Last year we launched our brand new blog series, Spotlight. This series hopes to shine a light on some of the great architectural minds of Hodder+Partners and discover what inspires them, the styles they love and how they expect the landscape to change over the coming years.
For our second Spotlight of 2018 we spoke to senior architect, Shane McCamley. Read on to hear about Shane’s love of architecture which spans across the globe especially towards European modernism. Let’s take a look.
Who is your favourite architect?
It’s difficult to give an absolute favourite, but would say that I have been heavily influenced by the works of Louis Kahn and Mies Van Der Rohe.
In terms of architects working today, I very much admire the work of Alvaro Siza, Andreas Meck, Marte.Marte, Bearth & Deplazes, and Tham & Videgård.
What is your favourite architectural style?
I like the Swiss and Austrian modernist style particularly. For me it is an architecture of high integrity, based on the principles of modernism.
What is your favourite building/structure?
Can I give two? …The first would be St Catherine’s College, Oxford by Arne Jacobsen. For me, when I first visited it, it was the physical embodiment of everything I believed in in architecture, executed to such a high level of design quality. It was quite emotional to see such a great piece of architecture.
The second would be the Temppeliaukio Church in Helsinki, designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen. The church is an incredible space. Set within a very urban context, you enter via a small unassuming entrance on the side of a rocky mound. You then walk into the vast main church hall, which was created by excavating rock from the mound. Then a woven copper roof floats very delicately over, to enclose the space. It is a truly breath-taking space; and amazing to see how the space fostered such a strong emotional response; not just in architects, but in the tourists visiting it.
What are your biggest architectural influences?
As well as the above, and of visiting architecture, I would say the influence gained by actually working in architectural practice. I have been very lucky to work for a lot of very good architects, and have learnt so much from people I greatly respect.
I also very much admire the work Hodder + Partners have produced over the years, and so am very happy to be joining the team; and in having the opportunity to work on such exciting projects.
What will make the biggest change to architecture in the next 5 years?
The biggest change really has to be in how computing technology will change the industry. Particularly, moving from two-dimensional to three-dimensional design. From Integrated BIM software, bringing consultants and contractors closer together. To how buildings are actually designed, (computer modelling software,) and then presented to clients i.e. virtual reality.
What is your proudest achievement whilst at Hodder+Partners?
Well, I have only just started, so none just yet. But I am very much looking forward to what the future holds, and the prospect of working on high quality design.
And that’s it!
We will be frequently publishing a new Spotlight blog so you can find out more about our team.
If you need any architectural help or advice, contact us on (0)161 832 9842 or mail@hodderandpartners.com, and don’t forget to follow our Twitter and LinkedIn for more updates.