Gibson Thornley makes good buildings that meet their purpose happily. All are connected by their sense of welcome: they are clear to read, rich in content and unfold to their users with enjoyment. We make architecture of many different types – places to work, play, learn and relax – in collaboration with many different people. We engage with these communities – whether residents, visitors, employees and co-consultants – as a central part of our approach, giving them a sense of ownership, and creating buildings that contribute to the common good.
Our studio in Shoreditch was founded by Ben Gibson and Matt Thornley in 2013 and built on principles of creative ownership, social conscience and environmental responsibility. Together we have a collective duty of care to our people, to every project and to the planet. We see construction as a creative opportunity, the translation of design into built form. Investigation and experimentation across a range of media are an integral part of our approach, acting as a dress rehearsal for the final design.
The studio was showcased in New Architects 4, the Architecture Foundation’s survey of emerging British talent, and our work has been published in Architecture Today, The Architect’s Journal, Building Design, Building, FRAME and OnOffice.
In 2021 we were named Architect of the Year by Building Design magazine for our work on small projects, and were finalists in the office category in 2018. We won an Architect’s Journal Retrofit Award in 2019 for offices, and have been finalists several times before and since.
Gibson Thornley is an RIBA Chartered Practice and we contribute to the wider conversation about architecture as members of the London Practice Forum, the Architecture Foundation and New London Architecture. We are signatories to Architects Declare and the Mayor’s Pledge for equality, diversity and inclusion, and are committed to the London Living Wage. We are members of the LHC Southwark Framework and the GLA’s Architecture and Urbanism Framework.
Selected Clients
Victoria & Albert Museum National Galleries of Scotland Pocket Living The Charterhouse Kajima UK London Borough of Southwark Workspace Lendlease Lazari Investments Ark Schools