18 INSIGHTS
HLM Architects PRACTICE PROFILE
James Parker speaks to HLM’s chairman Richard O’Neil to find out how 2020’s Architectural Practice of the Year has maintained a keen focus on ‘social architecture’ over nearly six decades, while continuing to broaden its horizons
and education sectors. The firm, which now numbers five studios across the UK, continues to have a strong ethos of social responsibility and a reputation for high quality work in the public sector. This is embodied in its ‘Thoughtful Design’ maxim, that helps its architects focus on and enhance users’ “emotional response to the built environment.” HLM’s origins go back to 1963, the year The Beatles released their debut album. Meanwhile, architectural students David Hutchison, Graham Locke and Tony Monk won a design competition for the new Paisley Civic Centre to the west of Glasgow, which led to them forming Hutchison Locke and Monk, in 1964.
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The centre was the second largest public sector project since the Second World War and, according to current HLM chairman Richard O’Neil, “the iconic building became the foundations from which our social architecture philosophy would grow.” He says that the firm proceeded to build its reputation across its key sectors via not only focusing on solving clients’ challenges, but being “mindful of the impact that design can have on people, communities and society.”
LM is a longstanding fixture in the AJ100, having been active for well over 50 years, and picking up awards regularly for its projects, particularly in the healthcare
“Since the practice was founded,” O’Neil tells ADF, “our design philosophy has always put people at its centre, and we have a proud history of producing architecture that helps improve people’s lives.” He asserts: “We’re driven by a sense of social purpose, it’s at the heart of everything we do.” He explains how the firm’s ‘Thoughtful Design’ approach aims to exceed clients’ briefs, using innovation to think about users’ emotional responses, and cites the wide range of awards the practice has picked up as evidence of the success of this. Most recently, it was crowned Architectural Practice of the Year at the 2020 Building Awards, as well as Employer of the Year at this year’s AJ100 Awards.
While the approach has stayed very similar over the years, the technology available to help HLM architects “enhance the human experience” of designs has changed dramatically. O’Neil says: “We believe that the successful application of digital technology will transform the design and construction industry and more generally, bring significant economic, environmental and social benefits for all.”
When it comes to spreading the net of opportunity within the
firm, in 2019 it announced a new board structure. Managing director Karen Mosley commented at the time: “This creates more opportunities for some of our most experienced team members and rising stars across the country.”
Ysgol Pen Rhos, Llanelli
Ysgol Pen Rhos, Llanelli
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF DECEMBER 2020
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