The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects

Newsletter Issue 23 - February 2011

From the Master

This first newsletter of 2011 gives me an opportunity to look back over the first few months since my
installation and forward to the months ahead. In September I spoke about our affinity with the Royal Town
Planning Institute and about increasing our membership, and I set down a challenge for each current member
to introduce one new member during my term of office. In connection with this, I'm delighted that Ann
Skippers, now Immediate Past President of the RTPI, has agreed to join us and has now been elected and
installed as a Freeman of our Company. Elsewhere you will see others reported but I single Ann out as a non
architect, allied professional in the hope that this will encourage others, and perhaps more planners. One new
member for each of us should not be too difficult, so please help mark my term of office by an encouraging
response.

The well attended Master's reception visit to Spencer House and get-together at Davy's wine bar was I think
very successful - an outcome which I believe can be credited to the value-for-money philosophy I expounded
in September. We had an excellent turn-out and I think the Gold Palm Room alone, was worth the price.
Likewise the proposed trip to Valencia in May has been fully booked and my only worry now is managing the
size of our party. All this I find very encouraging and I will continue to do my best in striving to offer value-
for-money. Having said that, we have much less flexibility in the control of luncheon and dinner costs -
increases in food costs generally and the rate of VAT do not help.

Over the past few months I have been representing the Company at various City events doing my best to
attend all that is offered and ensuring that the Company is recognised as an active participant in the Livery
scene. Wherever possible Valerie will accompany me and I'm pleased and proud of the effort she makes on
our behalf.

A particular event I would like to mention was the recent launch by the City Architecture Forum, of their
book City Architecture, highlighting new modern buildings constructed in the City over the last 20 years. The
book includes contributions by Past Master Richard Saxon, Company member Frank Duffy and our good
friend Paul Finch and illustrates an impressive collection of buildings. My interest in Architecture has not been
dimmed by age and retirement and it all persuaded me that I should apply to join the City Architecture
Forum, if they will have me. In many ways the event was also a timely reminder for me that I am an architect,
that was how I was made- and events such as lunches, dinners,receptions and the like, enjoyable as they
undoubtedly are, serve a different side of the profession. This is a side which includes fraternity and charity
and is such an important part of our activities. It continues to surprises me that the single mindedness,
determination and skill necessary in designing a quality building cannot often be found to embrace this other
side of our profession, but perhaps that's human nature. Being a well-known architect, perhaps even
admired, will always attract younger members of the profession and this brings me back to the Membership
issue again, as it is those younger members that we need most of all.

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News from the Court
A new year saw new members admitted to the Comp-
any. Dr Stuart Le Sage and Kees van der Sande
were admitted to the Livery and Philip Cooper and
Ann Skippers (pictured below) were admitted to the
Freedom of the Company. A bit of biographical detail
about the two new Freemen follows.
Both are most welcome as is our new indentured
Student Linda Hagberg who was bound (in City
parlance) to Mentor Richard Biggins.
Linda, seen above receiving her copy of the Indenture
from the Master is a Swedish architecture student who
graduated with an honours degree from University of
Westminster and the RMIT( Royal Melbourne Institute
of Technology). Her work was short listed for the
CLAWSA award. She worked for Birds Portchmouth
Russum Architects in London before joining the
Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, where she is
currently completing her diploma studies in Unit 20.
Her interests include travelling, scuba diving, skiing,
horse riding, fashion and photography.
The Court was pleased to learn that the proposal to
construct the new Aldgate Arch - resulting from the
architectural competition held last year is still on the
cards in what is an increasingly difficult fund raising
market. While we enjoy the support of a number of
other Companies, the commercial sponsorship of the
project still needs to be secured to enable the project
to proceed.
It has been decided that additional suport should be
given from Charitable Trust funds to the architectural
student community in London through the offering of
four £225 student drawing prizes. Each school in the
region will be invited to submit two drawings - one
from a Part 1 student, the other from Part 2.
A copy of the recently published book from the City
Architecture Forum stable was passed round. The
Company, as sponsors of this publication has acquired
a number of copies which are available to members at
the (almost) cover of £20 plus packing and postage of
£2.50. Orders to the Clerk please while stocks last.
The meeting finished with a question from Past Master
Michael Welbank about the progress of the Company
bow tie order. The Clerk advised that he was currently
considering writing a book on the saga outlining the
problems which have plagued this particular capitalist
venture. These range from the makers misreading the
order and producing pre-tied items; the breeding
difficulties which have beset the Chinese silkworm
industry; the lack of manual dexterity of those taking
on the challenging task of cutting cloth to a template;
the loss of a subsequent replacement batch of cloth in
a typhoon (or some such Act of God) while in transit
between the silkworms (who have since recovered
their customary fecundity) and the cutting room floor
and the singular misfortune of the late bow tie makers
based (prior to their untimely demises) respectively in
Nottingham and Norwich. It is hoped that the ties will
be delivered before the book is printed.
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PHILIP COOPER BArch,
RIBA, architecteDUDL
(France) FRSA
Philip took a First Class hon-
ours degree from Liverpool
University winning, in his final
year, a Holland Hannen &
Cubitts travelling scholarship.
Experience with the GLC,
Lewisham Architects Depart-
ment, the DoE, Farrell &
Grimshaw, and a couple of other practices preceded a
move into the then (for architects) unexplored areas of
commerce. His interest in residential developments led
to the setting up Portland Homes and his becoming the
first 'commercial architect' under the RIBA rule change
in 1983. The company built a reputation for small
brownfield developments within existing communities.
They survived the recession of the early 1990's incor-
porating on the way, a company to build social housing.
Having sold the company in 2001 he remained as Man-
aging Director for a number of years. Since retirement
he has worked as a consultant. He now describes
himself as 'a pro-active client for a Code 5 PassivHaus
designed by my architect son in the grounds of our
present house in Blackheath'.
Philip is registered as an architect in France, has served
on the council of the South London Society of Archi-
tects, sat on local conservation and design review
panels and is a member of the London Architectural
Forum. Interests include The Blackheath Society, the
Greenwich Oenological Society, Friends of Greenwich
Park and a variety of sports and foreign travel.
ANN SKIPPERS BSc,
PPRTPI, FHEA FRSA
Ann Skippers is a chartered
town planner and Immed-
iate Past President of the
Royal Town Planning
Institute. She is an Affilaite
member of the RIBA
Ann began her career in
local government and has spent time teaching and
lecturing most recently for the Open University.
She currently runs Charisma Spatial Planning with her
husband Clive Hollyman. They have a varied client
base and specialise in interim management, planning
applications and appeals, troubleshooting and negot-
iation. Ann also works as a non-salaried planning
inspector.
Last year as RTPI President, Ann represented the
planning profession at various conferences and events
in the United Kingdom, Ireland, The United States and
Canada and is an acclaimed public speaker on planning
issues. As a strong advocate for the planning profession
Ann regularly writes on planning matters for various
publications. She is currently updating the planning law
chapters in a new edition of Estate Management Law, a
textbook for students to be published in the Summer.
Ann has recently been asked to join Caroline Flint's
Housing Policy Review group as an independent
expert.
Although born in Glasgow, Ann spent her formative
years living in Mallorca where her family is still based.
She currently lives in Chelmsford, Essex with her
husband Clive and a large orange tomcat called Tigger.
Recent Events
The Master’s Reception in early November took
the form of a visit to Spencer House the sumptuous
Spencer family ‘London home’ in St James’s. Built
between 1756 and 1766 to designs of John Vardy and
James 'Athenian' Stuart this is London's finest surviving
18th century town house /private palace. Few will
forget Vardy’s extraordinary Palm Room - all elegant
Palladianism - or the contrast offered by Stuart’s neo-
classical Great Room on the upper floor. With much
more and lots of original furniture on display, the tour
was a real treat.
The visit was followed by a wine bar reception which
allowed for discussion on the merits of the two arch-
itects’ input, the effects of the work of later inter-
ventionists and a good amount of normal social chat.
The new formula for the Company’s annual Carol
Service in December proved to be a great success
with upwards of 80 attending the service at St Law-
rence Jewry led by our Honorary Chaplain - Canon
David Parrott. In the course of his address he gave into
temporary care of selected members of the congreg-
ation a number of small woolly sheep - visual aids to a
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point he was making about the privileges of being a
Liveryman of the City. The jury is still out as to why
the one black sheep in the bag was allocated to Patricia
Stefanowicz. The service was followed by a buffet
supper with wine at the back of the church. This was
attended by 65 members and guests - a convivial
occasion which proved very popular.
The meeting of the Court on 25 January was followed
by a Court and Livery Lunch at Cutlers’ Hall. The
Master was pleased to welcome a number of his pre-
decessors and our Honorary Liveryman Alderman Sir
Robert Finch. The toast to the guest was responded to
by the Master of the Innholders’ Company.
Coming Events
The principal social event in the Company’s year - the
annual Livery Banquet is to be held in the splendid
surroundings of Merchant Taylors’ Hall on Wednes-
day 23 March. A calling notice has been sent and a
good attendance is encouraged. It is some years since
the Company last visited this hall where the Merchant
Taylors have been based for over 650 years. Some
rebuilding was necessitated by both the Great Fire and
WW2 but the Great Kitchen is said to have been in
continuous use since 1425. One suspects that the
equipment has been upgraded from time to time to
satisfy generations of health and safety inspectors and
their forebears.
The Master’s principal guest is to be Sir Alexander
Graham GBE who was Lord Mayor in 1990-9.
The meeting of the Accounts Court - Tuesday 3 May
is to be followed by a low cost social gathering in a
wine bar near Guildhall primarily geared to the Com-
pany Students and their Mentors. Details will be sent
out shortly.
The long-awaited and eagerly anticipated Company
visit to Valencia (Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 May)
is, happily, fully booked. The Master is to make a furth-
er visit at the end of March to ensure that all arrange-
ments are in place and that alternative attractions are
available to those not interested or able to get into the
visit to the office of Santiago Calatrava.
Thanks to the generosity of the Rolfe Judd Partnership
we once again have the use of the SB Ardwina for a
lunch and talk on Wednesday 8 June. The speaker
is to be Adrian Barlow - a Senior Member of Wolfson
College, Cambridge and a lecturer in English and Arch-
itecture for the Institute of Continuing Education. His
subject will be Charles Eamer Kempe and GF Bodley.
Kempe, (1837 - 1907) was a famous Victorian stained
glass designer. After being thwarted in his desire to
enter the priesthood by a severe stammer, he decided
that "if I was not permitted to minister in the Sanctuary I
would use my talents to adorn it", and went to study
architecture with the firm of George Frederick Bodley,
where he learned the art of decorating church walls
and ceilings. During this part of his life he was making a
serious study of mediaeval stained glass, and opened
studios of his own in London and Lindfield, Sussex,
supplying not only stained glass to Bodley's firm but
also furnishings and vestments. By 1899 he had over
fifty employees. Sadly, a lack of orders caused by the
Great Depression ended the firm's life in 1934.
There is a connection to the City - Kempe’s grand-
father, Sir John Eamer, served as Lord Mayor in 1801.
The visit to the Lutyens house Goddards and its
Gertrude Jeckyll garden takes place on Thursday 16
June. This has been arranged through the good offices
of Dr Mervyn Miller and his close association with the
Lutyens Trust. There is likely to be pressure on places
so an early reply is recommended.
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Common Hall for the election of the Sheriffs will take
place on Friday 24 June. This will be followed by a
lunch - probably at Founders’ Hall. It is important that
Liverymen note this date as the election is likely to be
contested again with an Alderman and two lay candid-
ates vying for two positions. It is hoped that the issue
will be decided by a show of hands on the day provid-
ed that there is demonstrable support for the alder-
manic and one other candidate. Please plan to attend.
The annual Service at St Lawerence Jewry and Elect-
ion Court Dinner at Salters’Hall is scheduled for
Tuesday 8 July. Further details will follow.
The Master is finalizing details for an end of August
visit to Chichester. Details will be made available as
soon as possible.
The Installation Court Lunch will be at Armourers’
Hall on Monday 12 September following the instal-
lation of the new Master on that morning.
Stephen Wagstaffe and Patricia Stefanowicz will wel-
come more volunteers to help steward those City
Churches which are opening during Open House
Weekend - 16 - 17 September. If you feel that you
are able to spare a morning or an afternoon over that
period please let the Clerk know.
It’s tough work but .....
Pictured above are those charged with the onerous
responsibility of selecting the winner of the New City
Architecture Award for 2010 (from left to right, Paul
Finch - Chairman of the Assessors - the Master, Stud-
ent representative Michael Bailey, the Clerk, Howard
Copping and Mervyn Miller). The projects inspected in
the course of a 5 mile route march led by the Clerk
were, in no particular order:
Relocation and restoration of the St Lawrence Jewry
Drinking Fountain by the Street Scene Team at the City of
London Corporation.
Bow Churchyard - Street Scene Enhancements by the
Street Scene Team at the City of London Corporation.
29-33 King Street - new office building behind a
partially retained façade by EPR Architects.
Princes House, 93-95 Gresham Street and Bartlett
House, 9-12 Basinghall Street - redevelopment behind
lasted façade to provide retail and office space - Rolfe
Judd Planning
Drapers Gardens , 12 Throgmorton Avenue by Foggo
Associates - new office and retail development.
The Walbrook - office and retail development by
Foster + Partners.
New Court - an office development by OMA.
Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane. New office building by
David Walker Architects.
155 Fenchurch Street - an office development by
Darling Associates.
The St Botolph Building - new offices by Grimshaw
Architects LLP
The Writers, Spitalfields at 120 Middlesex Street and
12-18 Artillery Lane - a retail/restaurant and residential
development by ORMS Architecture Design.
Broadgate Tower and - 201 Bishopsgate - office
development by SOM.
The results will be announced and the certificates
presented to the winning developers, architects and
contractors at the Livery Banquet next month. Any
views you may express to the editor are unlikely, at
this stage, to influence the judges.
The Charitable Trust
REPORT FROM THE CHARITY STEWARD
In September, in order to obtain more donations to
the Charitable Trust Fund, the new Charity Group cir-
culated a letter to members not currently contributing
to the charitable giving to the Company. This met with
some success. Responses to the letter and follow-up
calls bring contributors to the Trust Fund up to about
44% of our total membership.
I would like to encourage all members to donate when
and if they can as it assists students, hardship funding,
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selected restoration projects, the RNLI and many
other causes. Your donations can be on a one-off or on
a regular basis. But whatever you can manage, all
donations are welcome and help us to support the
charitable activities of our Livery.
Any ideas on how the Fund might be enhanced will be
welcomed and considered by the Charity Group.
Thank you in advance for your welcome and generous
support!
Jane Lamb: Charity Steward
Freedoms of the City
Following their admissions to the Freedom of the
Company Kees van der Sande and Yasmin Shariff
cleverly managed to arrange to take up their respect-
ive Freedoms of the City on the same day - an event
witnessed by the Clerk.
It has become something of a tradition for Master’s
Ladies to take up the Freedom of the City as well -
pictured below is the Master’s wife Valerie supported
by her husband, daughters Lesley and Elisa, Deputy
Michael Welbank and the Clerk.
From the Chaplain
Messiah from Scratch
St Lawrence Jewry, the Company church, is part of
a group in the City called Bank Churches. Bank
Churches are organising a ‘Messiah from Scratch’ at
which all are welcome. The date is 24th March at St
Mary le Bow on Cheapside at 6.45pm. Wine will be
served and there will be a chance to sing some
popular extracts from the oratorio. There is no
charge but donations will be invited to cover the cost
of scores and refreshments. It would help if you can
let us know if you would like to come along on
info@stmarylebow.co.uk.
where will it all stop?
Thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of Howard
Copping the Company now boasts a web site, a blog
and, in ways not fully understood by the Clerk, has a
Facebook connection. We are adapting to the future.
Some Companies now accept events booking and
payments only on line and send out precious little by
post. Given the ever increasing cost of even second
class stamps this is hardly surprising.
Please recognize Howard’s work - log on to the blog
and respond, if so minded, to the posts which we put
up following each event. You could have expressed
your views on the schemes being visited by the Award
assessors recently or you could air your views on
recently completed buildings, those under construction
or on matters of architectural interest gleaned on your
holidays for the benefit of Company members who
will be deeply grateful that you have taken the trouble
to boost their CPD input. The Master, with some
family help, has posted a a record of his visit to York
for the Guild of Building Dinner - all set to music.
David Cole-Adams
The Clerk
The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects
82A Muswell Hill Road
London N10 3JR
www.architects-livery-company.org
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