Witherford, Watson and Mann Architects
- Published: 23 October 2007 10:43
- Last Updated: 23 October 2007 10:43
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Stephen Witherford, Christopher Watson and William Mann studied together in 1991 in their fifth year at Cambridge University. They started collaborating informally in 1997 and set up Witherford Watson Mann Architects in 2001 after winning Europan 6 for Peckham, south London. The practice now has a staff of eight. Its first building, designed in collaboration with Gregori Chiarotti Architects, was Amnesty International UK’s new offices and outreach facilities, completed in March 2005.
Witherford, Watson and Mann’s work is characterised by an interest in the relationship between city and landscape and the mutual dependence of public buildings, collective space and everyday activities. These concerns are particularly evident in projects for social housing in Gistel, Belgium, and the Area Development Framework for Creekmouth to Castle Green in the Thames Gateway, which is been carried out with Juurlink + Geluk.
The practice’s current projects include a basement theatre and exhibition space for the Brighton Fringe, feasibility work for the London Borough of Brent’s new civic centre, and planning and developing the local movement infrastructure for the Lower Lea Valley.
Social housing, Belguim
Witherford Watson Mann’s design for social housing for the over-50s in Gistel, Belgium, arranges 12 apartments and a café around a courtyard. The housing is organised on two levels. To maximise privacy, ground-floor living areas are oriented to the rear, while those on the first floor face the front.
