Stephen Witherford, Christopher Watson, William Mann. Witherford Watson Mann Architects

Witherford Watson Mann Architects is a London-based firm founded in 2001 by Stephen Witherford, Christopher Watson, and William Mann. Their collaboration began in 1997, when they took weekly walks through the peripheral landscapes of London, which inspired their research-based architectural approach and focus on transforming existing spaces.

Stephen Witherford was born in 1968 and studied architecture at the University of Cambridge. After a decade at Eric Parry Architects, he co-founded the firm. Christopher Watson was born in 1967 and also trained at Cambridge, working in various practices before partnering with Witherford and Mann. William Mann was born in 1966 and studied architecture at the University of Cambridge and Harvard, completing his diploma in 1991.

The firm specializes in the rehabilitation of existing buildings and the creation of public spaces that encourage social interaction. Among their notable projects are Astley Castle (2013), a restoration awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize, and the Appleby Blue Almshouse (2025), a senior residence in Bermondsey that also received the RIBA Stirling Prize and the Neave Brown Award for Housing.

With a team of approximately ten people, Witherford Watson Mann Architects continues to explore how architecture can support social engagement and improve urban quality of life.