A fantastic evening for at the historic Crypt on the Green under vaulted brick ceiling in the heart of Clerkenwell.
🧱 Line up 🧱
Trevor Morriss,Principal at SPPARC
Taking an unconventional route into architecture, Trevor Morriss designed his first building when he was just 17 years old, while working at the John Brunton Partnership. Today, Trevor is the Principal of SPPARC, the award-winning architecture and design studio he founded in London in 2007. He has lectured extensively and is a Board Trustee at the Architectural Association.SPPARC is renowned for its diverse portfolio having won plaudits for its exceptional regeneration and retrofit schemes in particular, which often tackle culturally significant projects. Recent examples include the co-design of the £1.3bn regeneration of Olympia London, the 2023 RIBA Award winning redevelopment of Borough Yards into a new retail, cultural and social hub in Southwark, and masterminding the design of the Camden Film Quarter, a unique new neighbourhood anchored by film and television production in Kentish Town.
Greycoat Stores, a historic department store built in the 1890s, stands as a testament to architectural restoration. After renovations to the original red brick facade in the 1950s covered the principal elevation with bland cement render, this iconic building has been reborn as a vibrant mixed-use space. SPPARC's masterful renovation has breathed new life into the building's original red brick facade, creating a stunning architectural landmark that seamlessly blends historic character with contemporary functionality.
Matthew Freeman, Engineering Director at ACS
Matthew Freeman, a leading innovator at ACS with over 18 years of experience and 20 patents, has been instrumental in advancing construction technology. As Engineering Director, he has collaborated with industry leaders, mentored emerging talent, and driven ACS’s reputation as a leader in innovation.
In this talk Matthew will introduce Certus™, an advanced, pre-assembled, A1 non-combustible modular brick-slip façade system. He will explore how Certus™ transforms architectural design with its wide range of aesthetic options while enhancing construction efficiency. He will also discuss how its off-site manufacturing approach is revolutionising the construction industry by accelerating project timelines and enhancing overall building performance.
Luke Tozer, co-founding director at Pitman Tozer Architects
Luke founded Pitman Tozer Architects with Tim Pitman in 2002. Over the years the studio has developed expertise in housing led regeneration projects in the UK and abroad. Luke enjoys being actively involved in the design and delivery of all projects from their Marylebone studio, where they are currently delivering 550 homes in East London and 85 homes in Singapore.
Kindred House, a 25 storey mixed use brick tower in Croydon won best large housing development at the 2023 Brick Awards. The practice has been critically acclaimed for Mint Street for Peabody which won numerous awards. Luke lives with his family in Gap House, a narrow, new-build terraced London townhouse, which won the RIBA House of the Year and Manser Medal in 2009, bringing the practice international acclaim.
Luke has judged many awards, leading RIBA Awards juries in East Anglia and Northern Island and previously judged the Brick Awards in 2016 and 2017.
He has sat on and presented at numerous Design Review Panels and previously taught at Cardiff University and University of East London. He is an active member of the Marylebone Association Planning Committee and the Architects’ Company.
Jonny Plant, Director of the London studio at Corstorphine & Wright
Jonny is a Director of the London studio of Corstorphine & Wright, an award-winning architectural practice with a team of expert architects and designers across twelve studios. It is currently ranked at number 13 in the AJ100.The practice design's to create that elusive ‘must-have’ quality, translating requirements, constraints and opportunities into places that are more than the sum of their parts. That way, clients get intelligently-designed places – places that invigorate communities and maximise long-term civic and commercial value.
Jonny will be presenting ‘The Scoop’, a unique concave office building in Southwark, London, completed in April 2024. The innovative design reuses an existing building and integrates a conical cut-out façade in white glazed bricks, creating a playful and novel response to the site’s context and neighbouring church.
Situated in the vibrant Union Street Conservation Area, the building stands as a testament to modern architecture while respecting the heritage of its surroundings, namely the adjacent Grade II listed Church of Most Precious Blood, whose circular window is now strikingly framed.
The design retains the significant southern-facing and corner return of the existing facade, blending it seamlessly with a new build extension. This detailed approach ensures a successful integration into the neighbourhood, adding to the area’s creative and artistic reputation.
