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ARCHITECT IN PROFILE
John Harding, a respected Architect and Partner at Studio Moren, dishes on his favourite projects, go-to architects and thoughts on sustainability in this exclusive interview with FC&A. With a degree from the Polytechnic of Central London, a diploma from the University of Westminster and a vast portfolio of large-scale hospitality projects under his belt, John has 12 years of experience at Studio Moren. STUDIO MOREN
JOHN HARDING IS A PARTNER AT STUDIO MOREN
Wilde Aparthotel by Staycity, New Jordan Yard. Studio Moren project. Please tell us a bit about your career background. I gained a degree in architecture at the Polytechnic of Central London. Then my Diploma at the University of Westminster, followed by stints in various practices working on a wide range of projects until joining Studio Moren about 12 years ago.
www.studiomoren.co.uk FC& A – MARCH – 2023
Have you always wanted to pursue a career in architecture? I guess so, though the journey was long, and I came to the formal subject relatively late. My family had all been involved in construction. I remember, as a very young child, being given some building blocks that my father made from timber offcuts. He explained how a brick bond could help with structural stability, so I became very interested in observing different brick bonds, brick types and walls. This naturally progressed into looking at buildings and how they go together. Later, I became a technician investigating defects in domestic buildings, which required a lot of research into the rectification measures. I became a kind of disrepair detective, an invaluable experience for any designer, but it wasn’t as creative as I wanted it to be. I wanted to design and make things in a way that avoided such issues. Ultimately though, it is a love of architecture and the built form that drove me to the formal study of the subject, and it was definitely the right choice. I couldn’t believe that our lectures were all about looking at and studying architecture. 12
Who has been your greatest influence and source of inspiration? My architectural training has generally been heavily influenced by the early modernists and the Bauhaus movement. Their analytical approach to the process of design and willingness to challenge the status quo is both admirable and courageous. Le Corbusier’s body of work is astounding. We are now immersed in architectural duplicates of these types of buildings, but their impact at the time of construction must have been shocking. What has been your most notable project to date? I’m proudest of our team for producing the multistorey Travelodge London Docklands because it was delivered on a brownfield site on budget, three months early and just missed achieving BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ by a gnat’s whisker! How do you approach your projects? Studio Moren has become something of a specialist when it comes to hospitality design. Every project starts from the site, the location and the history of the locale. Our mantra is ‘everywhere is an idea’. This informs our design from the macro to the micro. The operational needs of our clients and building user experience are very high on our agenda. We take pride in our ability to deliver projects successfully, which requires skilful input from every team member. A recent example is The Westin London City, where a collaborative approach with the design team and regulatory bodies has produced an outstanding building.