Philosophy

Over the years I have made numerous attempts to set down in writing my approach to architecture, as much for my benefit as for others. It has proved an elusive target to nail.

Perhaps it is best to start with some of the subconscious images, both visual and aural which inform my thinking -these include the sight of evening sunlight on a wall of London Yellow Stock bricks, glowing like honeycomb. Coincidentally ‘Waterloo Sunset’ by the Kinks also resonates, not linked by sunlight, but more an awareness of London, both the centre and the inner and outer suburbs, my city, Cobbetts ‘Great Wen’ the great sprawling metropolis where I have spent my life and which has bombarded me with images and details of buildings, their materials and its macro and micro townscapes.

This then is the backdrop. On to this must be layered the architectural sensibilities of the people who through the years have passed through, contributed to, and influenced the practice. Not by coincidence my colleagues and I have signed up for the architecture of Humane Modernism. There has generally been a great love and appreciation in the office for the works of Alvar Aalto and the softening he brought to the Modern Movement by his use of materials and references to is vernacular heritage. For me particularly the works of Charles Voysey and Edwin Lutyens, the great Edwardian Arts and Crafts architects are also important reference points, bridging as they do the vernacular of rural Surrey and Modernism. We frequently carry out projects to modify of extend Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian houses, usually Listed Buildings – and the character of their details demands a response, which we intend to rise above pastiche.

The other major driving force is a belief in Social Purpose in architecture, which led me to the Department of Architecture of the Inner London Education Authority, where I spent ten years on educational building projects before leaving to start John Rich Architects in Richmond.

As a result of this approach, our practice has become what it is today; a studio where our ambition is to create humane, intimate, and sometimes, exciting spaces that will create a sense of repose and well-being. We seek to achieve this by an intense discussion of materials, details and sustainability at the very beginning of the design process.

We bring this approach to every project which comes in to the office, be it a train maintenance depot, remodelling of a London square, new-build primary school or a small residential extension.

John Rich