Acknowledging the need to rethink our use of building materials in relationship to resources, this year’s annual architecture symposium focused on the positive impact that rejuvenating, repurposing and refurbishing existing buildings has on both design and sustainability. The symposium explored the built environment through a series of talks and presentations by leading architects and innovators in the field. There were considerations of the role of architecture to protect and preserve and also the benefits of reconceiving existing buildings to give them new vitality and purpose. The day was divided into morning and afternoon sessions looking at the regeneration of buildings, both those regarded as iconic, and others less well-known, with examples of completed projects and those in concept phase.
Notable speakers included five Stirling Prize winning architects – Paul Williams (Stanton, Williams) Kossy Nnachetta (Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios) William Mann, (Witherford Watson Mann) Annalie Riches (Mikhail Riches) and Joanna Sutherland (Haworth Tompkins). Also joining the conversations were Barnabas Calder, author of Architecture: From Prehistory to Climate Emergency and Jerene Irwin (Chaplin Farrant) – the architects who will be transforming the old Post Office in Lowestoft to MESSUMS EAST, a thought factory on the most easterly point of the UK, the building rescued from demolition for this purpose and due to open as a significant new visual arts and cultural space in Autumn 2025.
Symposium Schedule
10:00: Arrival and coffee
Morning Session: Projects realised
10:20: Introduction: Peter Clegg (Founding Partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios)
10:30: Dr Barnabas Calder (Head of the History of Architecture Research Cluster, University of Liverpool School of Architecture)
11:00: Joanna Sutherland (Director, Haworth Tompkins)
11:30: Annalie Riches (Founding Director, Mikhail Riches)
12:00: Break
12:20: Panel discussion (Chaired by Peter Clegg)
12:50: Audience Q&A
13:00 – 14:00: Lunch.
Afternoon session: Projects in progress
14:00: Introduction: Fergus Feilden (Director, Feilden Fowles)
14:10: Paul Williams (Principal Director, Stanton Williams)
14:40: Kossy Nnachetta (Partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios)
15:10: William Mann (Director, Witherford Watson Mann)
15:40: Break
16:00: Panel discussion (Chaired by Fergus Feilden)
16:30: Audience Q&A
17:00: Keynote: Jerene Irwin (Director, Chaplin Farrant)
17:30: Close
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Image (top): Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings project by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
