Satellite Architects

Committed to modern and sustainable design, Satellite architects took the time to share with the describer some of the ideas and works, that have defined their practise for the past few years.

— Office —

Since its foundation in the late 1990's, Satellite Architects have developed a diverse body of work including cultural, residential, commercial and leisure projects, all with an inherent respect to environmental sustainability. Within the portfolio, projects range from cultural buildings in Central London for the Jerwood Foundation, the Actors Centre and Tristan Bates Theatre. Private cultural projects include Hugh Fearnley - Whittingstalls' River cottage HQ in rural Devon and their recent competition winning entry for a new Quakers Meeting House in London, Hammersmith. 
Since 2010 Satellite Architects have been heavily involved in education projects, with successful new schools being built on the Isle of Wight, Ashburton on Dartmoor and presently on site, the Plymouth Studio School in Devon. Satellite have built private houses for clients in rural Wiltshire, rural Devon and on the Islands of Ibiza and Ile'de Re. Ongoing current projects include the Marriott Hotel in Portsmouth, the Holiday Inn Hotel at Gatwick Airport, a new private boutique hotel for River Cottage in Devon and several refurbishment projects of Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson hotels for the Rezidor Hotel Group. 
The practice has won many awards and citations for design excellence, most recently the RIBAJ/Schueco design excellence award for its River Cottage Cookery School. 

— Approach —

Satellite Architects is committed to modern, sustainable design and is passionate about the environment. These commitments set the tone for the projects, which they are involved in.
Sustainable design is a key concern, which defines the offices identity and their approach to projects. 

— Start —

At the start of every project the team comes together to discuss and understand the project. There is a strong approach in the satellite office, which is led by sustainable design both for the environment but also for the client. 
The starting point for every project therefore is to fully understand the clients brief there the overall concern being collaborative design. This method of working has led to broad spectrum of projects all with individual identities.

— Clients —

The client is very important in Satellite’s works. Satellite work within sectors such as education and hospitality where working with the client is essential for a successful outcome.
Satellite’s unique approach however enables for a discussion with clients whilst maintaining a balance so the skills and talents of the team manage and direct the project.

— Architecture in the UK —

The UK architecture profession has over the last 50 years produced an amazing group of design professionals who seem to create their most amazing work outside of the UK, think David Adjayes recent museum addition to he Washington Mall, David Chippefield's Neues Museum in Berlin. It's a shame that these architects don't get to build their best works in the UK. The planning process is to blame for this; most decisions on design are taken by non-architect professionals, which leads to mediocrity.

And to be an architect in the UK? 
Architecture has become very fashionable in the UK, a fairly respected profession in the whole but under appreciated in terms of finance.

What’s the context in which you develop your work?
We try to work for direct clients, institutions and the Government, wining work through bids and competitions rather than direct appointments to commercial developers.

— Favourite Material —

My favourite materials are real classic materials used in modern innovative ways. For example masonry, stone and concrete used in a way that avoids their classical vernacular use can be beautiful. Think Carlo Scarpa, the venetian architect and the way he use traditional venetian craft.

Their importance and their part in characterising your work and approach?
Our work is not style specific, we design to context and place rather than a studio style. These materials are appropriate to their contact and the use of the buildings.

— Influences —

My major influences range from Carlo Scarpa to Thom Maybe of Morphosis but my most influential mentor was Sir Peter Cook of Archigram who was my teacher. He taught me how to question everything in architecture.

Architectural influences or not, the things you go for when creating something?
Light and Spatial energy are the most important characteristics in my work. Without light one can see nothing and boring spaces are the death of happiness.