![]() |
||||
|
PROFILE | |||
What if: projects Ltd is an architecture practice based in Hackney and was founded by Ulrike Steven and Gareth Morris in 2005. Our work is focused in inner city areas and we develop ideas and strategies for more sustainable urban environments. We investigate neglected, forgotten and unloved spaces and develop opportunities these places can offer to communities, the city and beyond. Proposals for change are based on a detailed understanding of an environment and the people that inhabit it. Essential to the development and delivery of our projects is the engagement with local communities. What if: projects have extensive experience in initiating, developing and delivering projects from small low budget projects to larger scale strategic work. Over the past few years we have realised various site-specific works that engage with local neighbourhoods on a practical level and initiate environmental improvements that are responsive to the location, are usable and playful. Our proposals and actions for reoccupying urban spaces with new uses have been been published and exhibited internationally and we have received considerable media attention for particularly the VACANT LOT allotment project. From 2005 to 2011 Gareth and Ulrike taught a degree unit at the University of East London running a programme that mirrored What if: projects preoccupations with neglected, vacant space in the city and the possibilities these areas can offer. |
||||
| Gareth Morris Architect (ARB), FRSA Co-founder and director of What if: projects Ltd. Gareth has considerable experience in the building industry and has been actively engaged in a broad range and scale of building proposals and completed building projects. Prior to establishing What if: projects Ltd in 2005 he has worked for Sewell and Hawkins Architects principally on housing projects, both new-build and refurbishment including; domestic conversions/extensions, medium-sized private developments, mixed-use development schemes and large-scale housing development strategies. |
||||
Ulrike Steven Ulrike studied architecture at the Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany (1991-1995) and the University of East London (1995-1997). |
||||
PROJECT PARTNERS + CLIENTS |
||||
| Hannover Primary School, London North Kent Local Authority Arts Partnership Magnificent Revolution h2dance London Borough of Havering Design for London Family Mosaic Circle 33 Housing Trust Southern Housing Group Newlon Housing Trust Camden Housing Group Homes for Islington Groundwork London London Festival of Architecture Sustain, London Love London Shoreditch Trust, London Groundwork East London Include Regeneration Ltd, Liverpool Metal Space, London Shrinking Cities, Berlin Arch+, Berlin Slough Borough Council Surrey Arts |
||||
| AWARDS | ||||
| Shortlisted: Zumtobel Group Award 2009 |
||||
| Finalist: Biodiversity/Landscaping Award for: Vacant Lot 2008 Sustainable Housing Award |
||||
| Winning entry: Shrinking Cities-Reinventing Urbanism Competition 2004 with "Udder way team" www.theudderway.info |
||||
| 3rd prize: Honourable Mention Europan 7 competition Suburban Challenge Tallinn, Estonia, 2004 with Eike Sindlinger |
||||
| 3rd prize: Honourable Mention RIBA Urban Sustainability competition, 2001 with Eike Sindlinger |
||||
| Content of this website © What if: projects Ltd | ||||