines, and train to become professional cookery class teachers as a way to access employment and integration in the UK. The pro bono project is supported with materials, funding and expertise from AHMM collaborators including Vitra, Domus, Caro Communications and Derwent London. Construction is running to a tight timeline with project completion expected later this month.

AIA UK award for 1 Finsbury Avenue 01.07.21

The redevelopment of 1 Finsbury Avenue has won the AIA UK Chapter award for Exemplary Performance in Sustainability. 1 Finsbury Avenue was completed in 2019, and is a key part of British Land’s renewal of the Broadgate Estate in the City of London; it also won a Civic Trust Award earlier this year.

AIA UK was formed in 1990 and became an official chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1992; it has presented its awards for over 20 years to UK-based architects or designers for projects anywhere in the world, and architects or designers based outside the UK for projects completed in the UK. Read more about the awards here.

Shoreditch Village Phase 2 tops out 01.07.21

Shoreditch Village Phase 2, an office led scheme built around the East London line extension viaduct, has reached its highest point. The topping out ceremony was attended by Director Wade Scaramucci, members of the design team, and the client, Brockton Everlast. The scheme is due to complete in December 2021 and includes a new market and public space, accessed through new and historic passageways, that open up the site.

Image courtesy of Solk Photography.

Planning approval for 76 Upper Ground 30.06.21

Proposals for the refurbishment and extension of 76 Upper Ground, originally designed by Sir Denys Lasdun and also known as the IBM Building, have been unanimously approved by the London borough of Lambeth’s Planning Committee. The plans will deliver an additional 11,000 square metres of flexible and highly sustainable office space for an estimated 1,200 additional jobs, and will provide a long-term future for the Grade II listed building, greatly improving and enhancing its setting within the South Bank conservation area. The approved plans will become a model for sustainable office design; through retaining over 80% of the existing structure, the building will be highly energy efficient, targeting both BREEAM Outstanding and certification under the NABERS Design for Performance standard with a 5-star rating. Outdoor terraces covering over 4,400 square metres will be brought to life through a sensitive and considered landscape design.
Construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2022 with the building complete in the first quarter of 2025.

Planning consent for the Nova 29.06.21

The Nova in Oklahoma City’s Automobile Alley has been granted planning permission by the Downtown Design Review Committee. The scheme will redevelop two existing buildings: the historic Chevrolet Motor Company Building, which will house over 19,000 square feet of retail space and 20 for lease apartments, and a neighbouring industrial building, which will be converted to residents’ parking and topped with a 10,000 square foot greenhouse that will grow produce for distribution to local markets and restaurants. Work is due to start on site later this year with the project expected to complete in 2022.

The Soup Kitchen London 24.06.21

AHMM has completed a pro-bono project for the Soup Kitchen London, a charity supporting homeless and vulnerable people based on Tottenham Court Road. Working with Derwent London, The Thornton Partnership and Stortford Interiors, the team has created a small mental health and consultation space nestled underneath an existing external stair. The office replaces a previous room no longer fit for purpose and will allow the Soup Kitchen to provide free mental health therapy, dentist and GP appointments, alongside hot food.

European Healthcare Design Award for the Alder Centre 18.06.21

The Alder Centre has won a European Healthcare Design Award, announced this week at the annual European Healthcare Design Congress. The Alder Centre, which won the prize for Healthcare Design (under 25,000 sqm), opened earlier this year and provides a dedicated place for people who are affected by the loss of a child to meet, talk and access specialist counselling services, and also houses a national child bereavement helpline and counselling services for hospital staff.

The European Healthcare Design Awards recognise professional excellence in the design of healthcare environments in Europe and around the world, and the judges include international healthcare researchers, practitioners and policy advisors. Read more about the awards and winners here.

Planning approval for Leinster Avenue 04.06.21

AHMM’s proposal for Leinster Avenue in south Bristol has received planning approval. The 100% affordable housing scheme will create 71 new homes across a mix of apartments, terraced housing and wheelchair accessible bungalows, and includes a new public green space and a pedestrian priority mews street. Leinster Avenue has been designed in conjunction with the neighbouring Knowle DGE Academy sixth form annexe, which includes two independent living units. These will house up to eight students and have been designed to blend seamlessly with the new housing development. Construction of the project is due to start later this year.

Progress at 2 Ruskin Square 25.05.21

Works at 2 Ruskin Square are now well underway with foundations laid and the first level of core walls built. Following the signing of a 25-year lease by the Government Property Agency, 2 Ruskin Square will become the home of a new government hub. On completion the ten storey mixed-use block in east Croydon will create over 300,000 square feet of flexible office space, with a landscaped roof terrace at the ninth floor and retail accommodation at the ground level.

Proposals launched for 334 Oxford Street 21.05.21

Proposals have been launched for the future of 334 Oxford Street, the whole central London city block formerly occupied by Debenhams. The project is being managed by the London based commercial real estate practice Capital Real Estate Partners. The AHMM scheme for client 334 Ramsbury Oxford Limited will retain the existing building’s structure, introduce new sustainable facades, and create three additional storeys at upper levels with terraces benefiting from urban greening.

The proposals also include the reprovision of three floors of retail on Oxford Street, with Grade A flexible workspace at upper levels, and a flexible mix of uses on Vere Street, Marylebone Lane and Henrietta Place. Subject to feedback on the consultation, a planning application will be submitted to Westminster City Council in summer 2021.

Chronicle shortlisted for D&AD award 21.05.21

Chronicle, AHMM’s latest book from its publishing project Fifth Man, has been shortlisted for a D&AD award in the Book Design category. Chronicle is a catalogue of 206 completed projects from AHMM’s three decades in practice, and was designed by BOB Design with images curated by photographer and long-time collaborator Timothy Soar. 

D&AD is an education charity that promotes excellence in design and advertising. Each year, the D&AD Awards gather the world's best creative work from across the commercial design, advertising, production and craft disciplines to be judged by more than 400 creative leaders, practitioners and innovators. Read more about the shortlist here. 

Topping out in Tower Hamlets 18.05.21

Tower Hamlets Town Hall has reached its highest point with a topping out ceremony held on site. The event was attended by Paul Monaghan and members of the construction team, as well as the Mayor of Tower Hamlets. To commemorate this stage of the construction Mayor John Biggs was invited to complete the concrete finish to the council chamber steps. Once complete in 2022, the redeveloped and extended Grade II listed former Royal London Hospital building in Whitechapel will become the new headquarters for the London borough of Tower Hamlets, offering public facing services and a café, library and residential hub.

SOLO’s Park and Pub now open 11.05.21

AHMM’s first dog friendly restaurant has celebrated its grand opening, welcoming visitors and their furry friends. SOLO’s Park and Pub is a dog park, bar and restaurant, located in Chisholm Creek, northern Oklahoma City. The building has been designed as a box within a box to create well defined separate spaces, the dog park, a shared sheltered terrace for pets and their owners, and a people-only restaurant.

Construction begins at 1 Broadgate 07.05.21

Work has begun on site at 1 Broadgate, a mixed use scheme within the Broadgate Campus near Liverpool Street station in the City of London. 1 Broadgate will create 546,000 square feet of new office and retail space arranged around a new arcade with office space above. Demolition of the existing 1980s office block is now underway ready for construction to begin. 1 Broadgate is AHMM’s second project as part of British Land’s revitalisation of the Broadgate campus, following the award winning 1 Finsbury Avenue.

Work begins at Tottenham Hale 06.05.21

Works have begun on site at North Island, the first of three AHMM buildings for Argent Related in the north London borough of Haringey. The scheme is part of the wider Heart of Hale plan that will create a new centre for Tottenham Hale. North Island is an 18 storey residential development that will provide 136 new homes including 80 shared ownership apartments. The project is expected to complete in late 2022, with the neighbouring two AHMM buildings at Heart of Hale starting on site at the beginning of 2022.

Magna Square tops out 05.05.21

Construction on Plot C at Magna Square has reached its highest point. At seven storeys, the residential building, which also contains a cinema, is the tallest of four new buildings within the AHMM designed masterplan in the Runnymede borough of Surrey. Arranged around a pedestrianised public realm, the development creates a new gateway from Egham Station to the town centre. Plot A, a five storey residential building with retail at ground floor, will be the first to complete later in the year with practical completion expected in early 2022.

AHMM designs new cookery school for Migrateful 22.04.21

AHMM has designed a new permanent cookery school and kitchen for Migrateful at the Peel Institute’s 3 Corners Centre in Clerkenwell, close to AHMM’s London office. The pro-bono project builds on the practice’s ongoing partnership with Migrateful over the past three years, which has included funding food hygiene training for chefs and cooking equipment sets, as well as hosting cookery classes for staff. Having received £45,000 in funding from the Mayor of London to deliver the project, Migrateful has reached its crowdfunding target but is seeking further donations for an outdoor garden space. Find out more and donate here. 

Established in 2017, Migrateful runs cookery classes led by refugees, asylum seekers and migrants struggling to integrate and access employment. The cookery classes provide ideal conditions not just for learning English and building confidence, but also for promoting contact and cultural exchange with the wider community.

AHMM: Constructing a Practice 19.04.21

The April 2021 issue of Architectural Design is a special edition focusing on AHMM, exploring the development of the practice from its early work to the idea of the practice itself as a project. Edited by Professor Neil Spiller, the edition includes contributions from Isabel Allen, Frances Anderton, Patrick Bellew, Sir Peter Cook, Martyn Evans, Paul Finch, Hanif Kara, Jay Merrick, Joe Morris, Morag Myerscough, Ellis Woodman, Roger Zogolovitch and Simon Allford. Read more about it here and buy here.

UKGBC Whole Life Carbon Roadmap 16.04.21

AHMM’s Head of Sustainability Dr Craig Robertson has been appointed to a steering group focusing on the decarbonisation of the built environment in the UK. The UK Green Building Council Whole Life Carbon Roadmap will build a common vision and agreed actions for achieving net zero carbon in the construction, operation and demolition of buildings and infrastructure, bringing together stakeholders from across the built environment industry. The cross-sector Steering Group will provide industry review and strategic oversight to the five task groups that will develop the Roadmap, which is expected to be launched at the UN climate change conference COP26 later this year.

Find out more about the roadmap and the steering group here. 

One Waterloo planning finalised 15.04.21

One Waterloo, previously known as Elizabeth House, has been officially granted planning consent following completion of its Section 106 agreement. Since gaining resolution to grant planning permission in October 2019, the client HB Reavis has now finalised plans with Lambeth Council, with a commitment to provide a £100m package of public benefits, signalling the next phase for one of central London’s largest and most significant commercial developments. These will include contributions to new step-free access to the underground station at Waterloo, over £33m of discounted workspace memberships, and a tailored local employment and skills strategy. The 1.3million sq ft multi-purpose scheme, which targets both BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum accreditations, will provide a publicly accessible garden promenade elevated two floors above street level and connected to Waterloo Station via a new footbridge. Three acres of outdoor space with over 100 planted trees will be created, including brand new public squares and cascading terraces, as well as a unique urban sky farm.

Katharine Storr elected President of AIA UK chapter 15.04.21

AHMM architectural designer Katharine Storr has been elected President of the American Institute of Architects UK chapter for 2021. Along with a commitment to increase initiatives and programming that address climate change, Katharine will be focusing during her year-long tenure on the chapter’s work to improve equity, diversity and inclusion.

The American Institute of Architects has more than 95,000 members globally and the AIA UK chapter serves over 200 members in the United Kingdom, working closely with the RIBA to promote architecture and the architectural profession.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris announces new Director role 31.03.21

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris has introduced the new role of Director to its architectural operations, sitting between the Executive Board (made up of the four Founding Directors and the Finance Director) and the existing position of Associate Director. As a natural evolution of our existing structure, this new position recognises that the role performed by our talented group of Associate Directors, some of whom have been in that position for up to 15 years, has expanded and evolved beyond the remit when the role was originally established.

All 15 of our existing Associate Directors will be promoted to this new position from 1 April 2021. We are also pleased to confirm the promotion of a further 13 architectural staff to the position of Associate Director and 37 to the position of Associate.

These changes are a response to the practice’s growth over the past decade in the number of architectural staff the practice employs, as well as in the practice’s professional capabilities and those of its people.

Planning approval at Barking Riverside 24.03.21

AHMM’s proposal for Plot 209B at Barking Riverside has been granted planning consent by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s planning committee, receiving unanimous support for approval. The mixed use scheme for Bellway Homes will create 229 new homes, retail and restaurant space, across eight new buildings on a brownfield site at Barking Riverside. Work is expected to start on site in summer 2021.

Civic Trust Awards 2021 08.03.21

Three AHMM projects have been recognised in this year’s Civic Trust Awards, which were announced last Friday (5 March). 1 Finsbury Avenue and The Post Building won awards and The Officers’ House at Royal Arsenal was highly commended. The Civic Trust Awards recognise outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment – winners also demonstrate strong sustainability credentials, a high level of inclusive design, and a positive civic contribution. Read the full list of winners here.

Planning consent in Camden 26.02.21

Camden Council’s planning committee has voted in favour of a linked application for Belgrove House and Acorn House for client Precis Advisory.

Located on Euston Road opposite King's Cross and St Pancras stations, Belgrove House is a new-build specialised laboratory and office building for the life-sciences sector to be occupied by MSD as a UK Discovery Research Centre and HQ.

The scheme is targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating. It is designed to be innovative, highly sustainable and an example of carbon emissions reduction in construction, operation, and future refurbishment. Operational energy is reduced through a 'biophilic' double-skin facade allowing natural ventilation and providing a zone for planting.

It is a green building with numerous planted terraces and an extensive landscape plan to bring trees and plants to the surrounding streets. The project offers an excellent opportunity to dramatically enhance the surrounding area, bringing active facades where there are currently blank walls, by removing street clutter and bringing greenery to all four sides of the building.

Acorn House, on nearby Gray’s Inn Road, replaces a 1960s office block with a residential-led mixed-use scheme that includes 33 affordable homes, affordable workspace and retail units.

Work is expected to start on site later this year, subject to approval by the Mayor of London and issue of full planning permission.

Lorimer House completes 18.02.21

AHMM’s Bream Street masterplan has taken a step closer to completion as the first residential building on site has been handed over to the client. Lorimer House is a seven storey building comprising 64 one, two and three bedroom apartments with commercial units at ground floor. It is one of six buildings designed by AHMM on the canalside site close to the Olympic Park in east London. The remaining buildings are due to hand over by the summer with the project completing in June.

A new phase for Kingswood Academy 08.02.21

Planning approval has been granted for a new extension to Kingswood Academy, the RIBA award winning school in Hull originally completed in 2012. This new addition will allow the school to expand from 1350 to 1500 students by creating a new teaching and dining block to the north east side of the school. It arranges 12 new classrooms and two offices over three floors around a central atrium, with the new dining space at ground level.

Big win for Tiny Homes 05.02.21

Tiny Homes, a collection of houses specifically designed for young adults aged 16-19 who are aging out of the foster care system in north Oklahoma City, has been awarded the ULI OK Impact Award for Outstanding Community Building. AHMM has designed three of the homes, each one unique and using materials donated to the project. The winners of the Impact Awards have been announced on social media throughout this week, and you can view the presentation here. Now in their seventh year, the ULI OK Impact awards recognise projects that exemplify best practice in the responsible use of land and their contribution to the built environment and the public realm.

On site at City Road 04.02.21

Work has started on site at 225 City Road, also known as The Arc, a 22 storey mixed use tower in east London. On completion the residential-led scheme will create 100 new homes, including a mix of studios and one, two and three bedroom apartments, above a 150,000 sq ft podium of office and retail space. Shared residential and office amenities include an expansive rooftop terrace on the seventh floor and a communal lounge, gym and fitness suite. The scheme also includes a cinema and restaurant with retail units at street level. The building is due to complete in late 2022.

On site in Birmingham 03.02.21

Work has begun on site at Birmingham Hippodrome. The first phase of the project at the Hippodrome, which is the UK’s busiest single theatre and the home of Birmingham Royal Ballet, involves the reworking of existing levels, creating a new entrance, and improving the public realm to provide safer access and egress for patrons. This initial phase of work will enable the theatre to continue operating during the course of the wider redevelopment, while providing increased social distancing for the future front of house.

AJ Retrofit Awards shortlist 2021 29.01.21

Two AHMM projects have been shortlisted for AJ Retrofit Awards this week. The Officers’ House at Royal Arsenal has been shortlisted in the Houses and Housing category; the project has refurbished and extended two Grade II listed buildings, saving them from the Historic England Buildings at Risk register in the process. Meanwhile, 1 Finsbury Avenue has been shortlisted in the Listed Building category. The redevelopment of the groundbreaking 1980s Arup Associates office building at Broadgate won the New London Architecture Conserving Prize in November, and is the subject of a recent book by Ken Powell.
The winners will be announced at a virtual awards event on Wednesday 24 February – find out more and register here.

On site in the Wheeler District 22.01.21

Work is now well underway at Western Gateway Elementary, AHMM’s first school in the US. The timber framed single storey building in the new Wheeler District of Oklahoma City wraps around an internal courtyard that will create a space for collaborative learning and play, and provide protection from the strong Oklahoma wind and summer sun. Western Gateway Elementary joins AHMM’s mixed use Wheeler Block 13, which recently topped out, in a new neighbourhood replacing the disused Oklahoma City airfield.

Civic Trust Awards 06.01.21

The Post Building, 1 Finsbury Avenue and Royal Arsenal have been announced as three of the 40 recipients of 2021 Civic Trust National Awards. Founded in 1959, the awards recognise projects whose architecture and environmental design have made a positive contribution to the local communities they serve, improving the built environment through design, sustainability, inclusiveness and accessibility. The awards will be presented in March – find out more here.