M
Studio
MailenDesign is made up of a team of extremely talented and enthusiastic Architects and Designers spread across our Clerkenwell, London and Oxfordshire studios. We are young and energetic but bring a wealth of experience and commitment to producing highly crafted Architecture. Whilst still young as a practice we have produced a large body of built work, many of which have been recognised in major national awards.
All our team is creative while maintaining practical awareness; independent while being collaboratively strong. The core senior team previously worked for industry-leading international design practices and now capitalise on that experience to bring the best to all our work, whilst being grounded with the reality of construction and budget.
We are a young ambitious team, but bring a wealth of experience and ability from working on major Architectural schemes. As a team we capitalise on that experience to bring the best to all our work, whilst being grounded within the reality of construction practicalities and budget parameters.
Approach
We believe in an iterative and collaborative design process, testing out ideas thoroughly at every stage. To achieve the high quality that we aspire to we invest intense care in our response to every place and brief.
From early initial sketches, through to material choices, physical model making and on site testing we invest a huge amount of time in ensuring the final built product will live up to initial conceptual ideas.
We believe in the value of making things well. We have a passion for well crafted buildings and spaces and believe strongly in team work to ensure it happens. Our work is not complete until the building is occupied, and we continue to visit our projects long after they are built.
Craft
We have an obsession for materials and craftsmanship. We enjoy bringing inspiration and innovation to spaces, buildings and communities.
We are set apart by the quality of attention we bring to the entire Architectural process, while maintaining consistent creativity and diligence. We use traditional methods and the best in modern processes to explore and realise our proposals.
We care deeply about buildings of outstanding quality, whether we are working with a historic structure or proposing a new construction. We focus on craft in all of our work, offering a broad range of experience from a variety of sectors and building types.
Contemporary Construction
We are passionate about implementing modern methods of construction in our projects and are constantly evolving our research in off-site manufacturing. Modern CAD/CAM technologies have developed a great deal in recent years and their use in the construction industry are becoming more and more common. Working closely with builders and manufacturers we have been lucky to see the implementation of a number of pre-fabricated building technologies on a wide variety of buildings.
From a SIP panel and timber frame residential dwelling in Oxfordshire, to pre-fabricated formwork and ETFE panels at an eco-facility in Sussex along with numerous showrooms implementing the very latest in material cutting and assembly techniques, this way of working has delivered quality results in the finished product.
Our work developing our knowledge of new building techniques as they emerge allow us to design and plan for the construction of buildings with an increased control over quality, reduction in disruption on site and deliver a more sustainable construction process.
Heritage
Whilst we are passionate about innovate modern methods of construction and producing quality forward thinking Architecture, we also care deeply about the restoration and preservation of historic buildings. We hold a particular interest in sensitive contemporary restoration, in the fusion of contemporary well crafted buildings and spaces with preserved heritage assets.
Notable work within the heritage sector includes the full refurbishment of 1,600m2 of Selfridges’ Grade1 Listed store on Oxford Street, the refurbishment and extension of a Grade II 17th Century Castle in Northumberland alongside works to Listed buildings and in Conservation Areas across the UK.
We always look to balance a scholarly and respectful approach to conservation with an open-minded and sensitive design for elements of new construction.
Technical & Delivery
Whilst we have an inherent passion for craftsmanship, we are aware that the quality of a building, space or piece of furniture will only be as good as the design communication that is used to create it. For this we take great pride and enjoyment in the creation of our construction detail drawings. Considering how designs come to life and problem solving complex junctions and building arrangements before they arrive on site is held with the greatest value within the studio. Producing a building which is robust and performs within environmental conditions whilst being beautifully crafted is difficult. However we are constantly striving to use our knowledge and experience in building techniques to produce well built results.
On the majority of our work we deliver a full Architectural service, from concept through to delivery more often than not acting as contract administrator. We are often novated to a contractor within a Design and Build context and have forged great relationships with contractors and suppliers doing so.
Our background in project management also taught us that whilst producing clear, detailed construction information is crucial, the ability to adapt to surprises and unknown site conditions is equally important. This requires working together positively with site contractors and the wider delivery team.
Awards
Retail Week Awards - Best Non-Food Retail Design of the Year 2012 Domus Clerkenwell
FX Design Awards - Best New Retail 2012 - Shortlisted - Domus Clerkenwell
Design Week - Best Retail Interior 2014 - Domus West Showroom and Workplace
AJ/Derwent/Office Concierge - Future Reception Competition - Shortlisted
GLA New London Landscape 2012 - Old Street Green - Shortlisted
Casual Dining Awards - Best Designed Multiple Restaurant 2014 - Chilango Leather Lane
Build-It Awards - Best Oak Frame House 2016 - Shortlisted
Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2018 - Best London Restaurant - HAZ
BD UK Young Architect of the Year 2019 - Shortlisted
RIBA North East Awards 2019 - Shortlisted
BIM / VR & Digital Technology
The studio is fully BIM compliant and we are constantly updating our knowledge and ability in the use of digital software to deliver well coordinated information. The development of 3D digital Architecture and Engineering software not only assists the detail and delivery stages, but also allows us to better visualise our projects and more successfully communicate with our clients.
The use of virtual reality technology has completely changed the design briefing and project development stages so that spaces can be experienced long before they get to site. This allows us to problem solve at an early design stage, but also bring some joy and excitement into the development process.
Buildings and spaces need to be communicated in 3D in order to be fully understood. The implementation of the latest digital design techniques is allowing us to produce more and better information which is easily understood.
