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WHO
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WE ARE
Hopkins Architects have been at the forefront of British architecturesince starting in practice in 1976. Our design approach combines creative imagination and rational logic, with empathy to our clients' needs. Our buildings are many and varied and arefounded in current progressiveculture with popular appeal. They consistently receivedesign awards. We have pioneered and developed a seriesof strategies in relation to membrane architecture and light-weight structures, energy-efficient design, the inventive use of traditional materiais, the reuse of existing structures in conjunction with new buildings and the place-making regenerationof derelict urban areas. The buildings il/ustrated in this exhibition demonstrate our wide experiencein creating complex projects. Our work spans many different building types and scales, often with highly specializeduses in sensitiveplanning contexts. Thefollowing are our current preoccupations: Placemaking Urban sites tend to bring their past with them. Over the years we have developed an increasingappreciationfor context as an inspirationfor our designs. At Portcul/isHouse, in Westminster, we built the new Parliamentaryoffices,among historie neighbors,off the base of the working underground station. Weaving contemporary solutions into historiestructures as at Norwich Cathedral has also become one of our hal/marks. Buildingon greenfield or brownfieldsites demands a different approach. A strongly identifiableplace has to be made with connections to its neighborhood, which allow it to function and develop in the future. At the lnland Revenue Center in Nottingham , we integrated a former railway yard into the city center, with a series of public avenuesfocusing on the historiecastle. Sustainability Our architecture is increasingly being influenced by environmental considerations, in particular the use of sustainable resourcesfor materiais and energy. Our designsfind ways of exploiting the natural properties and the thermal behavior of common elements in building construction. Each building component is chosenfor its contribution to energy conservationand operational efficiencyas we/1asfor its aesthetic qualities. This integration, rather than duplication, of elements that contrai the environment isfundamental , exploiting 'free' and 'embodied' energy,enhancing the role of passive ventilation, solar contrai, daylight enhancement and thermal mass, and reducingthe needfor mecha nicai plant. Membrane architecture and light-weight structures We have developed an understanding and expertisein membrane
design. Our starting point is always matchingform to function. Membranes offer shadefrom sun, protectionfrom the rain and are particularlyefficient in enclosingcomplexfluid volumes. Membranes describea pure mathematical beauty, theirfine lines exactly tracing the forces they carry. We have used membrane structures in the following ways, each using the material suitablefor the stressesin the design situation: - Sma/1-scaleawnings or canopies covered by a coated PVC membrane (e.g., Hopkins PracticeOffice, London). - Largerfully enclosed,uninsulatedroofsfor inside/ outsidespaces, coveredby a coatedglassfiber (e.g., Saga Amenity Building, Folkstone). - Largefully enclosed insulated spaces, covered with inflated, PTFEcushion (e.g., Schlumberger ResearchCentre, Cambridge). People Our practice employs 100 people and worksfrom our open plan studio campus in London, purpose-designedfor ourselves.The company consists of the chairs and founders, Michael and Patty Hopkins, the managing director,Bill Taylor,who together with 11 co-directorsand 11 project directors,col/ectivelyoverseeai/ aspects of the running of the practice. We have talented support staff with a diversecultural base, who ensure continuity and develop the practice's accumulated ski/1 and knowledge. Our directorsregularlylecture to professionaland academic audiences and pursue researchprogrammes that keep the practice at the forefront of innovative design and contribute to continuing professionaldevelopment.
Hopk ins Architects Fundado em [foundedin]1976, Londres [London],por [by]Sir Michael Hopkins, Dorset, Grã-Bretanha [GreatBritain],1935 e [and]Lady Patrícia Hopkins, Stoke on Trent, Grã-Bretanha [GreatBritain],1942. Diretor administrativo [Managing Director] : William Taylor; Diretores [0irectors]:David Selby, James Greaves , Andrew Barnett, Pamela Bate, Simon Fraser, Michael Taylor, Edward Williams, Ernest Fasanya, Patrick Nee , Chris Bannister , Jonathan Knight; Diretor financeiro [FinancialDirector]:Henry Buxton ; Diretores de projeto [ProjectDirectors]: Arif Mehmood , Laura Carrara-Cagni, Julie Gaulter , Ken Hood , Sophy Twohig , Tony White , Carsten Kling , Neil Eaton , Rasna Grewal , Hiroaki Hoshino , Karin Ott, H enry Kong, Simon Chenery Edifício The Wellcome Trust Gibbs [building], 2004, Londres [London] ; The Evelina Children 's Hospital, 2005, Londres [London];Shin Marunouchi Towers , 2007 , Tóquio, Japan [Japão]
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