w: www.roberthirschfield.com e: studio@roberthirschfield.com t: O2O 7435 6O39
Of all forms of art, architecture offers man the answers to his immediate and legitimate everyday needs. It is a framework of life and practising it allows us to design whilst respecting the natural world and the place of man within it. Robert Hirschfield Architects is interested in the aesthetic and functionality of materials, of maximising the light and volume within the spaces we create, and to provide imaginative and costeffective solutions to the challenges presented by every brief. We are an innovative architectural practice and we will bring our knowledge of structure and form to explore your project. We would like to re-tell the story, re-interpret the site and re-visualise the uniqueness of the design.
www.roberthirschfield.com
About RHA At Robert Hirschfield Architects, we enjoy architecture because it presents us with opportunities for problem solving, and expressing our own visual style towards resolving challenges. It is a fascinating complex art embracing form and function, symbol and social purpose, technique and belief, acknowledging that designs may be diverse, potent and expressive but always dynamic in their response to use. We also enjoy mentoring and recognise the importance of teamwork in practice throughout the many stages of a project.
Right: Design based on creative thinking and rigorous analysis Bottom-left: Committed to design quality Bottom-right: Our projects respond to their context
Design Approach The practice has established a diverse portfolio working with private residential clients and gallery owners as well as undertaken several installation based projects. Each of our projects is unique, tailored to brief, budget and location. Our design philosophy is to treat each project as a response to the client’s aspirations and end-user requirements. In preference to a house ‘style’, RHA has a clear ‘philosophy’ that expresses a shared approach to design. We aim to achieve a unique and appropriate solution for each project, inspired by the site, brief and client. Guided by this philosophy, we approach design with intellectual rigour and passion, to produce spaces and ideas that are eminently practical and emotionally uplifting.
Right: Architecture as a framework of life Below: Designs may be diverse, potent and expressive but always dynamic in their response to use and space © Matt Clayton
Light and Volume Architecture cannot exist without light; without it there is nothing to see. On the other hand, volume and surface are the characteristics through which architecture is revealed and are instrumental in animating light. These two defining elements are how we experience architecture and are therefore fundamental in our approach to design. Together they manifest themselves in why we consider spaces to be journeys, both in terms of what one sees and how you move through it as well as the surprises you experience along the way.
Right: The eye is drawn upwards into a light-filled triple height void Bottom-left: Horizontal lines of porosity give glimpses of spaces beyond Bottom-right: A series of walnut clad balconies transcend the heart of this scheme Š David Grandorge
Materials and Textures A subtle difference in material or finish can alter the impression or perception of a design. We understand how and why it is important to choose certain textures and materials in order to communicate and establish the project’s individuality, identity and user experience. Our recommendations and selection of finishes are specific to each design and contribute a visual and tactile integrity to the overall effect.
Right and below: These images are from a project entitled ‘Soul’ where we worked alongside the artist David Breuer-Weil. The sculpture, executed in polished steel, represents the globe as a single human form in which man and the world become one.
Colour Colour is an expressive element in architectural design and can be used to emphasise the character of a building and create harmony and unity, or it can be deliberately contrasting to enliven or emphasise. It can also affect the way in which people respond to their surroundings and enhance a mood of calm or elation. Warm and cold colours play an important role in our lives and express very different moods and emotions. We experience them in the variations of daylight from morning to evening.
Right: The culture of travel and discovery can create deeply personal spaces Below: The energy of colour gives interiors a vibrancy and intensity
Kitchens If the home is a “machine for living�, then the kitchen is its engine. Kitchens not only need to be functional but also comfortable and sophisticated gathering places where food preparation and service can be an integral part of entertaining guests.
Right: Simple design can often be the most elegant Below: A good kitchen is also an ergonomic space Š David Grandorge / Matt Clayton
Furniture and Storage ‘A place for everything and everything in it’s place’. Where possible, we seek to incorporate built-in furniture and storage within our projects which can provide functional and at times playful ideas and offer colourful, interesting and innovative solutions in which the simplest and fewest elements are used to create the maximum effect.
Right: Consideration is given to how furniture and storage might be used Below: Detailing and materiality are considered in tandem © David Grandorge
Bathrooms If the home is a “machine for living”, then the bathroom is its soul. Bathrooms can sometimes be utilitarian spaces but given the opportunity they can also be a sanctuary or a spa that reflects the client’s individuality, meeting their personal needs and greatly enhancing their experience of every day living.
Right: Sophisticated fixtures and fittings can give the bathroom a luxurious quality Bottom-left: Bathrooms are designed to be calm and relaxing © David Grandorge / Matt Clayton
Light and Lighting Our attitude towards light and lighting recognises that architecture is dramatically illuminated through the handling of light itself and in its capacity to visualise a wide range of beliefs and values that could not be expressed with material form. Where possible natural light is a fundamental element of our architecture. When artificial lighting is utilised, it is designed to highlight and accentuate the architectural planes and nuances. When applied with great care, light and lighting can produce a space that is vibrant yet soothing, and with great spatial depth. It’s innate illusionary quality can be channelled to create an interplay of light and dark, warmth and coolness, drama and calm.
Right: Natural and artificial light offer different qualities depending on the time of day Below: Natural light illuminates and animates like no other Š Tom Scott / David Grandorge
Glass Modern day architectural trends have elevated the way we think about the role of glass in buildings. It is no longer simply a material for windows and the occasional door; it is a design component in its own right. We have tried to utilise glass in our projects as an important element in our approach to design so that it is not only exploited in grand public structures but fully integrated into the lives and homes of families. The beauty of glass lies in its simplicity, and we seek to show how it enables us to be enveloped by nature while living comfortably indoors.
Right: The use of glass increases the transparency of the building envelope Bottom-left: Working with glass is also about being interested in the light and the view (both inside and outside) Š Matt Clayton
Landscape At RHA, we consider landscapes to be about framing focal points and creating a design that gives attention to the primary visual elements. They also provide an opportunity to contrast between foreground and background, light and dark, rough and smooth, high and low, inside and outside. Regardless of scale, this philosophy underpins our interventions whether it be an internal or external landscape, a modest urban patio, or a substantial suburban garden.
Right: The garden is treated as another room of the house Below: Planters and decking provide a continuous flow of forms and materials Š Matt Clayton
Play We try to create spaces that are engaging, with varying palettes of texture and colour, in an attempt to capture children’s innate imagination. We believe that in creating imaginative environments, the “imagination” at play should be that of the child and not of the architect or adult. We also try to create ‘room to grow’ i.e. to design a space that is flexible and responsive to the developing needs and interests of a growing child - a space that can be a safe and familiar habitat from birth through to adolescence.
Right: The use of strong colour can translate into more individual spaces Below: Spaces can be rebalanced by integrating thoughtful interventions © Tom Scott / Matt Clayton
Small Scale Interventions Small scale builds are commonplace in the work of RHA. We are frequently asked to design fitted furniture in our projects, which we see as akin to an installation. One of the most intriguing requests is the staircase, which is a fundamental element of architectural design and essentially connects spaces vertically and visually. It can be both a powerful aesthetic statement and a unifying link within the upward/downward flow of a space and can dramatically liberate a spatial layout. Our projects are all bespoke and introduce warmth, honesty and a timeless quality of design.
Right: Clean sharp lines combined with engineering ingenuity Bottom-left: Imaginative use of materials and finishes Bottom-right: The eye is drawn upwards, into a light-filled triple height void Š Tom Scott
Delivery and Quality Delivering a successful project is about working with the right people. It is about negotiating skills, reliability, approachability and problem-solving. For RHA, it also means giving a great service.
We found RHA to be highly responsive to our needs and concerns and they displayed critical knowledge during all stages of the project. (Private Client) We have been very impressed by their approach to design and have enjoyed the iterative process of exploring all the options. We have found their service to be exemplary and have no doubt that this architectural practice will go on to become an established force in years to come. It has, and continues to be a pleasure working with them and we look forward to continued future cooperation. (Private Developer) Architecture is about making spaces and places for people and we make the most of a project’s resources and are able to deliver high quality and cost effective solutions for our clients.
Right: Obsession with detailing is a quest for perfection Below: Coordination is key in delivering high quality projects Š Tom Scott
Services The practice offers a range of architectural services, including the following: • Preparing feasibility studies • Developing preliminary and detailed design proposals • Applying for planning and other statutory approvals • Preparing construction information • Obtaining tenders for projects • Contract administration / Project Management • Interior design Within this range of services, the practice is fully conversant with Listed Building and Conservation Area issues.
RIBA London Practice of the Month
w: www.roberthirschfield.com e: studio@roberthirschfield.com t: O2O 7435 6O39