Future Cities

This week we welcome Austin Williams from Future Cities, a London-based architecture think-tank devoted to the critical exploration of issues of the city.

It is their belief that Architecture has become more about process, than product - evidenced by the fact that we have quangos and debates about the housing shortage and yet, year on year, fewer and fewer homes are built.

They feel buildings are now blamed for everything; from global warming, increasing the flood risk,and personal and societal ill-health; and yet urban design is charged with encouraging social engagement, building communities, kick-starting economies and engendering a sense of well-being. Future Cities challenges these notions as well as what they see as the detrimental affect of sustainability on architecture.

So from 5:45pm, come and have a drink on us, and listen to Austin WIlliams discuss his unique views on architectural cuture and the profession.

Guy Hollaway Architects

This week we welcome Guy Hollaway of Guy Hollaway Architects.

Guy Hollaway Architects are one of the South East's most successful practices with the RIBA South East award for Mill House being one of a number of their successful projects.

Based in Hythe they have recently expanded to London as they look to compete on both a national and regional scale.

As in previous weeks, come and have a drink at 5.45 p.m and listen to Guy Hollaway talk about his practice's work.

Adrienne Chinn Design

This week we are pleased to welcome Adrienne Chinn of Adrienne Chinn Design Company!

Fresh from giving interactive seminars at Grand Designs Live, Adrienne Chinn has been praised as being one of "...the rising stars, poised to set the world of interior design alight".

Based in London but practicing all over the world, Adrienne Chinn Design Company has worked on a variety of projects ranging from a houseboat to a riad hotel in the Moroccan mountains. Regardless of the location or size of the project, Chinn believes that “designing is a creative journey”, and a significant part of this journey is spent exploring the site and its context hunting for this creativity.

Her projects are highly personal and relative to their location. This sensitive approach to design has earned her a large amount of respect from industry professionals.

As last week; 5:45pm for drinks, 6pm to hear Adrienne Chinn Speak about her practice. See you there!

DMA - Joe Morris

This week we welcome Joe Morris from Duggan Morris Architects to begin our 2010-2011 series of Open Lectures!

DMA are one of the UK's most exciting young architecture practices, a fact reinforced by their nomination for this year's Young Architect of the Year Awards for their King's Grove project; as well as nominations in the Architect of the Year Awards and the AR Emerging Architects Awards. Truly one to watch!

Based in London and established in 2004, their work is borne of context, offering a stong sense of being within new surrounds, offering qualities 'evident for future generations'. The aformentioned King's Grove project in Peckham won accolades for just that, promoting high-Architecture in the unlikliest of surrounds.

So from 5:45pm, come and have a drink on us, and listen to Joe Morris talk about his practice's work and methods.