Sergison Bates architects. Since the establishing of the practice in 1996, Sergison Bates architects have earned a reputation as one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, having successfully engaged with all dimensions of architectural and urban design rather than focusing on narrow specialisms. They are currently involved in a wide range of projects at different scales, ranging from urban planning and regeneration to public buildings and housing in the UK and mainland Europe.
Recent projects include a Centre for the Applied Arts in Ruthin, Wales and an urban housing development in Finsbury Park, London, both of which received RIBA awards in 2009; a public library in Blankenberge, Belgium; a care home in Huise-Zingem, Belgium; the London Sustainable Industries Park in Dagenham; a welcome centre and office building in Shanghai for the Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research; a rural housing project in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal and an apartment building and crèche in Geneva, Switzerland. The practice has well established links with associated project support offices in different countries, which provide an understanding of local cultural and legal issues and facilitate communication with clients and the supervision of work on site.
The work of the practice has been extensively published and exhibited and many of their buildings have won awards. The practice has also won international recognition for ‘innovative developments in architecture’ (Erich Schelling Medal for Architecture) and architectural excellence (Heinrich Tessenow Gold Medal for Architecture) and some of their projects were exhibited in the British Pavilion at the 2008 Architecture Biennale in Venice.
All projects are informed by a sensitive approach to place, the experiential potential of materials and construction and a concern for the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability. The practice is committed to a research-based approach, which is supported by the partners’ academic work and their participation in international architectural competitions and juries, and aspires to create an architecture that is contemporary and rooted in its context, at all scales.
Sergison Bates', 2G n.34, Barcelona: Editorial Gustavo Gili, 2005
Sergison Bates are an international practice in outlook and staff composition, and have numerous collaborative projects with international project partners. In September 2010 a second office was established in central Zurich in response to the growing international commissions received by the practice. The founders, Jonathan Sergison and Stephen Bates and partner Mark Tuff are closely involved in strategic design decisions on all projects and committed to cultivating a strong working relationship with clients and stakeholders in the development of all projects.
