The Brit List 2018: Architect profiles

676 433 Hamish Kilburn
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In the coming weeks, Hotel Designs will be profiling the 75 finalists in the Hotel Designs Brit List 2018. We continue with profiling our 25 winning architects in alphabetical order…

This year’s The Brit List 2018 concluded on November 22, when leading designers, hoteliers and architects gathered at BEAT London to find out which of them made it on to this year’s The Brit List 2018. The hundreds of nominees and entries were whittled down by the event’s five judges, who were:

  • Gilly Craft, President of the British Institute of Interior Design
  • Charles Leon, founder of Leon Black Architecture and Interior Design
  • Gerri Gallagher, former associate editor, Tatler
  • Lysbeth Fox, founder and director of Fox PR
  • Hamish Kilburn, editor, Hotel Designs

Top architects 2018

Ben Adams – Ben Adams Architects

Established in 2010, Ben Adams Architects has quickly developed a reputation for elegant, contextual architecture balancing function with an appropriate degree of innovation and flair. Its portfolio demonstrates an ability to design buildings that fulfi ll clients’ immediate needs, but which also provides enough fl exibility to meet changing requirements in the future.

Ben Adams, the founding director, has a particular expertise in the intelligent refurbishment of existing buildings, delivering projects which are contemporary yet respectful of their site, surroundings and historic conditions. The company diagnose the existing strengths and weaknesses of a building to fully unlock its potential, rationalising circulation, entrances or social spaces to add experiential and commercial value.

Caroline Smith – WISH London

Caroline Smith has been working in professional practice for more than 30 years, a decade of which she spent working with Fox Linton Associates. In 2009 she set up WISH London with the backing of specialist multidisciplinary surveying and design consultancy, GIA.

Over the course of her career, Smith has designed architectural interiors for many private clients, hoteliers and luxury brands, as well as some of the main commercial developers in the UK. WISH recently provided the concept scheme and narrative for a 223-key design hotel in Eastern Europe.

David Archer – Archer Humphyres Architects (winner of Inspiration in Design – Architect of the Year award)

Archer Humphyres were presented with the Inspiration in Design – Architect of the Year award on the night of The Brit List 2018 for 15 years’ experience, working with clients such as Great Northern Hotel, LaLiT London and The Gainsborough Bath and Spa. The practice was praised by the judging panel for its way of designing hotels with a strong focus on the people who would use the spaces.

The architecture and design that comes out of the London-based studio displays a keen sense of how people behave, or can behave, within a built environment. Within all past projects there is a harmony and unity between architecture, the interiors, the location and the provenance, which creates a great sense of continuity and congruence.

Geoff Hull – EPR Architects

Geoff Hull has more than 30 years’ experience specialising in hotels and hospitality including new builds, conversions, refurbishments, restoration and heritage schemes in listed buildings for budget, boutique and luxury brands.

Hull was responsible for the multi award-winning Rosewood London along with Hotel Russell and The Waldorf Hotel.

Gordon Ferrier – 3D Reid

As Head of Hotels for 3D Reid, Gordon Ferrier brings with him more than 30 years’ hospitality experience on a wide range of hotel projects, covering both new-builds, refurbishments and conversions.

Projects that Ferrier has led include Gleneagles, The Principal Manchester, Three Quays London and Cameron House Hotel.

Hamish Kilburn / 03.01.2019

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