Hasta La Ideas

VDF studio profiles: Simone de Gale Architects is a London-based practice that works not just in building and interior design, but has also developed new material technology for the military and secured a masterplan project in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The studio was established in 2010 and has since taken on international projects in the US, the Caribbean and Croatia, as well as earning founder Simone de Gale the Architect of the Year accolade at the 2017 Women in Construction Awards.

Across sectors from residential to retail, hospitality and office spaces, the practice’s work is firmly grounded in theoretical, mathematical principles and the classical rules of architecture.

“Our style is manifesting research and development in beautiful craftsmanship,” de Gale told Dezeen.

“Based on these principles, our projects develop into an exploration of rhythm, pattern and repetition of form and material.”

One example of this is the studio’s conceptual Spherical Art Gallery design, which draws on ideas around pure geometry and the logarithmic golden spiral to create structural beams that are curved to support the building while creating expansive, open interiors.

“Our Spherical Art Gallery concept has evolved into a patented materials technology process called BASL, which is incorporated into defence armour,” explained the architect.

“The technology enhances the strength and blast absorption capacity of hybrid composite materials such as S2 Glass and carbon fibre.”

Beyond being used by the UK’s Ministry of Defence, it also provides underbody protection for civilian vehicles such as presidential armoured cars.

Currently, the practice is working on its first major international masterplan project in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, which is set to span a gross external area of close to 525 square meters and feature 3,000 new homes as well as commercial and public spaces.

As part of the West London Link Design group, the studio was also responsible for drawing up a feasibility design for the London Hammersmith Flyunder, which proposed the construction of an underground car tunnel across the west of the city to ease congestion while freeing up space for green zones and community spaces.

De Gale is the chairwoman of RIBA’s Audit and Oversight committee and was a keynote speaker at the institution’s 2017 Stephen Lawrence memorial lecture, bringing her career full circle as a recipient of the Stephen Lawrence bursary award during her studies at the Architectural Association.

She also spoke alongside Foster + Partners and Zaha Hadid Architects at the inaugural Architecture of the Future conference in Kyiv in 2018.

Studio: Simone de Gale Architects
Website: simonedegale.com
Contact address: info@simonedegale.com

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