KKE Architects

Exciting news for St. Richard's hospice Worcester with plans to extend their inpatient unit. http://www.kkearchitects.co.uk/health.php

From Interior Design Yearbook 2013: What are you most excited about seeing coming out of interior design in 2013?

Vincent: I would like to see more daring clashes and mixes of colour, pattern and texture, especially using natural fabrics, such as cashmere and silks: materials that not only look good but make you want to engage them. This tactility is so much more important than homes that look like stage sets but which don't really invite you in on a human level. http://www.kkearchitects.co.uk/residential.php

From the Interior Design Yearbook 2013: What influences are we set to see coming over from international seas and can we embrace these trends?

Vincent: One area where Europe is way ahead of the UK is in low and zero-carbon design, presenting British designers with countless examples of cool, environmentally friendly living. We believe the British soul, however, is a more complex thing and that we need to provide style and comfort along with cool minimalism. What we are working on now is how to take the principles of Passivhaus, which allow us to design houses which need little or no artificial heating, but to adapt them to suit the particular look that our British clientele want. As Passivhaus develops in this country, it is being adapted to a wider range of applications than just the conventional new-build box, which does not suit everybody or every location. It can even be adopted in part via extensions and annexes, bringing it to a wider audience, appreciative of the massive reduction in energy bills! http://www.kkearchitects.co.uk/education.php

First Question from the Interior Design Yearbook 2013: What epitomises great British Design?

Vincent Kirk: British design walks the tightrope of tradition and innovation so well because we love the look and feel of old houses, yet we insist on comfort and we love gadgets! The best modern houses use natural materials in new ways and incorporate super-smart technologies. Seth Stein Architects' Pencalenick House in Cornwall is a great example of this and uses materials, which could have come from the site itself, in strict geometries, filled with natural light. Heaven!
http://www.kkearchitects.co.uk/