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Good architecture is not simply about creating something that looks beautiful. It is about understanding people, places and purpose, then bringing those elements together in a solution that works.
This principle is at the heart of MHA Studio, a RIBA Chartered Practice founded by architect Mark Humphreys. Based in Stockcross, near Newbury, the practice works with clients across Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, the Thames Valley and further afield.
For Mark, every project begins with listening. Before considering form, materials or appearance, it is important to understand how a client lives, what they hope to achieve and what challenges may be holding a property or site back.
Part of an architect’s role is to listen carefully, ask the right questions and help identify what the project really needs to achieve. This approach is particularly important for domestic projects. An extension may appear to be primarily about creating more space, but the most successful projects often do much more. They can improve the way a home flows, bring natural light into previously dark areas, create a stronger relationship with the garden and make everyday family life feel easier.
MHA Studio approaches each commission individually, avoiding predetermined styles or standard solutions. The character of the existing building, its setting, the client’s priorities and the practical realities of budget and construction are all considered from the outset. The aim is to create architecture that feels distinctive and carefully designed, while remaining functional, deliverable and appropriate to its context.
Mark brings more than 15 years of professional experience to the practice. Having studied architecture at the University of Kent and The Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL, he spent 13 years at Hollaway, including four years as a Partner, where he led the London team.
During that time, Mark led and contributed to projects across a broad range of sectors and scales. His experience includes individual homes, listed buildings, schools, cultural projects, commercial and mixed-use schemes, major regeneration projects and substantial residential developments. He has worked through every stage of the architectural process, from early feasibility and planning strategy to detailed design and construction.
That broader experience continues to inform the way MHA Studio approaches smaller projects. Complex planning considerations, heritage constraints, technical coordination, commercial awareness and buildability are relevant whether a project involves a single home or a much larger development.
The practice has particular experience in sensitive settings, including listed buildings, conservation areas and sites where a thoughtful response to existing character is essential. Rather than viewing constraints as obstacles, MHA Studio looks for ways in which they can guide the design and help create something more individual.
Ultimately, the practice is founded on a straightforward belief: something that looks beautiful but does not work well is not well designed. By listening first and understanding the real problem, MHA Studio seeks to create places that are thoughtful, purposeful and genuinely shaped around the people who use them.
Find out more at mhastudio.co.uk.
In partnership with MHA Studio
MHA Studio is a RIBA Chartered Practice based in Stockcross, near Newbury, working across Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire and the Thames Valley.
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