Source: Office S&M
Catrina Stewart and Hugh McEwen of 2020 YAYA winner Office S&M
Office S&M was founded seven years ago by Catrina Stewart and Hugh McEwen and is now a firm of four known for its playful projects and experimental approach to materials.
The practice has worked on new-build housing, workspace retrofit and public realm projects for public and private clients.
Its YAYA entry included two jazzy extensions and a £205,000 pistachio-and-pink build-to-rent house that completes a terrace in Newham, east London, with a head-turning flourish.
They say: “By putting an emphasis on being inventive, we find opportunities where others see an obstacle. Joyful design is embedded in our DNA, and we use colour as a building material.”
Mica Architects has been crowned Architect of the Year at Building Design’s prestigious annual awards.
The practice was honoured with the Gold Award for overall winner at the ceremony which was streamed on Building Design’s website today and watched live by hundreds of architects, clients and their collaborators.
As well as being named Architect of the Year, Mica – the practice born out of Rick Mather Architects in 2017 following Mather’s death – also scooped the award for Refurbishment Architect of the Year.
Source: Hufton & Crow
Mica Architects’ refurbishment of Fairfield Halls in Croydon
The judges – who underlined the importance of restoring and repurposing existing buildings at a time of climate crisis – praised Mica’s entry for its high standard and variety of work. This included converting London’s famous Centre Point tower into flats, restoring Croydon’s 1962 Fairfield Halls to its former glory and rescuing crumbling 12