BD spoke to some of the biggest names and delved into many of the most critical issues facing architecture this year - take a closer look

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Architecture is an industry brimming with larger-than-life characters, each with a distinctive perspective and a story that reflects their passion, vision, and determination to shape the built environment. It’s a field where creativity meets leadership, and where individual contributions often leave a profound mark on the world around us.

Over the course of 2024, BD had the privilege of engaging with some of the most influential figures in the profession. From experienced practitioners whose work has significantly influenced the discipline, to forward-thinking leaders driving innovation and reform, we explored the minds and motivations of those shaping the future of architecture.

Tom Lowe had the opportunity to interview Diane Hoskins, the co-chair of Gensler, the world’s largest architectural practice, delving into her strategies for global leadership and the challenges of managing design at such an extraordinary scale.

Ben Flatman conducted in-depth conversations with RIBA Gold Medal winner Lesley Lokko, whose work as an educator and industry leader continues to push boundaries. He also spoke with the CEO of Adjaye Associates’ London studio, uncovering insights into one of the world’s most prominent practices.

Below, we’ve curated a selection of BD’s standout interviews and practice profiles from the past year. These pieces capture the ideas, ambitions, and spirit that define the industry’s most dynamic players.

Take a moment to explore the highlights and gain a deeper understanding of the individuals and practices that were shaping architecture in 2024.

Adjaye London CEO Lucy Tilley: ‘We’ll work even harder to carry on our legacy. We’ll keep going’

Paul Clarke

Source: Paul Clarke

Ben Flatman talks to the new London CEO about her vision for the future, the allegations that threatened to bring the practice down, and the resilience that she says helped it survive.

Chris Williamson: ‘I think we can do a lot for young architects – they need all the help they can get’

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Ben Flatman talks to the founder of Weston Williamson + Partners about the role RIBA has played in his career, the importance of lifelong learning, and why he wants to help the next generation of architects get a leg up in the profession.

Joe Morris: What’s wrong with the planning system and why we must take a stand against hostility in the workplace

Morris + Company

Source: Morris + Company

Ben Flatman talks to Joe Morris about the complexities of the planning system and the importance of workplace civility.

Alex Ely: ‘Architecture is so central to our culture - it’s a pity it doesn’t seem to gain the traction it deserves’

Mae

Source: Mae Architects

The founder of the Stirling Prize-winning Mae Architects shares his influences and inspirations with Ben Flatman and concludes that his profession still has much to offer.

Inside Gbolade Design Studio: A new era of architecture where the only way is ethics

Tamed Designs

Source: Tamed Designs

Ben Flatman talks to Lanre and Tara Gbolade about setting up their practice and their vision for architecture as a tool for social and environmental change.

Henley Halebrown: ‘We are genuinely interested in how people use buildings’

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Source: Henley Halebrown

Simon Henley and Gavin Hale-Brown met at the University of Liverpool in 1986 and have been friends ever since, forming their award-winning practice together in 1995. Here Ben Flatman discusses their early influences, design philosophy, and commitment to improving access to the profession.

‘It’s high time for Africa to set its own agendas’ – An interview with Royal Gold Medal winner Lesley Lokko

Debra Hurford-Brown

Source: Debra Hurford-Brown

On the day she receives the Royal Gold Medal, Ben Flatman talks to Lesley Lokko about her varied career and her hopes for the future of African architecture.

Jonathan Smales: ‘I love the tangibility of building. I like the fact it’s got a beginning, a middle and an end’

Human Nature

Source: Human Nature

From running Greenpeace to not buying Bankside power station, the developer behind Lewes’s Phoenix project doesn’t follow the herd, writes Ben Flatman.

Creating communities for all: Jenny Buterchi on PRP’s vision for age-inclusive living  

PRP

Source: PRP

As part of BD’s Boomers to Zoomers series, Mary Richardson went to talk to Jenny Buterchi, partner at PRP and lead of the firm’s Later Living team, to learn more about her vision for design and placemaking that better serve the needs of an ageing population.

Women in Construction: Sarah Ball, principal, Woods Bagot

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Source: Jessica Lindsay

Jordan Marshall talks to the Woods Bagot principal leading the practice’s Adelaide and Aukland studios as part of a Women in Construction special produced by our sister title Building in conjunction with Gleeds.

Interview: Gensler’s Diane Hoskins on how to keep growing in a time of crises

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Source: Gensler

The co-chair of the world’s largest architecture practice tells Tom Lowe about the firm’s journey over the past few turbulent years and why they decided to write a survival guide for architects.