Criterion Hotel Concept Design

Our concept design for the public areas of the Criterion Hotel in London’s Piccadilly Circus. We imagined a new home for Newton’s Observatory within the spectacular glass dome; a space for surveying the majesty of the illuminated city. Below this, a grand Lobby Bar is connected directly to the street via a tunnel-like canopy which hugs the curve of the arched entrance, ascending above the escalators and stretching wide across the mezzanine floor. Its form, colour and illumination draws the eye upwards to the bar lining the full width of the space. Guests ride upwards to a sunken amphitheatre surrounded by informal stepped seating. Set pieces are dotted around, carefully positioned to allow for framed views and curated backdrops for digital memories.

August 2024

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2024

Radar Factory Production Floor (Empty) 01 by Morgan O’Donovan and Manalo & White has been selected for this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. The Architecture curators Assemble invited contributions which reflect on spaces for making: workspaces, studio spaces, manufacturing spaces, industrial spaces, assembly spaces. The exhibition is open from 18 June to 18 August.

June 2024

Feature in Design Anthology Magazine

Manalo & White are featured in the latest issue of Design Anthology magazine.

“One of our strengths is that we’re very good at disagreeing with each other, but this friction is possible, and productive, because we enjoy working together.”

April 2024

Mandrake wins Architecture Today Award 2023

The Architecture Today Awards celebrate buildings which have stood the test of time; all the finalists have been in use for at least three years and demonstrate a strong track record for delivering on their environmental, functional, community and cultural ambitions. The judges said: “This is a project that has adapted, chameleon-like, to changes in use; from production studios to boutique hotel. More astonishing still, each of these incarnations have been carried off with effortless aplomb.”

Featured in the January - February issue of Architecture Today with beautiful new photos by Timothy Soar.

January 2024

New team photos

We had our photos taken by Marcus Quigley last week. Thanks to Streets of Growth for the loan of their space at Hayloft Point!

December 2023

Mandrake Phase 2

Construction is underway on Phase 2 of The Mandrake; due for completion in early 2025.

December 2023

Heathlands School site progress

Yesterday afternoon the students at Heathlands School came out to inspect the site and bury a time capsule in the floor slab. Lots of probing questions were asked by budding project managers and architects.

November 2023

Towner Eastbourne Article

Towner Eastbourne is featured in this month’s AJ Specification, with an in-depth look at colours and materials. Our redesign of the ground floor has had a huge impact on the quality of the space and the ability of the gallery to host major shows, including this year’s Turner Prize.

September 2023

TACO! Gallery Article

TACO! Gallery featured in the Architects’ Journal.

April 2023