FAT Architects: Fashion Architecture Taste

FAT Architecture, England design studio, British practice projects news, Innovative English architectural office

FAT Architects London, UK

Fashion Architecture Taste, London, England – Key UK Buildings Designs

post updated 15 February 2024

FAT Architecture News

2 May 2016
Blue House Expansion, east London, UK
Planning permission for a new addition to the Blue House by FAT architects

16 Dec 2013
FAT announces the end of its practice

The highly successful 23 year collaboration will culminate next summer with the completion of A House For Essex, designed for Living Architecture (in collaboration with artist Grayson Perry), and the curation of A Clockwork Jerusalem at the British Pavilion as part of the 2014 Venice Biennale (in collaboration with Crimson Architectural Historians and Owen Hatherley)

FAT portrait (from left- Sean Griffiths, Charles Holland, Sam Jacob)
FFAT Architecture portrait
photo © Tim Soar

Following on from the completion of a number of architecturally significant projects, directors Sean Griffiths, Charles Holland and Sam Jacob believe that, with the conclusion of these final projects, FAT will have achieved all it set out to do when the practice first emerged in the 1990’s. FAT was always conceived as a project in itself, a vehicle for critically opening up the culture of architecture rather than purely a conventional architectural practice.

FAT- A house for Essex (in collaboration with Grayson Perry)
A house for Essex by FAT Architects
picture © FAT

“FAT has provided the three of us with the most extraordinary platform for creative collaboration. We have enjoyed 23 years together and want to end our union on a high with two typically FAT projects – A House For Essex and our curatorial role at the world’s most prestigious architectural event – The Venice Architecture Biennale.”

FAT – CIAC, Middlesbrough
CIAC, Middlesbrough design by FAT Architects UK
photo © Rob Parrish

Evolving out of a ‘collective’ of architects, artists and film makers, in the mid 1990’s, FAT became one of Britain’s most influential architecture practices. Their work pushed the boundaries of architecture by developing innovative forms of cross disciplinary practice and new critical directions in architecture while engaging mainstream clients and delivering a series of highly original buildings in the UK and abroad.

FAT – Blue House, London
Blue House, London by Fashion Architecture Taste
photo © Morley von Sternberg

Their work has ranged across installations, interiors, buildings and masterplans that include (amongst others) Kessels Kramers offices in Amsterdam, The Blue House in Hackney, the BBC Drama Production Village, Cardiff for Igloo, Islington Square for Urban Splash in London and the Great Places Housing Group, The Villa in Rotterdam and CIAC in Middlesbrough, as well as installations and exhibitions at the Venice Biennale, the V&A, MAK and the Vienna Secession House.

BBC Roath Basin Studios:
BBC Roath Basin Studios by FAT
photo © Tim Soar

FAT’s work has been characterised by a highly conceptual approach, which combined the practical demands of architecture with critical and provocative thinking. Their work demonstrated the creative possibilities for architecture to engage beyond the traditional boundaries of an architecture office and the limits of professional concern.

BBC Roath Basin Studios:
BBC Roath Basin Studios by Fashion Architecture Taste
photo © Tim Soar

FAT has also been an influential international presence in architectural education at a diverse range of institutions including the AA, the University of Westminster, the RCA, The Bartlett, the University of the Arts, UIC and Yale.

Villa Rotunda Redux, Venice Architecture Biennale:
Villa Rotunda Redux
photo © FAT

The architecture practice’s final two projects will realise many of the strands that have characterised its work: Pushing the boundaries of architecture, collaboration and working with fine art, a deep interest in the culture of architecture and how architecture relates to wider culture, society and politics.

The Villa, Rotterdam
The Villa, Rotterdam
photo © Rob Parrish

The architecture studio would like to place on record its thanks to all their collaborators, the students, critics and journalists, who have avidly followed our progress, the outraged BTL commentators who gave us so much entertainment, and above all to the visionary clients who saw the potential for, and who dared to invest in, a unique approach to twenty first century architecture.

The Villa, Rotterdam
The Villa, Rotterdam
photo © Maarten Laupman

The architecture studio’s directors will continue to be a presence as individuals in the fields of architecture, design, art, writing and education.

Islington Square, Manchester
Islington Square, Manchester
photo © Tim Soar

They remain open to offers for a lucrative reunion in 20 years’ time.

FAT Architecture – Key Projects

Major building by Fashion Architecture Taste:

The Blue house, Garner Street, off Hackney Road, east London
FAT house London
photo © Adrian Welch
East London house by FAT architects

Key Designs by FAT – Fashion Architecture Taste, alphabetical:

Belsay Hall – Sitooterie, Northumberland, northeast England
2007?

Bentley Community Library Competition, Walsall, West Midlands, central England
2008
Bentley Library Walsall by FAT Architecture
image from Fashion Architecture Taste
Bentley Community Library design by FAT Architecture : RIBA Competition winner Mar 2008
The architecture studio won a hard-fought competition that also included Aaron Evans Architects, Featherstone Associates, McMorran and Gatehouse Architects Ltd, Panter Hudspith Architects and Sjolander da Cruz Architects on the shortlist.

Hoogvliet Community Centre, nr Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2008

Leisure Lounge, 121 Holborn, London EC1

Peyton & Byrne Bakery, Heal’s Lobby, Tottenham Court Road, central London
2007

Woodward Place – New Islington
Apr 2006
New Islington houses by FAT Architects
photo © Isabelle Lomholt
Other architects involved at New Islington include shedkm, Ian Simpson Architects, de Metz Architects and Will Alsop. New Islington houses by FAT Architecture

Fashion Architecture Taste : Practice Information

Recent Buildings

The Blue House, East London
Islington Square, Manchester
Sint Lucas Art Academy, Boxtel, Netherlands
Meals – restaurant and cafe, Heal’s department store, Tottenham Court Rd, London
Peyton and Byrne – bakery shop, Heal’s department store, central London
Museum of Croydon, south London
Islington Bus Shelters: Old Mill Street Bus Shelter competition winners

More projects by FAT Architecture online soon

Location: 49-59 Old St, London EC1V 9HX, UK

Architects Practice Information

This architectural firm was based in London, England, UK.

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Buildings / photos for the FAT Architecture page welcome

Website: offline since the design practice closed