News
March 2022
International Women's Day
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting a project with an all-women project team come together on a design for St Augustine’s Priory school, an Independent all through girls school (3-18yrs) in Ealing.
This included Kimberley Scally, architect at Paul Murphy Architects; Fiona Ballance, architect and Director at Paul Murphy Architects; Judith Carpenter, electrical engineer at Ingine; Olivia Battrum, structural engineer at Elliott Wood and Zoe Curnow, quantity surveyor at Mesh Construction Consultancy.
As part of wider engagement for the construction sector, the team gave a Women in Construction talk at the school in September 2021 to GCSE and A Level students. It was an engaging and lively session with plenty of questions for the team.
Over lunch, the group shared their experience of working in the built environment, the range of professions that are open and routes into the industry.
January 2022
St Christina's School
Tender information for Phase 2 works at an independent Catholic school, on a tight urban site just north of Regent’s Park, has been issued.
Our proposal creates a new entrance, relocates the kitchen and servery to create new offices and reconfigures the existing staff room and toilets.
December 2021
AJ Retrofit Awards
Paul Murphy Architects are delighted to announce Hand & Flower has been shortlisted for the AJ Retrofit Awards.
The project involves the refurbishment and extension to the former Hand and Flower public house, to form five new apartments with retail use at ground floor and basement level. A new three storey concrete framed rear extension forms two flats, one a duplex with a glazed “penthouse” at roof level.
November 2021
Small Sites Tool Kit
Merton Council have referenced Paul Murphy Architect's project, Malden Court, as an exemplar project for their Small Sites Tool Kit.
The project explored the potential of developing a number of new apartments at roof level on an existing residential development. The two existing three storey blocks are arranged parallel to an inner service road, with flats accessed from a number of staircases.
To find out more follow the link: Small Sites Tool Kit
October 2021
St Augustine's Priory
Phase 2 design work ongoing for St Augustine's Priory, an independent girl’s Catholic school, to create a three-form entry, for children between ages 3-18.
Our proposals involve a multi-phase approach which creates a new “atrium link block”, around which new teaching spaces are arranged, together with a new learning resource centre. This intervention will provide all of the growth needed in one phase, improve access to existing classrooms and provide a new heart to the school.
September 2021
The Value of Art in Healthcare Architecture
This piece was prompted by two related events firstly, an article in Art Quarterly authored by Catsou Roberts, Director of Arts & Health/ Vital Arts, Barts Health NHS Trust (www.vitalarts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11.-Opinion-Art-Quarterly-summer-2021.pdf). And secondly, having attended the virtual 2021 European Healthcare Design Conference, reflecting on the challenges of delivering the ambition of high quality art and architecture in the New Hospitals Programme and the current political climate.
To read more follow the link: The Value of Art in Healthcare Architecture
August 2021
School starts on site
Phase 1 works have commenced at an independent Catholic school on a tight urban site just north of Regent’s Park.
Our proposals involve a two-phase approach which creates a new entrance, relocates the kitchen and servery to create a new office area; the main body of work reconfigures and extends the early years accommodation at ground floor level with four new classrooms above.
To find out more about the project, click on the link below:
July 2021
Hand & Flower Kings Road
PMA are now able to share completed photographs of the redevelopment of the former Hand & Flower pub on Kings Road Chelsea.
The existing building was painstakingly restored, extended and reconfigured, whilst a new three storey extension to the rear remakes the street pattern with a handsome new Danish brick façade.
A glazed link marks the entrance to the apartments and articulates the junction of “new and old” and contains a bespoke steel and oak staircase.
Five new high quality dual aspect apartments have been created, many benefiting from roof terraces, with commercial space at ground and basement levels.
June 2021
Virtue out of necessity
Paul Murphy reflects on the Covid-19 pandemic, design and the NHS in his latest blog post.
As we have struggled to adjust to the present Covid-19 crisis and start to consider what the short, medium and long term impacts will mean for personal and professional lives, I have been fascinated to observe how the NHS has restructured to deliver its services in the midst of the pandemic. I have worked as an architect in the healthcare sector for over twenty-five years and this crisis has offered time to reflect on how improved strategic design of healthcare facilities could transform the NHS.
Follow the link below to read more. https://www.architectsforhealth.com/2020/07/virtue-out-of-necessity/
May 2021
Holistic Light Core
The Holistic Light Core aims to manipulate daylight as a dynamic material force, maximising the impact of light on the mental health and wellness of its users. This project is based around an innovative device, which enables light to affect the human body in a positive way.
Health in the urban contexts is in decline and London is in need of change. By harnessing the power of light, the aim of the Holistic Light Core is to establish a new people's palace within Mayfair, repurposing Saarinen's redundant US Embassy. This project would become a significant rallying point for the promotion of national health and wellbeing.
Further information about the installation can be found here: https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/about-us/news/architecture-students-work-shipped-to-venice-exhibition
December 2020
Independent Primary School, North London
PMA have recently received planning consent and approval to complete the Stage 3 design for the expansion of a Catholic Primary School from 1FE to a co-educational 2FE school.
The proposals include the remodelling of the school entrance, hall and dining facilities, together with the extension and reconfiguration of the Early Years Wing and associated external play areas.
Four new classrooms will also be created above the early years wing, together with outside spaces for external learning on roof terraces. The new extensions feature steel and cross laminated timber structure faced with brickwork.
November 2020
Ergonomics and Remote Working
Fiona Ballance was invited to join the Digiworkz panel of experts to discuss the impact of remote working on the future of workspace. The global impact of remote working has caused all business to reflect on their future ways of working and real estate requirements. It has also brought to the fore the wider implications on well-being, mental health and productivity of staff working remotely.
October 2020
IHEEM Conference
Paul Murphy, representing Architects for Health, chaired a design session entitled: Design - Life After COVID-19: How Does the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic Affect Future Health Infrastructure" at IHEEM’s Digital Week as part of the Healthcare Estates On Line conference, which ran between the 5th and 9th of October.
The presentation was given by Stavroula Koutroumpi, an architect and PhD researcher from the University of Cambridge, who explored “Human Behaviour and Thermal Adaptability as Catalysts for Zero Carbon Space Cooling in Hospital Wards over the Post-COVID-19 Recovery”, looking primarily at the design of hospital wards in tropical climates where natural ventilation remans the principle source of ventilation.
September 2020
School Competition
PMA teamed up with Graham Construction to submit a competitive two stage tender and design for a new primary school and nursery in Essex.
As part of the County Council’s drive to provide 20,000 new school places by 2027, the new one form entry school is designed to anticipate future expansion to 2FE, and provides state of the art teaching and learning facilities for the local community. Outdoor learning, sensory gardens and wildflower meadows provide a range of ancillary spaces.
August 2020
St Augustine's Priory, Ealing
PMA are delighted to have recently been granted planning consent for two major new interventions at St Augustine’s Priory in Ealing enabling the school to expand from 2FE to 3FE.
Flowing from site masterplan developed in close consultation with the all girl’s Catholic School over the last two years, the proposals involve the creation of a new teaching block which will link three separate buildings, creating a new heart to the school by arranging accommodation around a top lit atrium space. In addition, a new sports hall and changing facilities are to be created, bedded into the sloping site, providing sports facilities for the school and the wider community.
Construction is due to start in 2022 with completion in August 2023.
June 2020
Reflections on Covid-19, design and the NHS
As we have struggled to adjust to the present Covid-19 crisis and start to consider what the short, medium and long term impacts will mean for personal and professional lives, I have been fascinated to observe how the NHS has restructured to deliver its services in the midst of the pandemic. I have worked as an architect in the healthcare sector for over twenty-five years and this crisis has offered time to reflect on how improved strategic design of healthcare facilities could transform the NHS.
This article looks at the current context, collaboration with healthcare industry, pop up hospitals. the flexible use of facilities, technology and the wider ramifications of Covid 19 in the context of the climate emergency and impact on the built environment. Continue reading
February 2020
Architects for Health recognition
Paul Murphy recently stood down as Secretary of Architects for Health, after many years on the Executive Committee.
Chris Shaw thanked Paul warmly for his significant and valued contribution to the development of the society and wished him well for the future.
October 2019
We Have Moved
Paul Murphy Architects have joined The Building Society, a new collaborative workspace established by the leading engineering practice, Elliott Wood. Paul Murphy Architects are currently working with Elliott Wood on two school projects in London and have worked collaboratively with them over the last 10 years.
September 2019
Academy Completed at St Augustine's Priory
Our summer refurbishment project at St Augustine's Priory is now completed, enhancing the enjoyment of the four classrooms located within the 1960's addition to the school. Set within Metropolitan Open Land, the classrooms each enjoy a picturesque view of the surrounding oak trees.
October 2018
Her Majesty The Queen - The RAF Club Opening
On October 17th 2018, the Club's Patron, Her Majesty The Queen formally opened the new centenary extension designed by Paul Murphy Architects. Paul Murphy and Kimberley Scally were honored to be presented to Her Majesty for their involvement in the project.
September 2018
Trip to Porto
PMA have just returned from a study trip to Portugal’s second city , Porto. The striking thing about Porto is its topography: the city rises steeply from the banks of the river and our calf muscles were tested as we trekked up and and down the city’s many hills and through the “centro historico”. Six bridges cross the river, including two spectacular iron bridges by Gustave Eiffel and his protege: the latter featuring a high level tram and pedestrian crossing from which the complexity of the city’s landscape can be appreciated.
June 2018
The Royal Air Force Club Joinery
Joinery factory visit to view guest bedroom joinery including headboards, wardrobes, desks and bedside tables as well as production of the corian vanity for the guest bathrooms.
November 2017
10 Year Anniversary Celebration
We held a very successful celebration for our 10 Years Anniversary at the Ballroom of the RAF Club.
May 2017
St Martin's Le Grand Completed
UCL ISD offices at St Martins Le Grand are now complete with staff starting to enjoy the newly fitted out spaces.
