April 15 2019

Glasgow-based architecture studio Pidgin Perfect has been acquired by New Practice with co-founders Marc Cairns and Becca Thomas remaining as directors within the enlarged business.

Founded in 2011 with a specialism in placemaking, Pidgin Perfect represented Scotland at the Venice Biennale in 2012 and are the only Scottish practice to be appointed to the mayor of London’s ADUP panel.

Recent commissions include a contract with Gensler to design a range of amenity spaces for Barclays Glasgow Campus in addition to advising on public realm improvements. The studio is also undertaking a £1.7m transformation of an old school into a community arts centre at Kinning Park Complex.

New Practice MD Marc Cairns said: “Over the past eight years, Becca and I have built an impressive track record working for public and private clients to develop and support place-based recommendations. This experience will underpin the work of New Practice and we are excited to lead on forward-thinking projects for years to come."

Creative director Becca Thomas, added: “Our work together has made us think very carefully about the role that architects and designers play in the lifecycle of the city. We have gained valuable experience as practitioners, worked with a diverse range of people, and, as New Practice, will continue to champion unexpected ways to apply design thinking across the built environment.”

In tandem with its newly acquired Glasgow base, New Practice will open a second London studio to help deliver projects such as the design and build of the East Village Pavilion at the Olympic Athletes Village in Stratford on behalf of Get Living London.

8 Comments

#1 Posted by boaby wan on 15 Apr 2019 at 11:06 AM

so who exactly has bought over what?
The two directors remain as directors and there doesn't appear to be any new directors, or am I missing something?
A re-brand gone rouge?

#2 Posted by Rem Koolbag on 15 Apr 2019 at 13:58 PM

They don't look red-in-the-face-enough to have gone rouge...

#3 Posted by mill on 15 Apr 2019 at 21:39 PM

Rumour has it the two named directors have split from a third so presumably it is them who have bought out the third to form their new undertaking

#4 Posted by Graham on 16 Apr 2019 at 09:45 AM

Is New Practice a temporary holding name while a a decision is made on the real name?

#5 Posted by Pigeon Pie on 16 Apr 2019 at 13:14 PM

Trying to ditch the silly name now they are all grown up....oh wait, with another silly name.

#6 Posted by MalkyT on 16 Apr 2019 at 13:26 PM

Still struggling to see what they actually do, and how with no real jobs or staff, they intend to open another studio. Lots of student projects and students working or "collaborating" (paid very little one suspects based on their accounts)

#7 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 17 Apr 2019 at 17:35 PM

These guys look fresh, funky and cool. Hopefully they’ll bring the sort of collaborative, constantly-evolving, contemporary, guerrilla-brainstorming approach that is just what is lacking in Scottish Architecture right now. Charette, anybody?

#8 Posted by Steve Jobs on 17 Apr 2019 at 19:32 PM

Glasgows answer to W1A

Post your comments