From Bricks to Beer: An architect’s journey

DAN PRESS always knew he wanted to be an architect. Now he has worked on impressive projects such as Battersea Power Station and The Old Justice.

Dan Press always wanted to be an architect. Growing up surrounded by the rich built heritage of his hometown of Nottingham, Dan Press always knew he wanted to be an architect. But it was coming face to face with the Empire State Building, during a trip to New York in 2000, which cemented his ambitions.

Five years ago, he joined Purcell, an architectural practice specialising in heritage and conservation architecture with ten UK offices and four in the Asia Pacific region. Purcell’s varied portfolio has given Dan the opportunity to work on iconic landmark buildings like the recently reopened Battersea Power Station as well as smaller, community-driven projects. It was Purcell’s commitment to making a positive impact through conserving, reusing and modernising existing buildings that attracted Dan to the practice.

At Purcell’s London studio in Bermondsey Square, Dan is part of a team of 80 people. As a local employer, the practice actively contributes to Southwark’s economy and culture and are very much a part of the burgeoning creative scene. One of the local projects Dan is most proud to have worked on is The Old Justice Pub in Bermondsey, steeped in local history and just a stone’s throw away from the office.

Used by Sir Paul McCartney for his music video ‘No More Lonely Nights’ and film

‘Give My Regards to Broad Street’, the Grade II-listed, Tudor-style pub’s original design has been attributed to eminent pub architect Sidney C Clarke. Dan and his team were appointed by the LPA and Southwark Council to lend their expertise to the restoration, deemed necessary after damage to the original and distinctive wooden bar and paneling by developers.

‘For Purcell’s London team, restoring The Old Justice was about giving a much-loved place a new lease of life and purposeful future’ said Dan, who worked with Coniston and Blou Construction to return the historic pub’s interior to its original space: a move championed by locals, who led the petition responsible for the pub’s listing. ‘Being based in Southwark and Bermondsey has really allowed us to connect with local residents,’ he said. ‘It helps us to know what their needs are. As a local business, that’s important to us’.

Being able to walk into a finished, restored building is a part of the job that doesn’t get old for Dan, who is looking forward to visiting The Old Justice once it fully reopens.

‘I’m really enjoying watching The Old Justice come back to life’ said Dan. ‘We wanted to give it a stable future. There’s nothing more satisfying than projects like The Old Justice, where you can be a part of reviving a place to be used again by the local community’.

Reflecting on his career so far, Dan said ‘I’ve always known I wanted to be an architect, and growing up surrounded by history in Nottingham has definitely influenced my path to working at Purcell and within heritage architecture’.

Looking to the future of heritage architecture, Dan said, ‘I’m very interested in heritage and modern technologies: there is an interesting relationship between the two. For example, we’re actively engaged in using heritage as a driver for a sustainable future: where we once protected and rescued heritage for social and cultural value, we now also do so for carbon efficiency’.

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‘I’m really enjoying watching The Old Justice come back to life’ said Dan. ‘We wanted to give it a stable future. There’s nothing more satisfying than projects like The Old Justice, where you can be a part of reviving a place to be used again by the local community’.