Journal Posts - Page 3 of 28 - Jamie Fobert Architects

We are delighted that Tapio Snellman‘s film of our House in Primrose Hill has been shortlisted for ‘Best Use of Video’ in the Archiboo Awards 2022. The Awards recognise inspirational design and great storytelling in the way architecture is communicated.

Tapio’s film takes us, like invisible guests, on a journey around this contemporary family home. We see that the house presents itself to the city in a very unassuming way. It feels as if nothing has changed since it was first built. But when you walk through the door, you are met with an extraordinary transformation, with a space which seems like it shouldn’t fit inside. In itself a collaboration between architect and filmmaker, the film reveals the complementary, collaborative efforts of architect and client by capturing fine architectural details and half-glimpses of family life.

Five years ago, Tate St Ives reopened after a major transformation by JFA. Writing in the Observer, Rowan Moore described the new 500m2 gallery as “not any old exhibition space but one that contains about as much intelligence, strength of mind and sensitivity as it is possible to put into a single plain rectangle. It is only a room … but what a room”.

Jamie has been in St Ives this weekend to celebrate the building’s 5th birthday, along with Tate Director, Maria Balshaw, and Tate St Ives Director, Anne Barlow.

We have enjoyed seeing over the past five years how the gallery adapts to play host to a wide range of art practice, from the large-scale paintings of Patrick Heron to contemporary sculpture and film. The current installation is Biosfera Peluche / Biosphere Plush, by Ad Minoliti, which fills the space with bold colour and geometry in an amazing transformation of the gallery.

It’s been four years since I last walked on the roof terrace of Tate St Ives. We created it as a public space for the town, with places to sit and look out to sea, as well as a more gentle route from town down to the beach. Here are a few shots: 1) the ceramic clad pavilion reflected the sloping glass of the light chambers. 2) A granite clad light chamber frames a view to the sea. 3) The slight tilt of the hand glazed shiplap tiles reflects the colours of the changing sky. 4) Here the complex layering of colours is seen, even a purple hue emerged in the centre. 5) The granite chapels of St Ives cemetery seen beyond the final light chamber of the landscape. 6) People from the town using the route down to the beach. #tate #tatestives #landscape #granite #form #local

Skilled stone contractors Tudor Stonework have shared a little film that tells the story of how JFA’s designs were executed to create a new floor for the Burlington Arcade.

Completed in 2015, almost 200 years after the arcade was originally built, the geometry, tonal variation and craftsmanship of the floor respond sympathetically to the existing Regency architecture.

Tudor Stonework’s craftsmanship was superb.

Developed through close collaboration between JFA, structural engineers Price & Myers and specialist fabricators Cake Industries, the sculptural steel staircase we designed for Pace Gallery has been awarded a ‘Merit’ in the Structural Steel Design Awards 2022.

Judges said: “The gallery’s feature staircase connects the basement and entry level, blending seamlessly into and contributing to the gallery spaces. The attention to detail in both design and manufacture have resulted in an exemplary and beautiful structure which embraces the steel manufacturing process from rolling mill to final welding.”

Next week, Thursday 29th September from 6.30pm to 9pm, Jamie will join Hawkins Brown for a talk titled ‘Adapting Reusing’, at the Jarvis Hall, RIBA.

Jamie will be discussing the Adapting Reusing approach used by the project team for the National Portrait Gallery, together with contractors Gilbert Ash.

The evening will be hosted by past president of the RIBA, Alan Jones.

RSVP: abby@jagocommunications.com

We are currently looking to recruit a Part 2 architectural assistant with outstanding image-making skills to join our London studio to work on a range of cultural, residential, and retail projects.

We are keen to meet candidates with:

an intuitive understanding of 3D space
a keen interest in materiality
self-motivation, enthusiasm, and an ability to work well as part of a team
high proficiency working in Rhino and 3D rendering software (V-Ray or similar)
excellent CAD skills, which ideally will include knowledge of MicroStation

Please apply by Monday 26 September 2022 by emailing recruitment@jamiefobertarchitects.com with:

a cover letter introducing yourself, outlining your motivation, and highlighting relevant experience
a CV, detailing your education, work experience and software skills
a concise illustrated portfolio

This has been our second year participating in the pioneering Accelerate programme, established by Open City. By providing education and mentoring opportunities to 16-18-year-olds, Accelerate seeks to increase diversity in the built environment professions.

Thomas and Emily were our mentors this year. They led two Accelerate students in a design project based on Arnold Circus, including Collaborative Drawing, Casting and Modelmaking.

Each year, the Accelerate programme finishes with a public exhibition showcasing students’ work. At the exhibition, we were delighted to meet with one of our previous students who has gone on to study at UCL and is now working as a teaching assistant for the Accelerate program.

Accelerate is currently accepting student applications for its 2022/23 programme. Apply here.

Two years and six months after having been made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) I was finally able to have the investiture on Wednesday morning. The day was beautiful and my brother and two sisters from Canada came to Windsor with Dom and me. Prince Charles did the ceremony and we had a brief chat about the work we are doing at the National Portrait Gallery. I don't recall exactly what I said that generated the laugh in the first photo, but I think I said we'd do our best to get his family portraits back on the walls as soon as we could. The visit to Windsor was followed by an afternoon and evening of celebration. Photos of these to follow. While the honour and the ceremony were lovely, it was the day surrounded by family, colleagues, supporters and friends that left me with a deep sense of gratitude. #cbe #commanderofthebritishempire #architecture #honour #windsorcastle #princecharles #architectureaward #lovelyday #grateful

We are delighted that the House in Primrose Hill is the winner of an RIBA London Award 2022.

The jury said: “This refurbishment and extension of a Victorian house in Primrose Hill is a superb example of a close working relationship between architect and private homeowner client. The success of the collaboration is evident in the way that beautiful new spaces complement the client’s distinct personal taste, creating an extraordinary contemporary family home.”

Jamie Fobert Architects has been appointed to reconsider the architecture of the Royal Observatory Greenwich, a Scheduled Monument located within the Grade I-listed Greenwich Park and Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich is an extraordinary site; a unique collection of buildings designed to hold astronomical instruments. From its inception in the form of Wren’s octagonal Flamsteed House (1676), the site has been in a state of constant flux of construction and demolition as new telescopes were required. It is a great privilege to be tasked with considering how best to add to this ‘constellation’ of buildings, to better welcome visitors and to create galleries where the full story of time and space can be revealed, ahead of the Royal Observatory’s 350th anniversary in 2025.

We will be working in collaboration with engineers Price & Myers and Max Fordham and Heritage Consultants Purcell, supported by OFR and G&T.

Royal Museums Greenwich director Paddy Rodgers said: ‘We are glad Jamie and his team will be joining our exciting plans to inject awe and wonder into an incredible celebration of celestial observation, the observatory, and its famous prior residents.’