Gluckman Smith rebrands as Woldon

Architecture practice Gluckman Smith has announced that it is rebranding as Woldon in the latest stage of the growth and evolution of the company.

Founded in London in 2010 by Robert Gluckman and Tom Smith, the practice has since grown and evolved with a Cotswolds Office opening in 2016, and Philip Shears joining as partner in 2018 to bring a wealth of large-scale commercial London experience to the business. Gluckman Smith has been subsumed into Woldon, paving the way for further growth and development into new and established areas.

The rebrand defines and encapsulates the practice vision: to enrich lives and landscapes through thought-provoking, timeless architecture with humanity at its heart. It reflects the growth of the practice and the continued broadening of skill sets and experience. The practice enjoys established relationships from within its three principal client bases of Estates, Commercial and Private Clients. The company has also completed a number of projects that demonstrate its sustainability credentials, including Argal Workshop and Devonshire Mews West.

As the business enters its second decade the rebrand offers a renewed sense of purpose and dynamism at an exciting point of change. Led by directors Robert, Tom and Phil, the professionalism and passion of the team, now numbering over 20, heralds an ever-growing scope of project and depth of experience.

With a focus on integrity, creativity and quality, Woldon has a vision rather than a house style of architecture. Striking a delicate balance between poetry and pragmatism, Woldon creates considered and thoughtfully-executed design that is sensitive to landscapes and surroundings whether historic, urban or rural, resulting in robust and elegant buildings which allow people to thrive.

Director Tom Smith said: “We are delighted to unveil the evolution of Gluckman Smith into Woldon. Over the last few years we have seen our client base expand significantly, with an exciting range of projects progressing through planning into construction. Our Cotswolds Office has become firmly established with a growing team of talented architects and designers. We find the process of building trusted relationships with our clients highly rewarding at a time of unprecedented activity in the world of landed estates”.

Director Robert Gluckman commented, “We are a passionate team underpinned by a vision to turn inspired thinking into extraordinary architecture. The rebrand from Gluckman Smith to Woldon captures this vision and paves the way for the future of the company and the entire team.”

Director Phil Shears added, “The name Woldon distills many of the design characteristics unique to the company; a balance between town and country, poetry and pragmatism, heritage and vision. As a company we have continued to grow steadily and the branding reflects this confidence and maturity, as we step into our next exciting chapter.”

Woldon boasts a rich portfolio of work with a diverse range of private clients, estates and commercial organisations. Working at all scales from small and bespoke to large and complex, they are experienced in every stage of the process, from concept to construction. Completed projects within the portfolio include Argal Workshop, Devonshire Mews House and Westington Hill Farm.

Argal Workshop and Studios, Cornwall
For the Argal Workshop and Studios project, Woldon was tasked with transforming a Cornish farmstead into a vibrant and inspirational place to work for an emerging furniture design firm, as well as artist residencies and creative businesses. Bold in formal expression, yet reminiscent of the stable that it replaces, Argal Workshop is illustrative of the approach that Woldon applies to its projects, demonstrating sensitivity to its settings and history. The principles of the PassivHaus standard were followed, providing the workshop with exceptionally low embodied and operational carbon energy usage. The completed buildings provide 300sqm of workspace for local businesses, which is fully occupied. Tenants include a coffee roaster, bespoke bag maker, sign-writer and a yoga studio.

Devonshire Mews West, London
Showcasing its credentials in sustainability and working within heritage constraints, Woldon refurbished and extended a residential mews house in Marylebone with Estates client, Howard de Walden. Behind a retained façade, the plan of the building has been completely reconfigured to introduce light and create further space. Designs include a new naturally lit basement, new reception and workspace, and enlarged bedrooms with double-height ceilings.

The building is designed to minimize energy demands with an MVHR system and all existing external walls insulated internally. The palette of materials includes pale timbers and polished concrete with areas of existing brickwork repaired but left rough to show the texture and grain of the historic mews.

Westington Hill Farm, Gloucestershire
Woldon was tasked with converting a derelict early nineteenth century stone threshing barn in Gloucestershire into a courtyard home. The brief required the removal of modern agricultural buildings and transformation of the property into a contemporary family home that celebrates its beautiful context. The existing structure was retained and restored whilst accommodation and additional living spaces were incorporated into the wings that frame the barn both in terms of the internal layout and its presence in the landscape. The fabric of the building was restored with a careful selection of materials, while stone excavated to construct the wings was used to tile the floors.

ENDS
For further information, please contact Sandford PR:
Mackenzie Mackie : Mackenzie@sandfordpr.com / 07842 162574 or
Katherine Sandford-Anderson : Katherine@sandfordpr.com / 07802 481996

www.woldon.com
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