The Practice

Nikolai Delvendahl and Eric Martin established their practice in 2008 after working for over 10 years in the UK with a series of collaborators and respected practices. What brought them together was a common interest in the creative process of architecture, how it affects people’s lives, and the intricacies of its production and delivery through professional practice.

Working from London with an international outlook has provided a rich platform to develop ideas. These are generated through a thoughtful analysis of the different aspects of the brief, with an emphasis on establishing a logic between the site conditions, the tectonic expression of materials, and the impact on the environment.

The design process is also informed by in-house research and teaching. Both partners are involved in academic activities as a platform for ideas and creative dialogue.

The practice’s growing portfolio is diverse and reflects the desire to avoid specialization and an interest in getting involved with a variety of places, clients and building types. The list of clients includes private individuals, artists and public organizations.

Portraits by Fran Monks

Nikolai Delvendahl

Nikolai studied architecture at Stuttgart University. He previously worked as a project architect for Michael Squire and Partners on a series of residential and commercial schemes, and as project director for Adjaye Associates in London.

Whilst at Adjaye Associates, he was responsible for the delivery of public projects such as the Rivington Place Arts Centre in Shoreditch, the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo as well as Tower Hamlets’ new Idea Stores. These projects were included in a number of architectural biennales and the Idea Store Whitechapel was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Price in 2006.

Nikolai taught at London Metropolitan University from 2006-2008 and was appointed as a Design Fellow at Cambridge University in 2008

Eric Martin

Eric studied architecture at ITESO University in Guadalajara and ETSAM in Madrid. He worked for various practices in Mexico and acted as consultant on a series of feasibility studies for Guadalajara's historical centre.

Working as an associate for Allies and Morrison in London, he was involved in a range of projects including the King’s Cross Underground Station redevelopment, a mixed-use tower in the City of London, the new headquarters for Ericsson in Coventry, and a proposal for a new urban quarter in Cairo, Egypt.

Eric is a studio teacher at Cambridge University since 2009 and has been a guest critic at a number of universities including the Architectural Association and Kingston.