Apt London

Buildings are often the most important investment that many will make in their lives, be it offices or homes, places where we live work and play. Buildings temper our environment, a buffer between the inside and outside world. They inform our senses and influence our emotions, in use or simply passing bye.

The choice of materials and the way that we configure space controls what we see, the way that we feel, what we hear, smell and touch. The shape of space can help to make it legible and intuitive to use, we can add theatre, create a sense of arrival or retreat. Landscape, the glue that sticks our buildings together, defines routes, connectivity and permeability, creating a setting and sense of belonging, placemaking. Buildings can make you feel safe and secure or edgy and vulnerable, warm and friendly or cold and austere.

The quality of design, and the integrity of our buildings and their context is fundamental to our sense of wellbeing. The most successful are created by true craftsmen with a fundamental understanding and sensitivity for the materials that they use. Architecture is a collaborative process, it is absolutely about inspired teamwork, the art of the possible.

Our teams approach is to be intuitive and pragmatic, we understand where to be rigorous and when to be flexible. We believe in enjoyable buildings, enjoyable to create, enjoyable to live and work in, enjoyable environments for our future, we are built around people in every sense. An architect may never meet the occupant, but a truly successful building communicates a simple message to those who use it, that the architect was a craftsman and cared.

Our portfolio ranges from private houses to large commercial and mixed use developments, masterplans, fitout and bespoke product design.  We have been responsible for many notable schemes, including Park House, Oxford Street; 1 New Street Square; Buildings 1, 2, 3 and 6 Merchant Square, Paddington; The Kings Library, Chelsea and the Treasures Gallery at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.

Robin was a director of the internationally acclaimed firm, Foster + Partners where he was responsible for many distinguished buildings including Stirling prize winning projects; The American Air Museum, Duxford and 30 St Mary Axe, the Gherkin (London). Other highlights include the 288m high Barcelona Telecommunications Tower, the 52 floor Commerzbank Headquarters in Frankfurt and the 31 floor ARAG Headquarters in Dusseldorf.