“The Brick Awards are a fantastic way to celebrate the best of what is arguably our national building material. It is no accident that so many buildings are clad in brick in the UK. We lead the world both in brick innovation and in retaining traditional brick-building skills. Brick is beautiful; relatively inexpensive; immensely varied in colour, texture and bond; and one of the most durable facing materials we have on the market. It is very exciting to see the huge and varied range of approaches in the use of this seemingly simple material.” - Tatiana von Preussen, co-founder and director of vPPR Architects and 2018 Brick Awards judge.
Tatiana feels passionately about the design of affordable housing; a passion that makes her a perfect addition to the 2018 judging panel. She has worked on a number of vPPR housing projects for Croydon Council as well as leading Otts Yard and Vaulted House, both of which won RIBA Awards. She has a particular interest in the intersection of landscape and building and she worked previously in New York on the High Line park for James Corner Field Operations. She is currently teaching a design studio at Columbia University in the City of New York with her partners Catherine Pease and Jessica Reynolds researching the relationship between arts institutions and artists' housing.
vPPR Architects was set up in 2009 and is an award-winning practice known for bold designs that work intelligently in complex locations. “We believe that architecture can and should be brave through simple, honest clarity, while still responding to local history and context. We design buildings that find opportunities in constraints, responding with elegant yet striking forms that playfully negotiate between private and communal spaces.” These motivations complement perfectly that which the Brick Awards represent and Tatiana’s vision is welcomed to the 2018 proceedings.
