Architects Datafile (ADF) – June 2019

“I

t wasn’t the best time to set up a studio,” says Jason Geen,

studio leader at Apt. “We were founded in 2009 in the

months leading up to the world banking crash, and lack of

trust in the stock market.” Despite these potentially turbulent

beginnings under the practice’s former names – first Robin

Partington Architects, then Robin Partington & Partners – the

firm was a success.

Founder Robin Partington established the studio after having

spent his architectural career designing for renowned practices

such as Hamiltons and Foster & Partners, managing to secure a

series of large projects early on which went to propel the new

practice into the next decade, high profile examples include Park

House, a mixed use scheme opposite London’s Selfridges, and a

residential scheme in Paddington, Merchant Square.

“We never set out with a manifesto,” says Geen, who joined

the practice in 2011, “just as the studio was really beginning to

get into its stride.” From the beginning, the architects always

wanted the studio to develop into “a place of trust and fun; a

collaborative think-tank of all ages and experiences,” with a more

pragmatic shared aim of “being problem solvers.”

The architects’ recent rebrand – infusing the name Apt – marks

10 years of robust architectural output, amounting to nearly 30

projects, along with a set of other new organisational changes

and a renovated vision for the future of the studio.

A positive ripple

The studio began with Robin, the sole owner of the business,

who took on all the financial commitments. After a number of

years in operation, questions about success and succession, and

promotions and growth began looming: “How could we prepare

for this?” asks Geen rhetorically. “How could we adopt the John

Lewis model – of an employee ownership trust?”

He continues: “We live in this incredibly expensive city which is

undergoing huge change. What we wanted to do was to get into a

position where there was a completely fair structure; where if

you were talented, there was nothing blocking your elevation and

promotion through the studio?”

The rebrand was, for the architects, a way of reflecting their

A rebrand of a fast-growing practice gave

it a facelift and left staff re-energised.

Sébastien Reed speaks to Apt’s studio

leader Jason Geen

Apt Architects

PRACTICE PROFILE

WORKPLACE

1 New Street Square, a retail/office development in the heart of the City of London

saw the creation of an award-winning, landmark building

21

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