Author: Matter

Christopher Robbins Woodland Walk at Leyton Jubilee Park has been shortlisted for the Waltham Forest Design Award. Recognised by the judges for its Exemplar Design qualities, you can now vote for it through the People’s Choice Award.

Slough Borough Council has consented the planned rooftop extension to Ditton Park Academy that will create a distinct new Sixth Form Centre for the school. The highly sustainable building will provide expanded flexible teaching and social facilities, which can also be used by the local community. See project here.

We recently held a successful design workshop, developing ideas for a new community storage and garden on derelict site in Walthmstow. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of William Morris Big Local, the Forest Recycling Project and dedicated local residents the project is generating a lot of support and excitement.

The Christopher Robbins Woodland Walk at Leyton Jubilee Park is now open to the public. Download the trail map (http://bitly.ws/L5Mk) to explore and learn surprising facts about the physical, natural, and social history of this wonderful place

A planning application has been submitted for rooftop extension of the existing school building to provide expanded and improved facilities for the Sixth Form in one location. The highly sustainable design creates a distinctive crowning element to the school and provides a range of flexible teaching and social spaces. See project here.

In his role with the Design Council, Matter Director Roland is attending MIPIM in Cannes this year as an invited speaker on three panels: partnership working, Inclusion & Diversity and Transport. Panel details here.

Waltham Forest and Matter have undertaken a series of consultation events to engage with the public and local community on our proposed improvements to Markhouse Corner. Feedback from local people will inform a preferred concept design idea that will be developed as the project progresses. See the consultation material here.

Matter has been developing an exciting new nature trail in Leyton Jubilee Park. The pillars are designed using low-carbon cement and recycled aggregates such as brick, limestone and glass.

Working with Churchman Thornhill Finch, Light Follows Behaviour and Ian Sayer & Co, Matter has completed the first stage public realm strategy and concept design options study for the Markhouse Corner neighbourhood centre in Walthamstow.

We are delighted to have been appointed by the SASH Education Trust to design improved facilities for two schools in Slough- Ditton Park Academy and Grove Academy.

Our project for new learning facilities to be built for The Grange Centre for People with Disabilities in Bookham has been granted permission by Mole Valley DC. The complex of new and refurbished buildings will provide a wide range of activity spaces to support the charity’s ‘Skills For Life’ training programme. See project here.

Ealing Council has adopted our Strategic Design Brief for older adults’ housing across the borough. The model was developed with social impact experts Mobilise and demonstrates how better housing design can reduce the need for health and social care.

Murdoch’s Connection bridge, with its landscaped public spaces, has been selected as one of only two Regional Finalists in the awards for the Yorkshire & Humberside region and is shortlisted for the national CivicTrust Awards 2022. See the project here.

The bridge won a Commendation at the 2021 BCSA Structural Steel Awards for Highways England, Arup, SH Structures, Tilbury Douglas Construction and Matter. The judges commented “it is not just a bridge but an integral part of a new urban public space”. See project here.

We’re working with Metropolitan Housing, Barnet Council, Mobilise and the residents of West Hendon to design a new community hub in a new housing scheme. We’re developing the layout of the space and helping establish the community organisation that will manage it once it opens to ensure sustainability.

The Architecture Foundation celebrates the work of Britain’s best new architecture practices in a book launched this week. A short film exploring Matter’s approach to designing with communities accompanies the book. See New Architects 4 here and see our film here.

Now named ‘Murdoch’s Connection’ (originally Princes Quay Bridge), the new pedestrian bridge designed by Arup and Matter is now open. As well as the distinctive canopy-suspended bridge the design includes new landscaped public spaces at both sides. It has already become a landmark in Hull’s identity. See project here

Matter is curating a programme of online seminars for the London Society on the future of London, together with The Assembly Line. The first seminar will explore the concept of sustainable and inclusive cities with Professor Moreno, the originator of Paris’s 15 Minute City policy, and will be chaired by Matter’s Roland Karthaus.

The Quality of Life Foundation, a pan-industry body established to improve the design of housing for health and wellbeing, has published an opinion piece written by Matter Director Roland Karthaus. It shows how the Foundation’s activities marry with our own research on intergenerational housing. Read it here

We are delighted to have been selected by The Grange Centre for People with Disabilities to design their new outdoor learning facilities at Bookham, Surrey. We look forward to working closely with the staff and people they support to co-design new spaces for a range of horticulture, creative arts and community uses.

Matter Director Roland Karthaus has been appointed as a High Streets Task Force Expert as part of a national initiative to support local authorities and communities to transform their high streets. Read about the Task Force here.

Matter’s Roland Karthaus and Zoë Berman of Studio Berman will present their shortlisted proposal for radically rethinking public space at The Developer’s Festival of Place Bytesize. The event is free and takes place on Wed 30th Sep at 9.45am. Register here.

In June, Matter’s Roland Karthaus was commissioned by Design Council and Joseph Rowntree Foundation to research a housing strategy for homeless people. A wide-ranging stakeholder group, including homeless people was convened online to work through the complex issues and a summary report published here.

Jonathan McDowell is acting as a judge and RIBA Architect Adviser for Network Rail’s competition to re-imagine stations in the 21st century as the interface between community and railway. The competition is in three stages, from open concept ideas through to deliverable detailed designs. See the Competition Brief here.

Matter will be included in The Architecture Foundation’s forthcoming publication on the best British architectural practices established in the past ten years

Before the COVID 19 outbreak, Matter’s Roland Karthaus wrote about the strengths of Walthamstow High Street, the challenges it faces and Matter’s work to enhance it.  Now, supporting the future of the High Street seems more critical than ever.  Article here

During January, Roland Karthaus will be chairing an RIBA seminar and discussion on recently published housing research and joining a panel to debate the tightening of the Greenbelt at Architect @ Work conference in London.

Matter has published the findings of a year-long grant-funded research project as an online resource. Local authorities, housing providers, the GLA and others attended a workshop to explore next steps to implementation. Matter are continuing to develop pilot schemes with Ealing and Camden Councils. See the research here

The new Princes Quay Bridge structure was successfully transported down the A63 and installed over the dual-carriageway in the centre of Hull on Saturday night. The extensive landscaped approaches either side will now be constructed before the bridge opens to the public in spring 2020. See project here. For time-lapse movie see https://youtu.be/eUF1iuoTYPo

Site assembly of the prefabricated steelwork for the new pedestrian/cycle bridge is now well-advanced on vacant land beside the A63 in the centre of Hull. The bridge structure will shortly be wheeled into its final position, spanning over the highway, before the landscaped approaches and public realm works are completed.

Cllr Robbins, Mayor of Waltham Forest officially opened the new Linear Park designed and delivered by Matter and artist Lucy Harrison on the 27th July. Peggy and Bert Webster, who lived on the street for decades before the houses were demolished cut the cake and local residents enjoyed herb-flavoured food and drinks.

Matter is sharing our research work with global audiences at international conferences in the autumn: we’ll be in Ghent, Belgium to present our award-winning work on improving prison design for health and wellbeing; and in London to present the findings of our intergenerational housing study at the Healthy City Design forum.

Following a successful funding application to the GLA supported by Matter, Ealing Council have now appointed us to develop a strategy for redeveloping outdated housing sites across the Borough. Nine pilot sites will form a first phase with a broader mix of provision and better service delivery through innovative design.

15 years after Director Roland Karthaus worked on the original masterplan for 3,500 homes, Matter have now been appointed to develop a placemaking strategy for Clapham Park in southwest London by Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing. The first phase, including public art and wayfinding will be implemented in 2020.

Matter Director Roland Karthaus and Penoyre & Prasad Director Gillian Horne worked together with the Design Council to provide training to Waltham Forest Council’s development management and planning team. The initiative is aimed at raising design standards in the borough.

Matter’s Roland Karthaus argues for housing to rediscover its purpose to support health and wellbeing for all in new industry journal Housing Today. Read the article here

Matter are delighted to have been shortlisted for BD’s prestigious ‘Architect of the Year Award‘ in the Education category for our series of projects that expand the early years and community outreach programme for Clapham Manor Primary School. These include expansion of a nursery, a new Family Centre and a new community art space.

In the Architect’s Journal Matter’s Roland Karthaus argues that the original Garden City movement has lost its way. Only by intensifying Garden Towns and Cities can the original visionary principles of healthy, sustainable living be rediscovered. Read the article here

Matter have been awarded a GLA Greener City Fund grant to expand community engagement in our project for Linear Park in Leytonstone with artist Lucy Harrison. Working with community gardener Carole Wright, residents will be supported to cultivate spaces within the new landscape, which will be planted during 2019. GCF website here

Matter have been appointed to join Mott MacDonald Sweco’s team as bridge architect for a green bridge and various other bridges which will be required to allow walkers, cyclist, riders, wildlife and vehicles to cross the proposed improved section of highway in the highly sensitive Cotswolds AONB.

Matter’s research work on prison design for health and wellbeing, has won the Ethics and Sustainable Development award at the RIBA President’s Awards in December. Our paper will be published in the Journal of Architecture in 2019. See the article here.

Construction of the £12m bridge over the A63 in Hull for Highways England has started on site. The bridge and extensive public realm works at both sides will greatly improve pedestrian and cycle connection between the city centre and waterfront. Matter are continuing to work with Arup on the design of the associated works. See project here.

Matter have been shortlisted for the RIBA President’s Awards for Research annual theme of Ethics & Sustainable Development for our work on wellbeing in prison design. The winners will be announced at this year’s President’s Medals ceremony in December.

See our entry here

Matter’s Roland Karthaus welcomes the new Age-Friendly Housing design publication and argues that a step-change is critical to making housing better for all ages. Read the blog here

Matter have been awarded funding by Innovate UK to research and develop an intergenerational housing model. As well as supporting our grant application, Camden Council have also commissioned us to develop a pilot intergenerational housing scheme in Camden.

Matter’s project to expand the existing centre was recently handed over and is now being enjoyed by the children, staff and parents. This is the first phase of our masterplan for the site, to better integrate it with the surrounding housing, health centre and public realm. See the project here.

Matter’s research and development work with the Ministry of Justice to improve prison design for health and wellbeing recently featured on a Radio 4 documentary (podcast here) and in Wired magazine (read here). Our design guide, funded by the RIBA and Innovate UK can be downloaded here.

As part of our Walthamstow High Street commission, Matter is helping Waltham Forest organise a competition to select an artist who will work with us to deliver a public realm installation. Proposals will be pitched at a public event on 16th September in the town square. See more here.

Walthamstow is a thriving town centre, at the heart of London’s first Borough of Culture and home to Europe’s longest street market.  A team led by Matter have been chosen by Waltham Forest Council to deliver a strategy and pilot public realm projects for strengthening and enhancing the High Street and town centre.

The local community in Castleford organised a day of celebrations and a photographic exhibition to mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of the multi-award winning footbridge designed by McDowell+Benedetti.

Matter have drawn up concept designs to convert an industrial building into a community arts space for Clapham Manor primary school. The scheme is being submitted as a bid for grant funding.

Jonathan McDowell is acting as RIBA Adviser on the recently launched international competition to find innovative design ideas to significantly improve the quality of future bridges across the rail network.

Harlow and Gilston Garden Town is a partnership of five District and County Councils delivering 16,000 new homes by 2033. Roland Karthaus joins the Quality Review panels for the Garden Town as well as Epping Forest District Council, launched this week. The panel will ensure the Garden City principles are embedded in new development.

Matter have been appointed to TfL’s prestigious ADUP framework for Transport Design, to support the Mayor of London’s regeneration programmes and other public sector funded projects in London.

FX design magazine features Matter Architecture in its March issue as ‘one to watch’. The international design magazine highlights leading designers from the fields of art, product design and architecture.

Jonathan McDowell has been appointed to join HS2’s Independent Design Panel- acting as an architect with expertise in bridge design to help HS2 deliver design excellence across the new national high speed rail network.

Matter Director Roland Karthaus and environmental psychologist Lily Bernheimer discuss their collaboration for the Wellbeing in Prison Design project in Architecture Today (February 2018). They propose that interdisciplinary working is key to providing for people’s health and wellbeing in the built environment.  Read the article here

Our winning scheme for Linear Park in Leyton is part of Making Places, an initiative funded by Waltham Forest Council to deliver creative projects across the borough.  Plot Lines traces the previous housing on the site in strips of lavender, with historic stories inscribed on plaques amongst meadow grasses and flowers. Full details here

Matter have been appointed by Waltham Forest Council to draw up a development brief for a site in central Walthamstow. The brief will unlock a complex, constrained site to deliver a new, mixed-use development at a pivotal location for the regeneration of the town centre.

Matter’s team including policy experts and an environmental psychologist have published guidance on prison design to support rehabilitation. Funded by Innovate UK and the RIBA, the team worked alongside the Ministry of Justice’s new prison programme and carried out primary research in HMP Berwyn. The report is available here.

Matter’s design for 7 new flats and two new houses on a tight former garage site in Hendon has won planning consent at Appeal. See the project here.

Jonathan McDowell has been appointed as RIBA Advisor on the design competition for a new community centre in Shinfeld, Berkshire. Details here.

Roland Karthaus has been selected to join the RIBA’s Planning Advisory group.  In his statement, Roland argues for reform of the online planning system, so that policies, plans and consents are more publicly accessible, transparent and predictable. Full details here

Construction work has started on Matter’s scheme for the expansion of childcare provision offered by Clapham Manor school.  The project follows a successful funding bid based on our masterplan for the centre and is due to open in early 2018.  See the project here.

Matter’s almshouse scheme for Pathways Housing Trust has been awarded funding by the Mayor of London to deliver genuinely affordable housing in Ealing as part of the Homes for Londoners programme.  A planning application will be submitted later this month.  See the project here.

Over the past year, Matter has been supporting Lewisham Council in planning the regeneration of Catford.  In July, the Mayor and Cabinet approved proposals to reconfigure the South Circular Road, which will radically transform the town centre environment.  We are continuing to explore the future of Catford with the Council. Details here

Matter’s Roland Karthaus argues for the critical importance of co-design in producing better, longer-lasting and more beautiful architecture in the latest edition of the RSA Journal – read the article here

Jonathan McDowell will speak at the conference and present our ‘Playing The Bridge’ project which, as part of Hull 2017 UK City of Culture, allowed people to explore the sonic potential and physicality of Scale Lane Bridge through a series of workshops, performances and audio-visual installation.

Lambeth Council has granted planning consent for our scheme to expand Clapham Manor Children’s Centre. This is the first phase of our wider masterplan to comprehensively improve the centre. Construction is expected to commence soon.

Roland Karthaus will talk about his current RIBA Research Trust Award work to improve prison environments for health and wellbeing at an international conference at the RIBA on 2nd June. Leading academic Yvonne Jewkes is convening the conference to share international expertise on reforming prison architecture.

Suffolk County Council have appointed Jonathan McDowell as architectural design adviser to support the design team on the design of the £73m project for a major new bridge connection for the town.

Following a successful funding application, Matter have now submitted a detailed planning application for the expansion of Clapham Manor Children’s centre. This building will form the first piece of our wider masterplan to comprehensively improve the centre and connect it with neighboring services and the community.

Matter has been awarded a grant by Innovate UK to improve the design of prison environments.  Working with an environmental psychologist, we will engage with the Ministry of Justice’s current Prison Estate Transformation Programme to embed design measures that promote health and wellbeing with the goal of reducing reoffending.

Sunday was a brilliant sunny day for people to enjoy hitting metal on Scale Lane Bridge. Hull Community Gamelan and York University musicians played Javanese gamelan on the bridge roof terrace. Led by composer Nye Parry, workshop members and The Assembled then played the brige itself to create an amazing sonic exploration.

Having helped secure government funding, Matter are now working with Clapham Manor Primary School to deliver the first phase of our comprehensive masterplan to expand one of their children’s centres.

Workshops on 25/26 February explored the sounds and engineering of Scale Lane Bridge in preparation for 26 March performance and audio-visual installation in April organised by composer Nye Parry, artist Madi Boyd and Matter. Participants included students from York and Hull universities, Hull Community Gamelan and City of Culture Volunteers. Event information can be found here:  https://www.facebook.com/PlayingTheBridge/

Jonathan McDowell spoke about bridge design at Architect@Work on Wednesday 25th January 2017 at Olympia London