On turning 30: looking back, building forward
This year marked a significant milestone for us as we celebrated 30 years in practice. It’s been a time to pause and feel proud of our achievements to date, as well as a time to reflect on changes in the wider built environment and to consolidate future plans and direction.
Formed in 1994 as ‘Paul Davis and Partners’ with just 16 people, the practice has changed and grown over the last three decades around partner-led ‘hubs’, to become Studio PDP. Built upon three core pillars - people, design, and place - we put people at the heart of everything we do; the people we work with, our clients and the people we design for.
As the practice has evolved over the years, our approach to design has remained deeply rooted in understanding and responding to place - to the physical and environmental context, its history and its potential futures. We have been – and always will be - committed to creating architecture that respects and enhances the environment, community, and culture.
From our first office at The Old School House in Ebury Street to opening our Hong Kong Studio, crafting our award-winning London HQ in Eccleston Yards and establishing a base in Bath, being centrally located has enabled us to get hands on with delivering our projects.
We have been fortunate to work with many clients and consultants with aligned philosophies and aspirations. There are those who are enthusiastic about conserving our architectural heritage, creating new landmarks and/or those who want to steer us to the low carbon future we all need. We place huge value on these long-lasting relationships, having worked with some for the whole 30 years!
Reflecting on our three-decade journey, we have identified six key themes that run through our work: new destinations, heritage preserved, adaptive reuse, contemporary and contextual design, ways of living and working, and our climate-conscious future.
We invite you to explore these themes and some of the related projects, below:
New destinations: creating places of meaning
At the core of our practice is a passion for creating meaningful places that enrich their surroundings. We’re adept at weaving the architecture together with interior and public realm design, understanding the interplay of public and private spaces – and the transitions between them.
Heritage preserved: bridging the past and future
London is a city rich with history, and a significant portion of our London Studio’s work involves preserving its eclectic architectural heritage while adapting it for modern use. We respect the place in history that a building or location has and use great care and skill to conserve and adapt, bringing the past back to life for future legacy.
Contemporary contextual: designing for place
Context is everything when it comes to design. Our projects are deeply rooted in the specific environments in which they are located, ensuring that they not only blend seamlessly with their surroundings but also enhance them. Contemporary architecture can provide distinctive character and a new aesthetic in both historic and new locations.
Adapting for new use: revitalising existing buildings
As the needs of cities and their inhabitants evolve, so must the buildings. Whether for working, living or leisure, there are many ingenious ways a building can be transformed for a new use, preserving character and giving it a new lease of life. Teamwork is critical to the success of these projects as there are often challenging design problems to solve, requiring vital input from the wider team.
Ways of living and working: responding to changing needs
The way people live and work has changed dramatically over the past three decades – no more so than since Covid, and our designs have needed to evolve in response. Post-pandemic, workplace and accommodation needs have shifted, requiring flexibility, health-focused amenities, and spaces that foster collaboration.
Climate conscious future: decarbonisation through design
As architects, we are acutely aware of the role we play in shaping a sustainable future. Our projects are developed with sustainability in mind from the outset by using a fabric first approach, minimising operational energy demand and responsibly sourcing materials. Looking forward, we are working collaboratively with the wider project teams to incorporate circular economy principles, reusing existing structures and materials to minimise waste.
