Architecture Awards 2020

67 2020 Architecture Awards BUILD Jul20146 Best Contemporary Architecture Practice 2020 - South England With a zealous passion for design, contemporary architecture and historic buildings, artist and architect Mark Lord of Lord Architecture Ltd is transforming sites and spaces across South England, from listed buildings and commercial conversions to exceptional extensions and one-off houses. We spoke to Mark to find out how his company has grown since its establishment in 2017. s a RIBA Chartered Architect with a background in fine art and more than a decade of experience in architecture, working for renowned and award winning practices, it made sense for Mark Lord to eventually strike out on his own. Established in 2017, Lord Architecture perfectly encapsulates Mark’s passion for design, contemporary architecture and the re-imagining of historic buildings. Offering a bespoke architectural service that is conscientiously tailored to each project, the devotion and creativity of this firm shines through each project that makes up the extensive Lord Architecture portfolio. This includes listed buildings, commercial conversions, extensions and complete houses, all working across a diverse range of scales, budgets and RIBA stages, predominantly situated in the south of England, from Kent to Cornwall. The clientele of Lord Architecture is an eclectic mix of private individuals, developers and charitable trusts. Mark explains that one of the crucial elements of any successful project is the establishment and maintenance of a multitude of relationships, from the client and design team, to the local authority, specialists, contractors and subcontractors. Mark believes that it is this consistent and professional communication throughout the process, from inception to completion that enables the team to achieve the highest standards in each and every project. Thanks to the vitality of the Lord Architecture vision and their signature attention to detail, the firm has consistently delivered on some truly inspirational spaces and exquisite architecture. This is being seen in one of their most recent projects, a Grade II Listed C17 Priory in the World Heritage City of Bath. The client gave a very clear brief to design and deliver a bespoke contemporary extension that would accommodate a growing family whilst providing clear views of the priory and its grounds. With various complexities such as the statutory listed status and a World Heritage and Green Belt setting, Lord Architecture were faced with quite a challenge. However, Mark drew inspiration from existing listed buildings that have had a similar contemporary restructure. The priory now celebrates the cohesion of new and old in crisp architectural detailing and heritage benefits, and will be an exciting project to see once it comes to fruition. NB: This project has just won planning & listed building consent and is about to start on site in November but is not yet complete. A Although business activity for Lord Architecture initially slowed during the lockdown hiatus of recent months, productivity has not. Remote meetings with clients and contractors, as well free 30-minute ‘Isolation Consultations’ promoted on the Lord Architecture Instagram platform for new and prospective clients, meant the studio was able to continue operating and spreading brand awareness. Mark also took the opportunity to take stock of the Lord Architecture portfolio, obtain professional photography of completed schemes, contribute to editorial articles in magazines in London and Bath, and commence work on a new website that celebrates journey his company has been on in recent years. As the UK starts to resume life post-Covid and we begin to accept the ‘new normal’, Lord Architecture is looking to continue on their current trajectory, winning new and exciting projects with a diverse selection of clients and across a range of scales and sectors. With an eye consistently on building the company’s reputation for reimagining historic buildings through contemporary design, Lord Architecture are focusing predominantly on high end residential architecture, as well as continuing to expand into the commercial and mixed-use sectors in London and the South West. With a diverse portfolio and extensive experience Mark and his company are well equipped to weather the current climate and to tackle the exciting projects which lie ahead in the years to come. Company: Lord Architecture Contact: Mark Lord Web Address: www.lordarchitecture.co.uk