The Architecture Foundation is pleased to announce the seven young architecture practices for the 2021/22 residency programme, supported by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. "We are delighted to welcome the Architecture Foundation, who played an important part in AHMM’s emergence thirty years ago, to our new White Collar Factory offices," said Simon Allford. He continued that he was "thrilled to be able to offer accommodation to the next generation of young architects from seven new practices as they start their adventure."
The architects on the programme include Benedetta Rogers of Artefact, co-designer of the AirDraft 2018 Antepavilion, Xcessive Aesthetics, the all-female architecture collective who met studying at the Royal College of Art, and Madeleine Kessler, co-curator of this summer's British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
"It's really exciting to be one of the residents at the White Collar Factory, as collaboration is central to our approach as a small practice," described Yuting Cheng of Fisher Cheng, who said they are "looking forward to striking up new and exciting partnerships."
"At a challenging time for young architects and designers, opportunities such as these are more vital than ever," said Betty Owoo and Amandeep Singh Kalra, co-chairs of the Architecture Foundation's Young Trustees. They described how they were hugely impressed with the "quality and variety of their projects, and look forward to seeing the work they produce during the residency."
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."
The sixth-month residencies run from September 2021 - Feburary 2022 at the White Collar Factory on Old Street in London.
Meet the Young Architects
Artefact
Founded by Benedetta Rogers and Daniel Marmot in 2021, Artefact was created with the aim of marrying architectural craft with societal responsibility. Prior to founding Artefact, Benedetta and Daniel both worked at Publica and Henley Halebrown, developing an interest in how cities work, and the role of buildings in contributing to their life and character. In collaboration with Thomas Randall-Page, Benedetta won the Architecture Foundation’s 2018 Antepavilion Competition. Daniel was an Associate at Henley Halebrown, leading on the redevelopment of Kings Crescent Estate. He is passionate about working with communities to deliver transformational public projects. artefact-studio.com
Fisher Cheng
Fisher Cheng practices collaborative architecture with a socially motivated agenda. We place value and weight on the transformative effect of design upon context and communities. Our approach celebrates the civic aspects of everyday life as we aim to create intentional, site-specific and joyful responses to the brief. fishercheng.com
Found Order
Found Order is a forward-thinking London-based design studio founded by architect Robyn Thurston in 2020. With a strong interest in daily rituals, identity, history and the use of elemental materials, Found Order is guided by their manifesto and seeks to experiment and articulate design as a communicative tool that works across multiple fields, be it architecture, interiors, product design, art and fashion, to develop strong narratives that evidently transforms the mundane into the extraordinary. Robyn grew up in Thamesmead, seeing the impact architecture and design had on the attitudes and behaviours of the residents. She is passionate about bringing positive change to the built environment for others by implementing good design. foundorder.com
Madeleine Kessler Architecture
Madeleine Kessler Architecture is an architecture and urban design studio which is dedicated to designing joyful people-centred places. We work with communities, clients and stakeholders, collaborating across disciplines and scales, to creatively understand and enhance a sense of place. Current and recently completed projects include the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2021; Hidden Half World, a mycelium installation at the Oslo Architecture Triennale; and Forestation, a strategic proposal to rewild existing railway stations across the UK. madeleinekessler.com
Urban Radicals
Urban Radicals started out in 2019 as a duo between architect Nasios Varnavas and Era Savvides, with the ambition to form a network of collaborators, to solve problems across contexts and scales. Since then, the studio has grown through projects, competitions, workshops, stories, paintings, dinners, fishing trips, walks, gatherings and conversations. More recently, the studio was one of 3 winners for the Discover South Ken Trail/LFA initiative, working with Goethe-Institut London for a green intervention on exhibition road looking into sustainability and enhancing the biodiversity of South Kensington. Nasios and Era have designed and co-curated the National Participation for Cyprus at the 17th Architecture Biennale in Venice 2021. urbanradicals.org
Wadhal
Wadhal is an architecture studio in London, founded by Fahad Malik. Wadhal translates to an increase, surplus or the notion of exceeding limitations. It is the regional name for a tribe associated with Mianwali, Namal Lake and the surrounding land in Pakistan. In this context, it is used as an abstract term to represent a contemplative disposition, a considered approach to living and working, fully cherishing every facet of the process. Fahad was born in Islamabad and lived there for 9 years, then spending 9 years in London and the following 9 years in Glasgow. He conceived Wadhal upon moving back to London as a platform to record observations, experiences, and ideas. Over time, people resonated with Wadhal and it transformed into a practice, creating places specific to culture, typology, and climate. Fahad was Senior Architect at Tonkin Liu before starting an independent practice, having previously worked for Teatum + Teatum. wadhal.co.uk
Xcessive Aesthetics
Xcessive Aesthetics is an all-female interdisciplinary architecture collective exploring data and alternate realities through spatial installations. XA is made up of 6 members: Ibiye Camp, Rhiarna Dhaliwal, Jade Blanchard-McKinley, Emmy Bacharach, Darcy Chittmittrapap and Teresa Ribeiro Boulting. Graduates of MA Architecture at the Royal College of Art, the collective formed in 2019 after studying together in the unit ADS8, which investigates data networks, digital infrastructure and post-human futures. XA was founded with the idea of combining spatial design and digital technologies in unconventional ways, on one hand to explore the hidden biases behind emerging technologies and their increasing influence in public space, and on the other to create accessible and playful public installations that spark digital and physical interactions. xcessiveaesthetics.co