Six houses shortlisted for the prestigious Manser Medal for best British house design of the past 12 months have been announced by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The award has been offered since 2001 and is sponsored in 2014 and 2015 by specialist insurer Hiscox. Their sponsorship is a reflection of the knowledge they hold in terms of insuring properties and their appreciation or forward thinking design and creativity. Hiscox are regularly called on to insure properties built from cutting edge materials so they are well equipped to take part in the judging. Their honorary president Robert Hiscox will be part of the judging panel in both years. Continue reading →

As a particularly inventive firm of professionals dealing with public, residential and commercial architecture, we have gained a reputation for our determination to create the most unique structures. We deliver work that is based on our deep belief that the cultures and landscapes we find across the surface of the earth can effectively contribute to the way we design and construct new architecture. 15 years ago, Phil Coffey conceived of the idea to amalgamate his personal passions of travel and photography in order to scour the globe and acquire a unique collection of photographs to inform the work of our practice. Continue reading →

All over the world there are architectural marvels that many people don’t get the chance to see, mainly because of access limitations, whether it is the stretches of tunnels underneath the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, grain stores in Vienna, or the defunct TWA terminal at JFK Airport in New York. Many of these structures are significant, either because of the design, the role they originally played or the reflection they hold of the period in which they were built. It is a shame that there are very few or no opportunities to see many of them. Continue reading →

The architecture of London is rich and varied, showing examples from various periods in its history. The city is one of the most popular in the world but a lack of space is leading to some innovative ideas that can solve the problem. Whilst the city is running out of land to expand outwards there is still plenty of room to build up. A new concept design for a 300 metre tall skyscraper that can house an entire city has been released bringing new discussion to how space in busy cities can be used. The design is called the Endless City. Continue reading →

If we think of an architect we probably do not immediately categorise them with other creative individuals such as artists and composers. In reality however, architects have to be creative visionaries as their work can have long life and lasting impact. When we doodle pictures of houses as young children we pay attention to every detail down to the curtains at the windows and the smoke that escapes from the chimney. Architects essentially create those houses and buildings that the rest of us see only in our mind’s eye. Continue reading →

Many architects call London their home, including Coffey Architects. The wide range of commercial architecture in the city ranges from the breathtakingly classic and timeless Houses of Parliament to ultra-modern structures such as The Shard and London City Hall. You can trace the history of the city throughout the centuries by looking at the hugely diverse range of commercial architecture. Continue reading →