Solidspace with Studio MUTT are winners of the Liverpool Townhouse competition. Participants were invited to design a high-density, land-efficient and deliverable family home that also provides private amenity space to combat the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Solidspace split level living model adapted to a townhouse provides interconnected social spaces in the home where family can come together whilst allowing different zones for living and working, and car free mews for safe play. James Soane of Project Orange and a judge of the competition said: ‘The idea of reimagining the familiar brick terrace as a vibrant, robustly constructed community is extremely compelling. Not only does it create excellent flexible homes, but it also proposes a traffic-free mews between the houses which is safe, family friendly and open. This shows that radical concepts don’t have to look futuristic; they can just improve and upgrade a model we all know and love.’  

Roger Zogolovitch is one of the contributors to the new book Architects After Architecture: Alternative Pathways for Practice, edited by Harriet Harriss, Roberta Marcaccio and Rory Hyde. Architects After Architecture reframes architecture as a uniquely versatile way of acting on the world, far beyond that of designing buildings. “In this volume, we meet 40 practitioners who have used their architectural training in new and resourceful ways. Together, they describe a future of architecture that is diverse and engaged, expanding the limits of the discipline, and offering new paths forward in times of crisis.” “Roger Zogolovitch became frustrated by the marginalised position of the architect – stripped of agency by the conservative forces of real-estate, planning, and construction. In order to recapture the ability to make decisions on his own terms, Zogolovitch swapped teams to become a developer. Here, Zogolovitch discusses his journey through architecture, and the various roles he has adopted, showing…

Solidspace with Allies and Morrison have been commissioned to develop a Small Sites Identification, Capacity and Design Study for Hammersmith and Fulham Council. The Study will help the Council realise its aims for future sustainable growth in the borough which is ‘of the place’ and deeply informed by its local character. It is intended that the Study will provide a robust evidence-based strategy for future growth and intensification, in the context of focus-areas, typologies, and small sites, helping establish how areas of growth can accommodate new homes and jobs sensitively and successfully.

Our director Sarah Allan took part in a discussion about the government's planning White Paper hosted by The Centre for London. The discussion included experts from boroughs, the GLA, developers, housing associations, academics, architects, planners, and community engagement experts, and will inform Centre for London’s response to the White Paper. Sarah stressed the importance of small sites making up 20% of the housing delivery targets for London but how difficult it is to deliver on small sites which come in all shapes, sizes and complexity.

Roger Zogolovitch will join leading minds at Messums LIVING WITHIN: Architectural Symposium which will consider the radical changes going on in the spaces we inhabit. From the context of both our own private and individual environments to how we will engage with each other publicly in the future, we have all become increasingly aware of the space we are ‘living within’. ‘A Place Apart’ is taken from a quote by Elisabeth Frink in relation to her studio, and the title of the studio exhibition, and is a panel discussion that will examine the private realm and role of architecture in a post-covid 19 society. Roger will chair the discussion joined by Fergus Feilden, Christina Seilern, Jessica Reyolds and Philip Gumuchdjian. You can book your tickets here (the event is happening both online and in person).

Roger Zogolovitch and Petra Marko gave a talk about disruptive housing models as part of the Architecture Foundation 100 Day Studio. Roger and Petra discussed the Solidspace split-level living typology, brand and customer, and its particular application on small sites and impact on wellbeing. They offered an overview of their experience of the barriers to small scale development, land, regulation and construction and discussed possible architect's role that disrupts the development and construction process to enable scaling up of good quality homes. You can view the full talk on the Architecture Foundation YouTube channel here.

Roger Zogolovitch joined Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of Royal Town Planning institute, Steve Quartermain, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Paul Finch of Architects Journal in the Architecture Club summer debate. With the government announcing the most radical reforms to the UK planning system since World War II as part of the PM’s ‘Project Speed’ plan the debate addressed whether the planning system was working and if it was achieving the right balance between creative place shaping, economics and regulatory control. The debate was chaired by Peter Murray. Photo: Roger Zogolovitch Shouldn't we all be developers? chapter on planning.

Last year, Solidspace bought the former duck factory building on 34-40 Eastdown Park, SE13 5HU. Together with our architects, ShedKM, we are preparing a planning application for a new housing development with commercial use on the ground floor. It will replace the previous owner’s planning consent (DC/18/105760), which you might be aware of from past consultations.  We would welcome your local knowledge of the sorts of commercial uses that you would like to see delivered at the ground floor and hear your views on our proposed scheme. You can email your feedback to joseph[at]solidspace.co.uk with subject ‘Eastdown Park consultation’. We will be also holding an online video presentation on 30.04.2020 at 5:30pm followed by discussion. You can register your interest to attend the video presentation by emailing joseph@solidspace.co.uk with subject ‘Eastdown Park consultation’. 34-40 Eastdown Park - a brief introduction The site is located in close proximity to local amenities such…

Solidspace will be at the Imprint book fair at The Building Centre during the weekend 30th November - 1st December. Come to our stall to get a copy ‘Shouldn’t we all be developers?’, ‘Collected Volumes’ and limited edition copies of the our manifesto – ‘Making it Different’, alongside Solidspace split level living 3d models. Imprint is showcasing a broad and international selection of contemporary publishing exploring the diverse ways people are using printed matter to think and talk about cities. The book fair at The Building Centre on Store Street will open on Friday night (18:00 - 21:00) and continue throughout the weekend 11:00 - 19:00 on Saturday and 12:00 - 17:00 on Sunday.

Solidspace founder Roger Zogolovitch said that allowing speculators to trade consented sites was eroding trust between developers and local communities at our Small Sites round table in London last week. This BD article captures more of the challenges and opportunities of small site development discussed at the roundtable, including the urge for more partnerships between the public and private sector to deliver housing on small sites.

Our director Petra Marko has joined this year's cohort of Design Think Tank Leaders at The London School of Architecture. We believe there is a role for architect-developers and engaging with architecture education from client perspective. Expanding practice beyond the role of architect is vital for the profession to stay relevant and we look forward to support the students in their research and design investigating how to unlock opportunities in the city.

Our design and brand director Petra Marko was judging this year's Architecture in Schools - a wonderful Open House initiative engaging children into how architecture can change our world. The awards ceremony took place at Canary Wharf East Wintergarden on Friday night. Well done to all the amazing primary school pupils, teachers and architecture practices! This year’s theme was smart city - with lots of thinking and proposals focusing on how we can create inclusive spaces and reduce impact on our planet.

Roger Zogolovitch was giving a tour of the Houseboat in the Dorset sunshine as part of the Open House last weekend. The Houseboat is a single house located on a site overlooking Poole Harbour. It is the winner of a the RIBA Stephen Lawrence Award 2017 and a South West RIBA Award 2017 and has been shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival Awards 2017. The design has been conceived as two upturned hulls propping themselves together facing the sea, and is built with an in-situ concrete base and a Douglas Fir timber frame constructed shell.

Our design and brand director Petra Marko chaired last night's #infracafe on circular economy at the Skip Garden, Kings Cross, as part of her role on the National Infrastructure Commission's Young Professionals Panel. The discussion unpicked how strategic policies from the GLA are adopting circular principles for new developments, how NIC’s advice can help shaping policies on waste, and how meanwhile projects can enhance local food production and serve the local community. Speakers included Joseph Henry from GLA, Anna Webster from Interrobang and Rick Wright from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).

Great atmosphere at our focus group session last night hosted at Mowat & Co with Jackdaw Studio where we quizzed people about their experiences of renting and buying in London, what home means to them and how they would imagine living in a split-level Solidspace DNA apartment. The Solidspace DNA is our trademark design concept that arranges spaces for eating, living and working over an open series of half-levels.