AHMM

AHMM is a premier international architectural practice. Established over 30 years ago, it has won numerous awards including the Stirling Prize. Through the contributions of journalists, clients, fellow professionals and academics, this AD issue celebrates the practice’s achievements in all areas of architectural production, featuring archive material, new works and unparalleled access to the AHMM organisation, revealing new insights into their work and urban philosophies. To get to this eminent position, the office has consistently responded in innovative and imaginative ways to the changing imperatives of art, science and economics that influence our built environment. These parameters have metamorphosed considerably since AHMM was founded, in terms of advances in digitisation, material science and changes to contract management, what constitutes sustainability, procurement routes, construction methods, collaboration and architectural education. Above all this AD will explore AHMM’s practice as a holistic design project in itself, in terms of building buildings, but also in using a design ethos to cope with shifts in workload and the firm’s varying business activities and its administration over the years, thus providing insight for a future generation of potentially successful architectural professionals.

About the Editor Neil Spiller 05   Introduction Urban Artefacts Developing the Delightful City Neil Spiller 06   Setting The Stage Dressing It and Making the Props Neil Spiller 12   Continuity With a Difference Rising to Prominence Paul Finch 20   Very Much an English Story Peter Cook 30   The ExtraOrdinary Some Thoughts on Architecture and the Theatre of Everyday Life Simon Allford 38   Reimagining the Home Isabel Allen 46   A Passion to Repurpose Flexibility for the Future Martyn Evans 54   Opening Up Educating Institutions, Opening Up Methodologies llis Woodman 62 À La Recherche d’AHMM Jay Merrick 70   The Invention of Projects that Create an Address Roger Zogolovitch 82   Being Signiicant The Problem of What We Cannot Measure Hanif Kara 88   Colourful Collaboration Creating Joyous Ambiences Morag Myerscough 96   Environmental Design From the Intuitive to the Parametric Patrick Bellew 104   A Symbiotic Relationship Reminiscences of the Family Joe Morris 112     The New Establishment Politics and Performance Frances Anderton 118   From Another Perspective Old Buildings, New Architecture Richard Grifiths Architects Neil Spiller 128