T2S Architecture is a London-based commercial architectural practice that excels in working within complex, dense urban environments to deliver medium and large scale commercial developments.
Its designs are driven by a carefully crafted approach, merging modern building styles and techniques with classical architectural principles, and focus on fulfilling clients' requirements with cognitive design solutions that respond appropriately to their context.
T2S Architecture holds that intensifying the density of urban living is a key strategy for a sustainable future and that walkable cities with shared public spaces, good availability of affordable housing, and integrated public transport will be the success stories of tomorrow.
We are proud of our adaptive but rigorous approach to Architectural design that allows us to deliver successful renovations and refurbishments of historic and listed buildings, and large new build mixed use developments.
Ultimately we believe in creating valuable new commercial and residential opportunities where they are most needed, subtly increasing the densification of our urban environments that encourage our urban principles of sustainable living.
What benefits have you experienced from becoming a RIBA Chartered Practice?
As a small, young practice, RIBA Chartered Practice Status is an important marque of quality and excellence recognised by clients and prospects alike, lending essential credibility to our expertise and experience.
RIBA is a widely respected voice representing architects and architecture to the media, politicians, government organisations and trade bodies. As a RIBA Chartered Practice, T2S can confidently position itself as a capable, knowledgeable architectural partner to developers, homebuilders and other large organisations.
RIBA Charter Practice Status also provides assurance to our clients that T2S Architecture is fully dedicated to professionalism in architecture and that we keep to high standards of ethics and best practice. We benefit from the trust already invested in RIBA by association, which opens doors that would be closed to non-charter practices.
This is very important in the current market place, where there are a lot of companies which claim to be able provide ‘Architectural services’ which are not covered by the RIBA code of conduct. My thoughts are that the RIBA could do more to tackle this problem, and attempt to protect the process of Architectural construction design.
Our profession, and the standards we stand for, have been diluted in the 40 years, culminating in the devastating tragedy at Grenfell Tower. The RIBA could introduce an ‘Architectural Service’ accreditation, which would extend the RIBA ‘trust’ factor explained above to those who haven’t fully completed the Architectural process.
Charter Practice status also includes access to a wealth of practical resources, from advice on legal and contractual issues to career development, training and CPD opportunities. To secure these services elsewhere would be immensely time-consuming and costly.
Where does T2S Architecture's focus on urban refurbishment and adaptive reuse originate?
Growing up in Burton-on-Trent, I was surrounded by historical, industrial architecture. Burton has a heritage of great buildings which were often linked in Industry - particularly the Brewing Industry.
As many parts of the country became ‘de-industrialised’, many beautiful historic buildings were doomed to years of decay. Thankfully, some of these buildings were built in such a way that lent them to be easily convertible to prolong their life.
In summary, buildings with lots of light, a rectilinear plan, and generous floor to ceiling heights, are always easier to convert compared to those designed in more of a bespoke manner.
This visual environment was a clear inspiration from an early age; however on reflection, this was perhaps more subconscious than conscious. As my career developed, I became more reflective of my Architectural ethos, learning about myself and what I stand for, and how my career can provide me with a backdrop to explore this as a passion.
In parallel my interest in urbanism grew, with a respect for a building's contribution in both a physical and abstract sense. I learned more about the complex relationships between people and place, and developed my thinking on how refurbishment and extension of existing buildings could make significant positive contributions to urban development, and the many advantages that adaptive reuse has over new build and demolition.
This is the thinking I brought to T2S Architecture when I founded it in 2021. I wanted to offer developers and housebuilders practical and viable options to redevelop, extend and conserve existing buildings. As a company, we have developed an ethos that satisfies commercial requirements and the objectives of our clients, but is driven by a passion for the built environment and a commitment to the retention of buildings as our first principle of development.
What do you think is the most important issue for architects to focus on right now, and what are you doing as a practice to tackle it?
I believe there are two urgent issues that architects must be focused on right now - sustainability and housing. How can we, as architects, help to rapidly deliver more housing to address the chronic shortfall in the UK, while simultaneously helping to reduce the UK's carbon emissions?
Britain's towns and cities represent a vast store of embodied carbon - historic carbon emissions from the construction of the existing urban environment over time. Every building standing today is an opportunity to avoid or mitigate the significant carbon emissions inherent in the demolition and construction of a new building tomorrow.
We believe that the process of renovation and refurbishment is also the perfect opportunity to enlarge and extend urban buildings, making it feasible to create urgently needed new homes close to jobs and public transport networks. Cities and towns are the key to a sustainable way of living in the future for millions, but to make that a successful proposition, people must want to live in the city - and that means creating attractive, human-scale places where work, home, services and amenities are all within walking distance or a short bus journey from home.
It is up to us as architects to present solutions and designs that will meet the commercial and economical requirements of our clients, but at the same time, we must consider the future environmental and social ramifications of all our choices and decisions. By choosing refurbishment over demolition, and extension over new build, we believe that we can make a positive contribution to reducing carbon emissions from the industry, and help create attractive, livable urban environments for all through an incremental, gentle process of urban densification
What are the benefits of urban densification, and how can we achieve it?
Gentle urban densification means gradually and sustainably increasing the population density of an urban area by adding more homes through refurbishment and extension, infill and adaptive reuse.
We know from research that people in Urban environments tend to live more sustainably than those in rural areas. Urban areas tend to have better public transport, and better amenities close by, that encourage a car free lifestyle. There are societal benefits to encouraging people to use public transport beyond the obvious. For example - the use of public transport will encourage a collective community spirit as opposed to that of the individualistic behaviour associated with car usage.
At T2S Architecture, we believe that gentle densification is the best route to creating attractive, livable cities and urban areas in the future that will benefit the health, wellbeing and community lives of the residents. Successful, thriving communities grow from the ground up, given the right conditions. We strive to create buildings that will help foster communities, bring new homes into commercial centres and create designs that acknowledge and honour the existing context.
Densification through the considered refurbishment of existing buildings brings more residents without resorting to large-scale schemes that communities may feel are being imposed on them. Adaptive reuse of commercial buildings in urban centres is the perfect way to gradually increase density, bringing homes back onto the high street. More people living closer to their jobs, within easy reach of all life's necessities, means fewer car journeys, less traffic, and fewer communities divided by busy roads. Health, wellbeing and prosperity are all improved. It also helps to reduces the pressure to build on green and brownfield sites, the Green Belt, and agricultural land.
What are the principal challenges when working with existing buildings?
Working with existing buildings presents a number of distinct challenges compared to new build projects. Technically, they're more complex from the outset, all other factors being equal. There is also a distinctive Architectural challenge with extending or remodelling existing buildings, where you are dealing with something which already has a visual spirit.
We first ask ourselves - does the existing building have charm, or Architectural quality? If so, can you extend or remodel the building in such a way that makes the extension read coherent?
In this instance, our preference is to design the extension to match the original style. Our designs for an extension to a building in Chiswick is good example in this regard. Here, we decided to extrude the existing butterfly roof form horizontally creating a side extension which replicates the original style but extends the original form.
Sometimes we decide that the existing form should be respected and retained due to the perceived charm or historic quality. In this we try to design the existing using a modern approach so that the design has visual honesty. This means if someone passed the building, they can see what was ‘original’ and what was ‘new’. Our Berkhamstead and Gloucester Avenue projects are good examples in this regard.
If either of the above options are applicable, then we will look to improve the appearance of the existing building whilst extending it at the same time. 1960’s office buildings are always pertinent examples here, where their open plan concrete grid in the Le Corbusian style is ideal for conversion and facade improvement. The projects we completed in Avenue House, Ruislip and Sulivan Road are ideal examples of this regard.
Every project is different; every existing building is different; which is why we pride ourselves on our adaptive design approach.
