Building stories: In conversation with John McRae, Orms
Orms Architects’ director on creating spaces with soul and designing in an accelerated age.
This article first appeared in Mix Interiors #233
Words: Chloé Petersen Snell
Images: courtesy of Orms
After 10 years at Oliver’s Yard, Orms has moved to 160 Old Street – a refurbishment project the studio completed in 2018 – doubling its occupational footprint and providing a ‘shop window’ for the practice’s people – and planet – focused way of working. Display shelving in warm, natural wood lines the entrance, detailing upcoming projects and acting as a working material library. The shelves guide guests to a welcoming brown sofa system set against oxide red walls, dotted with large format shots of celebrated projects. It’s here I meet director John McRae; a warm and enthusiastic person with a soft Scottish accent. “[The library] was a gentle way of introducing people to the practice, whether you know us or not,” he details. “It will refresh as projects move on, with different samples and models, investigations that we’ve done, materials that we’re looking at and CGIs.”
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