1508 was an auspicious year for design. The Pope at the time invited the great and good of the art world to pitch for the commission of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and an unknown artist called Michelangelo turned up with a pencil and drew a perfect circle free hand. The Pope was so impressed that he commissioned him to paint the ceiling of the chapel. Hence the name 1508 London, which has a narrative-centred approach to design.
The interior and architectural practice was established around 12 years ago, working mainly with private clients in London. As the company has expanded its expertise has developed, and now the team also works on residential developments, hospitality projects and yachts.
Our foundation is as an open, expansive company and we are not led by a single design style
However, each project is completely unique and bespoke. To best assist clients abroad, 1508 London has opened several offices around the world, including, most recently in Singapore, Dubai and Miami.
‘It’s important to understand 1508 London’s ethos, which is perhaps different from other practices,’ says CEO and partner Stuart Horwood. ‘Our foundation is as an open, expansive company and we are not led by a single design style. We invest a lot of time in understanding our clients’ every need in order to best tailor a scheme to meet their exacting requirements.’
Each of the 100-strong team bring their own strengths, with charted architect and partner Laura Lockwood scouring the globe for the greatest design talent, all of who are able to bring a wealth of experience to 1508 London’s projects. ‘In order to work at the highest level, it is important to have huge experience and deep knowledge of design,’ she confirms.
In addition, the practice has a collaborative philosophy based around three core parameters. The first of these is the vision, which is driven by an overarching concept. The second is the sense of place, where the team takes into consideration everything from proportion and symmetry to materiality within the site context. Finally, there’s the transformational opportunity. In other words, the design team’s ability to interpret the brief and, crucially, deliver what the client wants.
‘We work on projects all over the world which look completely different one to another. However, if we analyse the common threads in all our commissions, it would be quality of materials, the attention to the details and immersing ourselves in the local vernacular and culture, but most of all, in our clients,’ says partner, Hamish Brown. ‘Private clients remain at the heart of the studio; residences we’ve designed range from beautiful townhouses in London’s Holland Park to penthouses in Asia and developments in America.’
There is also a separate, dedicated team for large-scale commercial schemes such as The OWO Residences by Raffles in Whitehall, Atmosphere restaurant at the Burj Khalifa (the highest restaurant in the world), and the Mandarin Oriental Beverly Hills. The company has also been awarded the job of designing the Cipriani Residences in downtown Miami – the latest in a lengthy roll-call of prestigious projects for this international outfit.
1508 London 7 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1BB
+44 (0)20 7802 3800
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