Director of NVBL Architects and founder of international collaborative platform for emerging practices
Director and architect, NVBL Architects. Part 1:2010, Part 2: 2014
Judges were fulsome in their praise of Nichola Barrington-Leach’s ‘very impressive’ work, which ranges from cultural installations to residential refurbishments, exhibitions and handcrafted objects. ‘A nice combination of inventive and rigorous,’ said Peter Laidlaw.
Barrington-Leach set up her practice after studying at the Bartlett and the Architectural Association (AA), and describes her work as centred on regenerative design principles, conscious material sourcing and circular economies. ‘I strive to reduce embodied carbon and contribute to a carbon-neutral future for architecture,’ she says.
For Three Stone Columns and a Roof, a photography studio in Acton, her practice persuaded the client to opt for a hybrid structure of stone boulders and timber instead of concrete, significantly reducing the carbon footprint. Air and Stone, for Clerkenwell Design Week 2022, was a temporary civic square using only biodegradable and reclaimed materials with the existing trees as the structure.
In 2023, she was awarded the Royal Academy of Arts Residency, where she explored the work of sustainable housing architect Renée Gailhoustet.
‘Nichola produced the most detailed and thorough analysis of Gailhoustet’s housing projects ever completed,’ said her referee Vicky Richardson, former head of architecture at the Royal Academy.
Barrington-Leach also co-founded the International Architecture Collaboration, a platform for emerging practices to exchange ideas and collaborate.
What piece of architecture or placemaking do you most admire and why?
I am inspired by many spaces and architectural works for a variety of reasons. I have always loved the South Bank, the National Theatre, and the Royal Festival Hall for their long-term contribution to providing cultural and civic spaces within the city. The work of Lacaton & Vassal, with its philosophy of reuse over demolition, is more poignant than ever. Additionally, Renée Gailhoustet’s legacy has deeply inspired me to envision a future of generous, high-quality, and sustainable housing for the UK.