More than 140 guests including TV personality and architect George Clarke attended Hodder+Partners’ 25th anniversary celebration in Manchester city centre.
The event, which saw George Clarke lead a discussion on stage with Hodder + Partners Chairman Stephen Hodder MBE and Tom Bloxham MBE, was held at LEAF on Portland Street.
New book ‘Contexts: The Work of Hodder + Partners’, published by RIBA, was also launched at the gathering.
Speaking on stage in front of guests and friends of the Manchester-based practice George Clarke paid tribute to Stephen Hodder and his staff for the impact they’ve had on the built environment in their home city and beyond.
He said: “It’s a genuine privilege to be at the anniversary of Hodder+Partners’ 25th anniversary celebration.
“I remember Stephen and the practice winning the inaugural Stirling Prize in 1996 for the Centenary Building at the University of Salford. I was a student at the time and can safely say I’ve followed their work ever since.”
Clarke, the presenter of popular Channel 4 shows including Restoration Man and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, added: “I’d like to congratulate Stephen and the practice for the impact they have had in our amazing profession and wish them all the best for the next 25 years.”
After the gathering former RIBA President Stephen Hodder, who hails from Edgeley, Stockport, said: “To launch our book and have so many of our friends and colleagues at LEAF on the same night was special.
“It was also fitting that George and Tom Bloxham could join us to not only reflect on the past 25 years, but look forward as we continue to evolve as an architectural practice.”
‘Contexts: The Work of Hodder + Partners’ is edited by University of Salford Professor Peter Walker and features high-quality colour images and contributions from writers such as Hugh Pearman, Laura Marks, Rob Gregory and Tony Chapman.
Copies of the book are available on the RIBA Bookshop website. Click here to order yours.