Design Concepts for York National Railway Museum Central Hall competition

6a architects. Architecture practice founded by Stephanie Macdonald and Tom Emerson in 2001 based in London, United Kingdom. Illustrate in their projects a sophisticated experience of space, light and material, also using locations throughout their history. Their work is surprising through its sovereign sense of lightness and originality, without disowning any of its sobriety.

Stephanie Macdonald, studied Fine Arts at the Portsmouth School of Art. Following a scholarship in Japan, he studied architecture at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, the Royal College of Art and the University of North London. His experience before moving to private professional practice includes working with Tom Dixon and collaborations with Glasgow artists. He has lectured to the new creative industries in Berlin representing the ICA and the British Council.

Tom Emerson studied architecture at the University of Bath, the Royal College of Art and the University of Cambridge. He combines his professional practice with teaching at the Architectural Association in London. He has published articles on architecture, literature and art, and has taught at several architecture and art schools, including the Chelsea School of Art at the University of Cambridge, the ICA and the Royal College of Art.

Philippe Prost, after dedicating to research for ten years or so, was called for help in 1991 on a 15-year long adventure at the citadel of Belle-Ile-en-Mer. Today, he has gathered a team of about fifteen professionals as passionate and demanding as he is to work with in the long-term.The main features of their work are the respect for the site’s history and geography, a deep analysis of the programme issue, a constructive approach, the choice of sustainable materials, and finally a regular presence on the construction site.

The notions of memory and context are at the root of all the projects they carry on, whether on a large or a small scale. He is professor and president of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville. He has been awarded the Chevalier des arts et des lettres in 2014 and the Prize Equerre by the french group Le moniteur for the Memorial international Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.

In 2009 he was awarded the Prix de l’Equerre d’Argent awarded by the press group Le Moniteur for La Cour des Images, Bourg-lès-Valence. In 2008 he received the Prize for the architecture book for Vauban: the style of intelligence. A reference work for contemporary architecture. In 2004 he received an special mention in the Prix de l’Equerre d’Argent for Zac Réunion (housing), Paris 20th district.

From its inception, Heneghan Peng has adopted an integrative approach that combines architecture, landscape, and urbanism, working closely with engineers and specialists to address each project holistically. Their work is distinguished by sensitivity to the environment, topography, and cultural context, avoiding iconic gestures and prioritizing conceptual clarity and integration with the landscape. This philosophy has allowed them to develop a versatile practice capable of tackling projects of varying scales and typologies, including master plans, bridges, landscape interventions, and institutional, educational, and cultural buildings.

The firm gained early recognition in international competitions, winning several first prizes that established its reputation. These include the commission for the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2003, the competition for the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre in 2005, and the selection for the pedestrian bridges at the London Olympic Park in 2007. These early achievements demonstrated their ability to undertake complex, large-scale projects with a relatively small team, consolidating their global recognition.

Among their major projects are the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, currently the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization; the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre in Northern Ireland; the Central Park Bridges at the London Olympic Park in 2012; the Library and School of Architecture at the University of Greenwich in London; and the Mittelrheinbruecke in the Rhine Valley, Germany. Other notable commissions include the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit and various institutional headquarters and pedestrian bridges across Europe.

Heneghan Peng has successfully balanced large-scale projects with a detailed and contextual approach, combining technical rigour, environmental sensitivity, and architectural vision. Their trajectory demonstrates that global excellence can emerge from small practices, provided there is conceptual clarity, commitment to the context, and respect for local culture. The firm represents a model of contemporary architectural practice that integrates research, design, and multidisciplinary collaboration, establishing itself as an international reference in architecture that is attentive to landscape and context.