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    IM Pei retrospective shows “architecture and life to be inseparable”

    A retrospective of architect IM Pei at the M+ Museum in Hong Kong, aims to examine his architectural projects in social, cultural and political context.

    Named IM Pei: Life is Architecture, the exhibition, which according to the museum is the first full-scale retrospective of the Chinese American architect, documented Pei’s seven-decade long career.
    IM Pei: Life is Architecture is on show at M+ Museum in Hong KongCurated by M+ Museum design and architecture curator Shirley Surya and Nieuwe Instituut director Aric Chen,  the exhibition features more than 400 objects, including original drawings, models, photographs, films, and documentation that has never been exhibited before.
    The curators approached the exhibition through six chapters, summarising Pei’s life and work that “not only define his unique practice, but also place his architectural projects in dialogue with social, cultural, and biographical trajectories, showing architecture and life to be inseparable”.
    “Though one of the world’s most famous architects, IM Pei and his contributions are relatively little understood,” said co-curator Surya. “We hope this exhibition will further shed light on a figure who influenced countless individuals, cities, and, indeed, the world.”

    it features more than 400 objects, some of which have never been on display beforeThe exhibition begins with an introduction of Pei’s upbringing and architectural education, which laid the foundation of his future practice of confronting tradition and modernity across various cultures.
    It then follows with his lesser-known period of working for Webb & Knapp in New York, the largest real-estate development company during post-war America, where he contributed to the regeneration of US cities in the 1960s.
    A mockup of the Musée du Louvre pyramid occupies the centre of the exhibition. Photo by Wilson LamOne of them is Bedford-Stuyvesant Superblock in Brooklyn New York, one of the largest African-American communities in the country at the time, where Pei proposed integrating landscaped paths, parks, and playgrounds to the gridded streets for the local community to gather and social.
    “For Pei, the success of urban redevelopment was inseparable from broad programmatic thinking intended to alleviate social and economic ills,” said Surya.
    The curators believe Pei’s work should be studied moreAt the centre of the exhibition stands a mockup of Paris’s Musée du Louvre pyramid, perhaps Pei’s best-known project, on a  base displaying media coverage of the project from the time of its construction.
    According to Surya, Pei is understudied but often reported, which informed the curatorial direction of the exhibition.

    10 of IM Pei’s most significant buildings

    “It’s interesting to argue the value of architecture lies in theories or in production,” Surya told Dezeen. “Our angle here is it’s as a production.”
    “It’s no longer just about how you design it, but what it looks like, how it was conceived, how did it get manifested, what does it mean to the public, it’s not just about a formal analysis, is it this ‘-ism’ or that ‘-ism’, he doesn’t play that game, he just built,” she continued.
    The exhibition highlights Pei’s contribution to urban designThe exhibition concluded with a chapter called Reinterpreting History through Design, which aims to demonstrate how Pei’s made modern architecture relevant to different histories and traditions.
    This section included the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, where Pei aimed to create a form that can translate to a monumental scale for the large museum.
    Informed by Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, its formal, spatial, and material simplicity was appropriate for the context of Qatar, a young nation with no particular architectural tradition for a building of this scale.
    Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art aims to be both traditional and modern. Photo by Mohamed SomjiSome projects are repeatedly mentioned across various chapters, as intended by the curators to show consistency in Pei’s work.
    “We want people to see the process of each theme crosses geographies and periods, there’s a consistency – a commitment to city, to history and tradition and how you approach it, some projects recurs,” said Surya.
    “Pei drew from the regional while shaping the global. His work articulated artistic and cultural ideals while forging urban skylines—negotiated through dialogue and collaboration, and with results that innovated architectural forms and feats of engineering,” she added.
    The photography is by Dan Leung, courtesy of M+, unless stated otherwise.
    IM Pei: Life is Architecture is on display from 29 June 2024 to 5 January 2025 at the M+ Museum. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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    Benjamin Hale Architects extends light-starved Victorian home upwards and outwards

    Welsh practice Benjamin Hale Architects has added two modern extensions – one made from pale brick, the other from black zinc – to a Victorian-era home in south London.

    The end-of-terrace house is located in Dulwich and previously featured a dim and dated interior.
    The ground floor extension accommodates a new kitchenWorking alongside local interior designer Hamish Vincent, Benjamin Hale Architects set out to bring natural light back into the plan and “engender a sense of calm and domesticity” throughout.
    The practice started by adding a pale, clay-brick volume to the rear of the property, incorporating a neglected alley that sat to the side of the plot.
    Skylights and Crittall doors help brighten up the room”An underused side return or side alley is a traditional feature of many traditional Victorian terrace homes,” the practice’s eponymous founder told Dezeen. “However, being on an edge plot offered a considerable advantage in this instance.”

    Inside, the extension contains a modern kitchen complete with oak cabinetry, pale terrazzo flooring and a central counter with a built-in cooker, where inhabitants can prepare meals.
    Fluted tiles decorate the breakfast nookA breakfast nook was set up towards the back of the room, its cushioned seating bench set against a fluted tile wall.
    Sunlight streams into the room from a skylight created in the room’s upper corner and the Crittall doors that open onto the garden.
    Eye-catching furniture pieces appear throughout the formal dining areaA new doorway links the extension to the formal dining room, where Vincent introduced a bold medley of furnishings. This includes a stripy timber table and a chandelier composed of a cluster of spherical bulbs.
    As many of the home’s original period features had been removed over time, Benjamin Hale Architects reinstated a grand marble fireplace in the room.

    Will Gamble Architects modernises London Victorian house with “soft minimalism” interiors

    Ornate coving was also fitted around the ceiling of the adjacent sitting area, which hosts a sofa and sculptural armchairs upholstered in creamy boucle.
    An oak staircase with a slatted balustrade leads up to a zinc-clad dormer roof extension, added at the request of the owners who wanted the home to have extra sleeping quarters.
    The space – which now serves as the primary bedroom – has wooden panels running around its perimeter and a large picture window that offers far-reaching views over the streets of Dulwich.
    Wooden panels envelop the principal bedroomEnsuite facilities were integrated into the room alongside a freestanding bath, snugly positioned beneath the roof’s eaves and illuminated by a small skylight.
    The project also saw Vincent infuse the property’s existing bedrooms with warmth and tactility, adding weathered stone pots, lantern-style lights, tobacco-hued surfaces and more.
    The room also has its own standalone bathThis isn’t the only Dulwich residence to recently undergo a revamp; a few months ago architecture studio Proctor & Shaw built a concrete extension for a terrace home in the affluent neighbourhood, better connecting it to its 57-metre-long back garden.
    The photography is by Pierce Scourfield.

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    Khan Bonshek arranges east London home around brick “spine wall”

    Architecture studio Khan Bonshek’s founders have remodelled their own terraced house in east London around a central brick wall, carrying out the majority of the work themselves.

    Named Two Up, Two Down, the house was renovated and extended by Sabba Khan and Mark Bonshek, who founded Khan Bonshek in 2021.
    With the studio acting as client, architect and contractor, the couple aimed to rearrange the home’s interior and add small additions to make the most of the space.
    Khan Bonshek designed their own home in London”The house represents our guiding philosophy; how to make the most with very little,” the couple said.
    “Most expensive new builds are about packing in rooms and low ceilings,” continued Bonshek.

    “We’ve taken a volumetric approach. We sought to create expanse, have views beyond rooms and create something humble through spatial arrangement.”
    The house is arranged around a central brick wallThe studio removed all the existing internal walls in the terrace, which the couple acquired in 2018, before adding a central grey brick “spine wall” through the centre of the building.
    This wall supports the stairs, which are visible in the front room, and runs the full height of the home adding a natural, textural element.
    A rear extension was replacedTo improve flow and openness in the house, two small extensions were added. On the ground floor, the existing extension was replaced with a full-width brick addition, which now contains the light-filled kitchen.
    At the top of the house, the existing loft conversion was extended with the addition of a timber-framed dormer.

    Will Gamble Architects modernises London Victorian house with “soft minimalism” interiors

    To further improve the sense of space, the walls enclosing the bathroom and study on the first floor were replaced with curtains.
    In the bathroom, a section of the ceiling was removed to create a double-height space.
    A timber framed dormer increased the loft spaceDuring the demolition, Khan Bonshek salvaged materials, which were reused in the reconstruction.
    These materials were supplemented with accessible materials such as plywood and yoghurt pots along with salvaged teak, black marble and brass.
    A double-height space was created in the bathroomAccording to the couple, the focus of the renovation was to create a home that would be an enjoyable place to live in, rather than adding value to the property.
    “We were very clear from the outset that we were creating a comfortable healthy home, rather than an asset,” said Khan.
    “We need to get to a place where we change policy and attitudes around housing as assets and instead to places which offer a reprieve and comfort.”
    The stairs are connected to the spine wallKhan believes the home can be an example of how existing terraced houses in the UK can be upgraded and argued that the government should amend tax laws to encourage renovations
    Refurbishments in the UK currently incur 20 per cent VAT, levies that are not applied on new build developments.
    “We have a duty to provide housing from the existing stock,” Khan added. “Think about all the embodied energy and why that’s such a better option than demolishing and putting up lots of new buildings.”
    The home is located in east LondonOther London home extensions recently featured on Dezeen include a minimalist extension to a Victorian home and a Grade II-listed villa with a wood-filled extension.
    The photography is by James Retief.

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    Eames Institute renovates 1990s industrial building to house headquarters

    The design team at the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity has renovated an industrial building in California to host the organisation’s headquarters and a 40,000-object archive.

    Launched in 2023, the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity is a non-profit dedicated to preserving the Eames legacy through digital and physical public programming, including hosting tours of the designers’ extensive archive.
    The Eames Institute has renovated an industrial building to house offices and an archive dedicated to its designersThe institution recently completed a gut renovation of a building previously dedicated to the manufacturing of medical devices, opening up the floor plans on two storeys to accommodate staff.
    Originally built in 1997 and designed by California architect Jim Jennings, it features a saw-tooth-shaped body with a glass-enclosed lobby at its front that follows the form of its site, a wedge-shaped parcel tucked in between the off-ramps of a highway.
    The building was originally built in the 1990s by local architect Jim Jennings”The space began as dated, awkwardly-scaled private offices,” said the team.

    “Recognizing the innate value of Jennings’s design and the building’s history, The Eames Institute’s internal design team set about transforming the interiors to better fit its architectural bones.”
    “The renovated office channels the design genius of Ray and Charles Eames and notably showcases vintage furnishings from the Institute’s namesakes.”
    The new offices encompass a 2,755-square-foot (255 square metre) first-floor workspace and a 4,793-square-foot (445 metre) second-floor space, while the archive, a gift shop and a small gallery take up the rest of the building.

    The offices feature an exposed wooden structure, white walls, and Eames furniture and other pieces in the designers’ characteristic primary colour palette spread throughout.
    They are designed for “multi-disciplinary” work, with an assortment of different seating arrangements such as enclosed and semi-enclosed spaces offered for employees, including a long, wooden bar and multiple lounge areas.
    A mixture of enclosed and semi-enclosed spaces offers a variety of workspaces”Key initiatives included designing offices that offer a wide breadth of work points for both individuals and groups, as well as offering both opportunities for heads-down focused tasks and more social and collaborative activities,” said the team.
    Besides the “countless” Eames furniture pieces, lighting by Isamu Noguchi, textiles designed by Alexander Girard for Maharam, and furniture by MillerKnoll and vintage Herman Miller fill the space.

    Manual creates branding for Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity with “dynamic configurations”

    “The interior design drew from the wellspring of creativity and design excellence intrinsic to the organization’s identity and – as everything the Institute oversees – honors the rich legacy of Ray and Charles Eames.”
    The completion of the offices coincides with the opening of the Eames Archive, which encompasses a collection of “tens of thousands of artefacts” including furniture and objects organized among rows of shelving.
    The Eames’ characteristic primary colour palette marks the interior designThe institute offers guided tours of the archive led by chief curator and Eames granddaughter Llisa Demetrios.
    It also oversees the Eames Ranch, a Sonoma Country property dedicated to “land stewardship, habitat restoration, farming, and ranching” which is currently under renovation.
    Recently, it announced new branding by design agency Manual while Reebook released a series of sneakers that incorporate Eames design signatures.
    The photography is courtesy of the Eames Institute

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    Touch Architect shapes French patisserie like “the curve of a croissant”

    Bangkok studio Touch Architect has created French Kitsch III, a patisserie in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with a design that references French cathedrals and pastries.

    The 360-square-metre board-marked concrete building was informed by an idea of Frenchness that drew on many different sources, including religious architecture.
    French Kitsch III is located in Nakhon Ratchasima”French cathedrals have an architectural identity dating back to ancient times; they are merely one of the initial inspirations when thinking of Frenchness, aligned with the concept of the ‘French Kitsch’ brand,” Touch Architect co-founder Parpis Leelaniramol told Dezeen.
    In addition to cathedrals, the studio also looked to another French icon when designing the patisserie – the croissant.
    Touch Architect referenced different French symbols for its designThe studio used the shape of a croissant to create French Kitsch III’s interior, which features a number of arches with slightly uneven shapes.

    “The architectural space is formed by rhythmic arches, with the shape of four different arches created by the curve of a croissant in cross-sectional cut,” Leelaniramol said.
    “Moreover, the board-formed concrete material used throughout the building serves as a metaphor for the croissant stripes,” she added.
    Its interior has arches modelled on the shape of a croissantTouch Architect also used concrete for the structure to add to the “concept of imperfection”.
    “Not only croissant stripes, using concrete as the material also strengthens the concept of perfection of imperfection where the wall is not completely smooth, but it reflects the authenticity of the material, which can be beautiful by itself,” Leelaniramol said.
    The board-marked concrete was intended to resemble a croissant’s stripesSome of French Kitsch III’s curved forms double as solar shades, helping cool the building in Nakhon Ratchasima’s hot climate, which can reach 37 degrees in spring.
    “Thick walls and the inverted curves on the upper floor act as shading devices and reduce heat from direct sunlight,” Leelaniramol explained.

    Baobab tree grows through curving cafe in Thailand by IDIN Architects

    Inside, the arched concrete walls are lit by slender LED lights that emphasise their shape, while arched windows provide views of the exterior.
    “When light passes through the arched window, it creates reflections on the floor, similar to that of cathedral glass,” the studio said.
    LED lights illuminate the interior and emphasise its shapeA long counter is placed along one wall on the ground floor and can be seen from the second floor. Here, the studio carved voids into the concrete to let in more light.
    Touch Architect also added spaces for greenery inside, creating contrasts against the grey concrete.
    “Due to the limited size of the site, the building needs to maximise space to accommodate all functional requirements, leaving no room for an outdoor landscape,” Leelaniramol said. “Therefore, green areas are integrated inside the architecture.”
    Green plants and pink dogs feature inside the French Kitsch III patisserieDecorative pink bulldogs, the symbol for the French Kitsch brand, have been placed throughout the cafe.
    “A local sculptor created the pink bulldog sculpture based on our design, which analysed and integrated its placement into each space to create a livable atmosphere and truly connect with customers,” Leelaniramol concluded.
    Other recent Thai projects on Dezeen include a community building formed of rammed earth and a curving cafe with a Baobab tree growing inside.
    The photography is by Metipat Prommomate and Anan Naruphantawat.
    Project credits: 
    Architect: Touch ArchitectOwner: Chanon Jeimsakultip and Anuchit VongjonPrincipal architect: Setthakarn Y and Parpis LDesign team: Pitchaya T, Tanita P, Matucha K and Nutchapol ChInterior: Thanunya DCivil engineer: Chittinat WongmaneeprateepM&E engineer: Yodchai Kornsiriwipha x Isarapap RattanabumrungContractor: Samma Construction Part., Ltd.Narrator: Methawadee Pathomrattanapiban

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    You can still be listed in Dezeen’s guide to London Design Festival 2024

    Ahead of London Design Festival’s 22nd anniversary, there’s still time to feature in Dezeen Events Guide’s digital guide to the festival.

    The 2024 edition takes place from 14 to 22 September, inviting hundreds of thousands of people to 11 districts in the UK’s capital city.
    If you’re hosting an event as part of the festival programme – including an exhibition, workshop, product launch, talk, tour, fair or market – you can feature in our guide and festival map.
    The London Design Festival (LDF) celebrates a range of disciplines, including craft, art, architecture and fashion, as well as graphic, interior and urban design.
    There’s still time to be listed in Dezeen’s digital guide to London Design Festival 2024

    Get in touch with the Dezeen Events Guide team at [email protected] to book your listing or to discuss a wider partnership with Dezeen. There are three types of listings:
    Standard listings cost £125 and include the event name, date and location details plus a website link. These listings will also feature up to 50 words of text about the event.
    Enhanced listings cost £175 and include all of the above plus an image at the top of the listing’s page and an image in the listing preview on the festival guide homepage. These listings will also feature up to 100 words of text about the event.
    Featured listings cost £350 and include all elements of an enhanced listing plus a post on Dezeen’s Threads channel, inclusion in the featured events carousel on the right hand of the festival guide homepage for up to two weeks and 150 words of text about the event. This text can include commercial information, such as ticket prices and offers and can feature additional links to website pages such as ticket sales, newsletter signups and more.
    About Dezeen Events Guide
    Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year.
    The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks.
    For more details on inclusion in Dezeen Events Guide, including in our guide to London Design Festival, email [email protected].
    The illustration is by Justyna Green.

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    Casa Yuma hotel built with “vegetal concrete” and pink bricks

    Architecture studio TAAC and interior designer Sara Skalli have created a seaside hotel in Mexico that uses traditional materials including chukum – a finish made from tree resin and limestone.

    Named Casa Yuma, the 25-room boutique hotel is located on Playa Los Naranjos, a short drive from Puerto Escondido on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
    Casa Yuma sits between a palm grove and the beachSkalli, who co-owns the hotel with friends Camille Lambert and Tim de Belloy, felt it was important for the buildings to utilise materials native to the region.
    She and the project architect, TAAC founder Ricardo de la Concha, devised a materials palette that centres around the use of chukum.
    The hotel offers 25 guest suitesDescribed as a “vegetal concrete”, this water-resistant, plaster-like material is made by combining the resin of indigenous chukum trees with limestone-based stucco.

    The material often has a strong red tone –  as seen in other new Mexico buildings like as the Xique Boutique Hotel and Tulix housing – although the colour here is closer to a pale concrete-like grey.
    Furniture and textiles were sourced from local artisansSkalli said the use of chukum was intended to create “an ambience that is both organic and sustainable”.
    “My main goal was to create an environment where elegance harmoniously blends with the surrounding nature while reflecting the warmth and authenticity of this unique land,” she said.
    The entrance is via a thatched palapa hutThe materials palette also includes “salmon pink” adobe bricks from Puebla, which form decorative screen walls, and locally sourced macuil wood, used to build furniture and joinery.
    “The use of materials of Mexican origin was of vital importance,” added De la Concha.
    Building materials include pink adobe bricksCasa Yuma is situated between the seafront and a vast grove of palm trees. It is formed mainly of single-storey buildings, with zigzagging staircases providing access to rooftop patios.
    The reception is housed inside a palapa – a traditional Mexican hut with a palm leaf roof. From here, guests are led past the bedroom suites to arrive at facilities on the beachfront.
    A beach bar is among the seaside guest facilitiesThese facilities include an open-air restaurant, co-working lounge, beach bar, swimming pool, sunken firepit area and a spa cabin.
    “The layout of the elements is based on a linear axis with a direct path from the entrance to the beach, passing through the rooms to reach a pool facing the sea,” said De la Concha.

    Ludwig Godefroy’s Casa TO hotel presents a “reinterpretation of a Oaxacan temple”

    He said the concept was for “a barefoot hotel” where guests always have the feeling of being on the beach.
    “We want to create a unique atmosphere so that guests feel comfortable in every corner of the hotel and feel like they have found a second home,” added co-owner Tim de Belloy.
    The hotel offers co-working and wellness facilitiesThe interior design follows a similar ethos to the architecture, with craft objects and textiles sourced from local makers. These include handmade wall tiles, minimal nightstands, woven rugs and striped bedspreads.
    “Most of the decorative elements come from incredibly talented local artisans and underscore our commitment to preserving regional culture,” said Skalli.
    “The aim is to offer unique spaces, where each room retains its individuality while inspiring a familiar experience.”
    A sunken firepit lounge sits alongside the swimming poolOther recent Mexican hotels on Dezeen include a hotel by Productora and Esrawe Studio on a hilly site in San Miguel de Allende and a boutique hotel coated in pink chukum and set in an artificial wetland in Puerto Escondido.
    The photography is courtesy of Casa Yuma.

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    Will Gamble Architects modernises London Victorian house with “soft minimalism” interiors

    UK studio Will Gamble Architects has extended and modernised a Victorian house in south London, using curved shapes and a palette of natural materials to create a calm and minimalist aesthetic.

    The clients – a married couple looking to create their forever home – asked Will Gamble Architects to oversee the transformation of the semi-detached house in Putney into a serene sanctuary.
    Architecture firm Proctor & Shaw initially developed the planning drawings before Gamble’s studio was appointed to develop a cohesive interior design service throughout the home, including technical drawings and revised spatial layouts for the upper floors.
    Will Gamble Architects has extended and modernised a south London Victorian houseTo fufil the clients’ request for increased space, a rear and attic extension was added.
    “We were keen to maximise space and light as much as possible through clever design solutions,” architect Will Gamble told Dezeen.

    “This was particularly relevant over the upper floors where the brief called for four bedrooms and three bathrooms which a conventional layout couldn’t accommodate.”
    Gamble’s “soft minimalism” approach is defined by gentle tonal huesGamble applied an approach he described as “soft minimalism” throughout the interiors, utilising a restrained palette of textural materials to ensure consistency across all floors.
    “Soft minimalism is defined by curved lines, gentle tonal hues, natural materials and carefully curated spaces,” said the architect. “This aesthetic allowed us to deliver a highly bespoke project tailored to our clients’ needs.”
    Muted colours enhancing the “soft minimalism” aesthetic include whites and pinksArched niches, curved walls and a bespoke staircase with semi-circular landings, circular spindles and a turned-oak rail contribute to an aesthetic defined by a gentle geometry.
    Muted colours including warm whites and soft pinks provide a soft and coherent backdrop, while more textured materials including pippy oak and richly veined marble add personality to some of the spaces.

    Emil Eve Architects brightens London house with terracotta tile-clad extensions

    The new staircase was illuminated by an oval roof light that continues the theme of gentle, round forms. The roof light casts natural light deep into the floor plan and is openable to allow stack ventilation to naturally cool the interior.
    Bespoke joinery brings functionality and visual interest to rooms including the main bedroom, where a headboard unit made from pippy oak provides additional storage as well as concealing the en-suite shower room.
    Textured materials like pippy oak and richly veined marble add flare to certain spacesThe bespoke bed and headboard with integrated wardrobes are centrally located within the room to maximise the available space. The en suite contains a pair of marble-clad vanities either side of a walk-in shower.
    Pippy oak was used elsewhere in the house for furniture including bedside tables and built-in storage. The wood’s distinctive knots and knot clusters stand out whilst complementing the other natural materials.
    “The ‘cats paw’ pattern of the pippy oak adds a decadence to the otherwise muted material palette,” Gamble added. “We used this unique material in key areas to help establish a hierarchy across the spaces throughout the project.”
    A pippy oak headboard unit in the main bedroom conceals the en-suite shower roomAs part of the renovation project, the building’s historic fabric was thermally upgraded to reduce energy consumption and create a more comfortable environment. A home automation system was also incorporated that minimises visible light switches and contributes to the uncluttered, minimalist interiors.
    According to Gamble, the owners were interested in “achieving a high-quality finish driven by an acute attention to detail”, which led to a highly bespoke project tailored to their exact requirements.
    Will Gamble established his London-based studio in 2018 after working for architectural practices Farrells and Francis Philips Architects. The office specialises in sensitively retrofitting existing buildings through contemporary architectural interventions.
    The studio’s previous projects include a home built within the ruins of a 17-century parchment factory in Northamptonshire and a glass-walled extension to a Georgian house in Leicestershire.

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