We Made That

We are pleased to share that East Street Exchange has been shortlisted for the Best Small Project category in the Blueprint Awards 2019.

East Street Library is one of two ‘catalyst projects’ that have been delivered as part of a wider strategy What Walworth Wants commissioned by Southwark Council and the Greater London Authority to make significant improvements to the area.

The new extension allows the library to enhance its offer, providing an affordable space for local businesses and community groups, a flexible meeting space, and space for a homework club. Its proportions and materials are designed to be distinct from the existing building. Bright anodised cladding and a perforate ‘turret’ make it a characterful contribution to the neighbourhood. The interiors prioritise flexibility of use with bespoke furniture that can be ‘flat packed’ and stowed away on pegboard walls, clearing the space for alternative setups.

The full list of awards and nominees can be found online and the winner will be announced on the 17th October.

Nisha will be speaking at the Young Practitioners’ Network: Communication in the Urban Realm-Ethics, Audiences & Accessibility event, as part of Urban Design London, on Wednesday 11th September at Farrells, 7 Hatton Street, London, NW8 8PL.

The discussion will focus on the changing role of communication in the built environment sector, looking at digital platforms and the online persona’s responsibility in organisations, as well as ethical and inclusive communication of design projects in-house and with the broader community.

Other speakers include Joseph Henry (GLA), Luuk Van Kessel (LB Hackney), Priya Shah (BAME in Property), Alisha Morenike Fisher (Black Females in Architecture) and Owen Wainhouse, (London Festival of Architecture).

Share your views and help test ideas for improving Penstock Tunnel.

Join artist Emma Smith to explore how spaces, light and colour make us feel and contribute your ideas to the artwork she is creating.

Wednesday 11th September 2019

3pm - 7pm

Penstock Tunnel in Wood Green

(near Coburg Road)

Haringey Council has commissioned architects and urban designers We Made That for the design and delivery of public realm improvements to Penstock Tunnel in Wood Green, alongside artist Emma Smith and lighting designers Studio Dekka. The tunnel forms a strategic link connecting Wood Green town centre and Cultural Quarter in the east with Alexandra Palace and Park and Hornsey in the west. The proposals seek to create better connections across the borough with improvements including drainage, wayfinding, lighting and landscaping, as well as an integrated artwork commission.

We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted in the ‘Breakthrough Talent’ category of the FX International Interior Design Awards, which take place on 27th November. To vote for us and see the complete shortlist click here.

We’re delighted to announce that Nisha Kurian has been promoted to be Associate at We Made That in recognition of the fantastic work and important role she plays in the practice. Nisha will take an increased role in leading projects, supporting the wider team and representing the practice.

We Made That are excited to have been appointed to carry out the Bexley Urban Morphology Study, alongside Troy Planning + Design. The study will provide an evidence base for the council’s emerging Characterisation Study, which supports LB Bexley’s Growth Strategy as well as the production of several projects including a Design SPD. 

Both We Made That and Troy Planning + Design will draw on our expertise in GIS mapping systems and planning policy to produce an innovative visual analysis of the shape of the borough and its buildings. This will form a robust basis for understanding the present and future of the borough’s built environment.

What is radical today? 40 positions on architecture in the Architecture Studio at the Royal Academy of Arts.

We Made That are part of a free exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts that brings together 40 radical visions on how architecture can respond to today’s rapidly changing world, featuring the likes of Denise Scott Brown, Sam Jacob and Peter Cook. 

The display runs from 6th September to 7th November 2019 at the Architecture Studio, the Dorfman Senate Rooms, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts.

We are delighted to announce that Holly Lewis has been shortlisted for the ‘Female Leadership Award’ at the Building Awards, which take place on 5th November. The complete shortlist can be found here.

We Made That are looking for an experienced urban researcher with knowledge of the London regeneration landscape to join our growing team in our London office. We are seeking a new team member at a senior level capable of working alongside the practice partners and senior management team. The ideal candidate will have experience in undertaking quantitative and qualitative research through analytical and engaged processes. The role includes contributing fieldwork, desk-based data auditing and strategy development spanning spaces of culture, industry and employment.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing a small project team delivering urban research and strategy commissions.

Deadline for applications is 2nd October 2019 and details of how to apply can be found in the job description pdf.

We Made That are excited to announce that we are working with Gort Scott, Hatch Regeneris and Urban Shape on the ‘High Streets - Adaptive Strategies’ study for the Greater London Authority. The study will explore strategies for innovative responses to high street challenges, based in a range of case studies from across London. Each case study will make recommendations in response to a question with London-wide relevance including: what to do with empty large-format retail units, how to adapt to the ‘experience economy’ and how to embed community participation in high streets. The study is based on a body of research developed from previous studies such as High Streets for All.

We Made That are delighted to announce the New Cross Gate Area Framework won the Masterplan and Area Strategies category in the New London Architecture Awards 2019. We collaborated on the project with 5th Studio to develop a future vision and masterplan for the area, capturing the unique character of New Cross, whilst addressing the opportunities and challenges it faces.

We Made That recently enjoyed a team summer day out to Milton Keynes!

We took a trip to the MK Gallery where we went on a backstage tour by Deputy Director Kate Chadwick, learning about the cultural and community benefits of the extension and refurbishment. The new exhibition rooms, visitor cafe and retail spaces allow the gallery to host larger and higher profile exhibitions, attracting higher visitor numbers and widening the audience base of the gallery. 

We also took a visit to the current exhibition “Obedience and Defiance” by Paula Rego, enjoyed a picnic in Campbell Park, and a walk around Tree Cathedral (the plan of Norwich Cathedral planted in trees in 1986). 

We Made That are delighted to announce the appointment of artist Emma Smith for an integrated artwork commission as part of Penstock Tunnel public realm project in Wood Green.

Penstock Tunnel is a commission by Haringey Council, including an integrated public artwork as a key part of the project to activate and energise the space. We Made That have been working with UP Projects artwork curators during the artist selection process, which involved number of local residents, Heartlands School, Alexandra Palace Trust, the GLA and Haringey Council.

Emma Smith is a visual artist based in the UK and works internationally. Her work investigates human connectivity: relationship, communication and sense of place through specialist research and collaboration. We look forward to working together on the design of the public realm improvements and engaging with local people and groups to develop ideas.

Join us to help shape a vision for parks and open spaces in the south Isle of Dogs.

Saturday 13th July 2019

11am - 3pm

Manchester Road entrance to Millwall Park

(next to Island Gardens DLR station)

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has commissioned We Made That to develop a vision for key open spaces within the south Isle of Dogs area. The study will include recommendations for enhancing green spaces by addressing key challenges and celebrating community assets, whilst also ensuring the parks are accessible and inclusive for all. 

Come and have your say about the proposals and help us establish priorities for improving green spaces in south Isle of Dogs. 

Our urban research team is working along with Hatch Regeneris and PRD on creating an evidence baseline for Newham’s borough-wide Economic Strategy and in support of Community Wealth Building priorities. The work will also define the economic purpose of the Royal Docks and guide the development of £56m of Skills, Business Support, Good Growth and Workspace initiatives identified in the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone five-year delivery plan.

Planning permission has been granted for Chicksand Delivery project - a natural playspace and community growspace on the Chicksand East Estate in Whitechapel for Tower Hamlets Council. Works are due to start on site later this summer - delivering two projects that were identified in the community-led Chicksand East Estate Landscape Design Plan produced by We Made That in 2015. The team is supported by quantity surveyors Stockdale and structural engineers Momentum.

We Made That have been appointed by the Greater London Authority, along with Graham Harrington Planning Advice and planning solicitors Sharpe Pritchard, to produce the Culture and Workspace Planning Guide that forms part of the Mayor of London’s Cultural Infrastructure Toolbox. It sits alongside and complements other documents in the Toolbox to support the implementation of the Culture Strategy for London (2018) and Cultural Infrastructure Plan (2019). The guide will set out best practice as well as detailed planning law policy and procedures, and will help a number of different partners involved in bringing forward cultural infrastructure and workspace. 

We are happy to announce the New Cross Gate Area Framework has been shortlisted in the Masterplans and Area Strategies category in the New London Architecture Awards 2019. We Made That collaborated with 5th Studio to develop a future vision and masterplan for the area, capturing the unique character of New Cross, whilst addressing the opportunities and challenges it faces. Our team led an intensive engagement programme with stakeholder groups and local residents, along with a detailed audit of local businesses, to establish local priorities for delivering change in the area as part of the Framework.

Two new members have joined our team!

Emily is a Senior Architectural Assistant with experience in leading community design projects such as her work on the South Norwood Community Plan and the New Square for Harrow with CarverHaggard Architects. She studied architecture at the University of Sheffield and the Royal College of Art.

William is an Urban Designer who previously worked at Publica Associates leading on public realm research, strategies and designs for public spaces. He gained his diploma and undergraduate degrees in architecture at London Metropolitan University. He also teaches a 3rd year design unit at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff. 

We are delighted to announce that We Made That has been shortlisted as one of six teams for the Fair Field public space competition. We are collaborating with landscape architecture practice HASSELL, planting and horticulture expert Nigel Dunnett, engineers Buro Happold, local arts organisation Turf Projects and lighting designers Studio Dekka in response to Croydon Council’s call for a ‘world-class exemplary’ public space outside the landmark Fairfield Halls.

The proposals aim to revitalise Fair Field as a key destination and civic space, supporting and augmenting cultural programming at Fairfield Halls.

We Made That, HASSELL and Buro Happold will be reconvening in familiar territory, having previously worked together to deliver the Croydon South End public realm project in 2015.