When Squire & Companions’ late founder, Michael Squire handed away after a brief sickness in Might 2023, it was a tragic loss for the structure trade. In time, it additionally posed questions on the way forward for his near-50-year-old London studio, not least to his son and senior associate on the agency, Henry Squire. It took over a yr of analysis and investigations for Squire & Companions to seek out one of the simplest ways ahead. Now, the agency publicizes a radical restructuring, which goals to carve a brand new path for its 130-strong employees – whereas sustaining its sturdy fame, initiatives and trade relationships.
Squire & Companions restructure: defined
Squire & Companions’ daring transfer will now see a gaggle of ten companions forming a brand new management crew for the multidisciplinary observe. These will not be simply architects; made up of designers, builders, communicators, innovators, place-makers and crafters, the studio (which was initially based in 1976) is eager to flag its various expertise and sign a democratic method that permits a wealthy and diverse group of pros into its fold – particularly in senior positions.
Henry Squire, whom we interviewed about this announcement, highlighted this need for evolution and for celebrating the wealthy number of voices and expertise throughout the observe, including that ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss.’ (scroll down for the complete interview)
(Picture credit score: Tom Oldham)
Because of this restructure, the highest crew at Squire & Companions now includes three senior companions (Squire, in addition to architects Murray Levinson and Tim Gledstone); alongside seven new associate roles for architect Bettina Brehler, head of inside design Maria Cheung, architects Olga Gomez, Sophie Steed, Alessandro Mangiavacchi, and Michael Poots, and finance director Clelia Filipe.
Collectively they goal to proceed the energetic studio’s legacy and develop, main it into the longer term by constructing on extensively acclaimed previous initiatives, resembling Brixton’s The Division Retailer (which additionally contains the studio’s personal headquarters and has change into an necessary area people hub), the Chelsea Barracks masterplan, Clarges Mayfair, Bulgari Resort London, the Abu Dhabi masterplan, Howick Place (together with Philips de Pury public sale home), and Area Home, the reimagined Grade II listed brutalist structure masterpiece that launches later this yr.
One Kemble Road, the brutalist structure icon now generally known as Area Home, is concerning the launch its transformation by Squire & Companions in London
(Picture credit score: Tomislav Medak)
Squire & Companions: Henry Squire talks concerning the restructure
W*: When did this course of begin for you?
Henry Squire: It wasn’t like we would by no means considered what may occur sooner or later earlier than my father died. We have been enthusiastic about it for a very long time and we had mentioned it with him. We knew that we needed to change and evolve. [Michael’s passing] probably simply compelled our hand and accelerated the method. So, we’re attempting to construct a agency that’s not so targeted on any explicit particular person. The issue with the design world is that in some methods it’s targeted round people – the ‘single chief tradition”. You need to be past that.
W*: Do you see the observe’s core method altering with the change in management?
HS: No. I feel that we’re barely totally different anyway. For our initiatives, you wouldn’t know until you knew that that was all finished by the identical architect, as a result of I feel we’re not wedded to an architectural stylistic philosophy. They’re all extremely contextual. That is the essence of a Squire & Companions mission and I hope it should stay ceaselessly.
The Division Retailer in Brixton, which incorporates co-working areas and the Squire & Companions headquarters
(Picture credit score: James Jones)
W*: Was the best way the observe needed to evolve instantly obvious to you if you went into the method of restructuring? Was it simple?
HS: It positively wasn’t simple. There are all the time issues that, most likely intuitively, you sort of have an thought of what you need to do with, however then you need to battle in opposition to what your instinct is and simply check every part. Additionally when it comes to what folks need to do and what persons are good at, there is a nuance there to take a look at and work with.
Brixton Windmill, a group centre by Squire & Companions
(Picture credit score: Jack Hobhouse)
W*: So, please inform us concerning the construction.
HS: There are ten companions in whole – three senior ones amongst them. The division of labor is just not round mission typology, however all companions have totally different roles throughout the observe. So there are two, for instance, main the observe administration aspect, and one other main sustainability particularly, an inside design associate and a finance chief.
It was necessary for us to open up the partnership by growing the totally different ability units required to make associate. You is likely to be good at conferences, or an unimaginable detailer otherwise you is likely to be extremely charismatic in bringing new work; we wished to sign that there are loads of alternative ways up the agency to partnership.
Squire Companions remodeled the long-lasting Ministry Of Sound into an elegant workspace
(Picture credit score: James Jones)
W*: Did you contemplate altering the observe’s identify?
HS: We talked lots about it, as clearly I’m a Squire and does this make it unfair to others? Ultimately we determined in opposition to it. It’s a sturdy model and that is about model creation, and does it matter that Chanel’s referred to as Chanel? It is solely a phrase – a recognisable phrase.
W*: So is that this it; are you finished with change, are issues crystallised and glued now?
HS: Not fairly. A observe must continually evolve. For instance, we’re trying into maybe making a supply arm inside our studio. We’re all the time trying to evolve with the altering panorama of structure. Evolution is rising.
LUMA in Kings Cross is a Squire & Companions design; seen right here the penthouse terrace with interiors by Conran and Companions
(Picture credit score: Philip Durrant)
W*: Any closing phrases?
HS: I feel, we have all the time been a quiet observe. We’re additionally humanists and we deeply love what we do. There is a quote from Shakespeare that claims ‘Issues gained are finished, pleasure’s soul lies within the doing.’
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