Gavin Hutchison B.Arch Dip.Arch ARB RIBA

Gavin established Hutchison Kivotos Architects in January 2010 with Simon. Since establishing HK Architects they have continued to thrive amidst commercially adverse conditions working closely with long term developer clients such as Derwent London, Great Portland Estates and Lancer. This work has been augmented by fit-out projects for end user in the City and West End. He balances his professional work as a visiting critic with Unit 5 at UCL and Unit D at UEL.

Following his training at the Mackintosh School of Architecture and spells at Studio Libeskind and Foster Associates he spent 9 years at ORMS Architecture Design, latterly as Senior Architect.

During this time he obtained wide experience in all areas of Architecture moving from an assistants role on new-build projects, such as Capital One’s 125,000sqft headquarters in Nottingham and a successful Planning Application for 100 Middlesex Street to Project Architect and Team Leader roles.

During the latter stages of his ORMS tenure he completed headquarters projects for the British Dental Association and GPE and completed a 42,000sqft Cat A refurbishment for Lancer at 33 Cavendish Square. He led teams to successful Planning Consents for a residential block on a prominent Leicester Square site and Great Portland Estates 150,00sqft new build office / retail and refurbished residential scheme on Wigmore Street. Gavin was responsible for CPD at ORMS and led office teams on a number of competition projects and speculative pitches.

James Johnson Dip.Arch RIBA

James joined HK Architects in April 2015, having previously worked at MCM Architecture, delivering a variety of projects, including a 150,000 sq ft fit-out for a major international law firm.

Prior to that, James spent 7 years at Orms, working across a range of sectors, including a comprehensive refurbishment of a 100,000 sq ft office building in the City for PMB Holdings, a 40,000 sq ft mixed use refurbishment in Kensington & Chelsea for Chancery St James and an 80,000 sq ft Central London office refurbishment for Derwent London. He also worked on the refurbishment of a Grade I listed crescent in Bath and the music and drama buildings for King’s School Ely.

Gavin and James worked together for a number of years whilst at Orms, including a 42,000 sq ft Cat A refurbishment at 33 Cavendish Square.

James’ expertise is in the re-use of buildings, bringing a clarity of thought to complex design problems, helping owners and developers unlock the spatial and commercial potential of their buildings. He also brings a wealth of experience in designing for end-users, from large scale corporations, to schools and individuals. This experience, and a belief in a ‘people first’ approach to design, puts occupiers’ needs at the heart of the design process.

Prior to qualifying as an architect at London Metropolitan University (now the Cass School of Art), James spent a number of years as a client project manager, working predominantly for corporate end users.

Angus Patrick B.Arch (Hons.)

Angus has 20 years professional experience in New Zealand and the UK, consisting of work in all stages of refurbishment and new-build work. These projects have been mainly in the commercial sector although they also include large and small-scale residential work. Through this experience he has gained extensive knowledge of the issues that arise when dealing with existing structures, and how to optimise them for clients’ needs.

At HK Architects he has been involved in a variety of projects including fit-outs for Derwent London in Grosvenor Place and The City.

Previous experience, at ORMS, included design development, planning and tender documentation for Finwell House, a £20 million office block refurbishment and extension project on Finsbury Square (Freshwater). Angus also headed design coordination and planning documentation work on a £45 million new-build office building on Wigmore Street, London. (GPE)

Other project experience, at ESA Architects, includes the design and construction of an office fit-out and reception area for Canberra House, Regent Street (Trehaven), design, production information,and contract administration for a £2 million conversion of commercial buildings for university use in Marylebone (Howard de Walden Estate); and production information and on-site supervision for Pegasus Place, a new-build office park in Crawley. (MacKay Securities)

Matt Poplett B.Arch MArch ARB RIBA

Matt is a Project Architect at HK Architects and joined the practice in 2020. He is a fully qualified RIBA and ARB registered Architect having studied at Newcastle and Northumbria University. He spent his Part 1 placements at a series of small practices in Australia and the UK from 2007-2009, working mostly on private housing and small commercial premises.

In 2011 Matt relocated to London and joined Perkins & Will (formerly Pringle Brandon)  where he gained experience across a range of sectors including Museums, Hotels and Corporate Interiors. In 2017 Matt took an 18 month career break spent travelling through Asia, Australasia and South America.

Since returning to the UK, he has spent the past 18 months working at a small practice focusing mostly on residential projects often on tight, infill sites.

Having worked on a number of complex refurbishments, Matt particularly enjoys the aspect of bringing new life into existing buildings by finding creative solutions for the unique challenges these projects often throw up.

Matt has recently returned from a 3 month cycling tour around Europe, to become the new sustainability champion for the office. HK architects intends to increase our sustainability awareness and improve the offices position in the fight against climate change.

Laura Selwood BSc/MArch

Laura is a Part II Architectural Assistant at HK Architects, having completed her RIBA part II qualification in 2020. She joined HK Architects in July of the same year during covid 19. Laura completed her part I at Cardiff University at the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA).

During her first year of MArch at the same school she completed her “year in industry” at ‘asp’ Architekten GmBh in Stuttgart, Germany. There she not only introduced herself to the architectural practice but simultaneously became fluent in German. Laura has a passion for languages and hopes to consider herself multi-lingual by the age of 30.

In her final year at the WSA she chose to work under the directors of Arbor Architects, who increased her understanding and interest in sustainable architecture. Her final project titled:

“A 100% sustainable self-build co-housing scheme”

aimed to achieve what is currently non-existent; a cradle to cradle, zero carbon and regenerative design; a concept she hopes to build upon in her architectural career.

Laura began her part 3 qualification at the beginning of 2022 at LMU and as of April 2023 can now officially call herself an ARB registered architect; as the first of her MArch cohort.

Ilaria Tognacci B.Arch/MArch

Ilaria joined the practice in late 2021 as a Part II Architectural Assistant. She carried out her architectural studies at the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna. After graduating in 2013 she spent a year travelling and working in Australia until she permanently moved to the UK in 2015.

Ilaria has been growing and improving her professional experience working for small to medium practices such as Burrell Foley Fischer and Threefold Architects; mostly in the residential and mixed use realms; until she landed at HK.

Ilaria recently gained her British citizenship and considers herself lucky enough to have had so many opportunities to grow and improve in her career, making London her new home in the process.

Alongside her fellow colleague, Ilaria began her RIBA part 3 at London metropolitan university in February 2022. She proudly considers herself an arb chartered architect since May 2023.

Finley Blake B.Arch

Fin joined HK in Autumn 2021 as a RIBA Part I Architectural Assistant, having previously studied at the University of Nottingham. His final undergraduate project increased his awareness, understanding and passion for timber construction.

He has since began his masters degree at the London School of Architecture in September 2022, working in tandem for HK Architects. He hopes to consider himself a master of Architecture in Summer 2024. To further Fin’s keen interest in timber construction, he is becoming an office expert of the workshop, hoping to increase his understanding of the material first hand to apply it to his architectural career goals.

Outside university Fin enjoys going climbing and DJ-ing.