How did it all start?

Founded in early 2012 by friends Max, Jamie & Patrick, SOUP started as a small practice with some big ambitions.

All working in other practices before SOUP, we were able to draw on over 60 years worth of industry experience to develop a new, young and dynamic practice that focussed on giving our clients the best possible professional service and continue to develop our approach to architecture and design.

With over 89 completed projects, 5 RIBA Awards and 2 studios since 2012, SOUP has gained a momentum that none of us expected.

We are friendly, approachable, and able to tailor our services to meet the needs of projects from small extensions, up to multi-unit housing developments. We are proud that most of our work comes to us through recommendations, with former clients often becoming great friends.

We are passionate about inspiring others and sharing our work and methods, and are often invited to lecture at universities.

Everyone who works at SOUP has something different to add to the SOUP. We embrace a design dialogue within the practice and hope that by challenging each other, the design gets more refined. We encourage our clients to engage in this process too, as we believe that it makes it far more enjoyable, but also results in a much better result.

The Story...

We would like to tell you about SOUP by retelling an old folk story. It is a tale much adapted in its telling around the world about a traveller, who enters a community with nothing more than an empty pot.

The traveller, who is met with suspicion, sets about making a fire and filling the pot with water to boil. Into the pot the traveller places a stone, which intrigues the people of the village.

One, too curious to resist asks what they are doing. The traveller responds by saying they are making a delicious ‘Stone Soup’, which would be much improved with the addition of some seasoning or local produce.

The ingredients are added and seeing that they could help, more people add what they can and offer their advice on improving the dish.

Slowly the traveller is no longer seen as a stranger or a threat and very soon the wider community are participating in creating a wonderful soup, which is enjoyed by all.

For us, this short tale works as an allegory for how we try and approach what we do as architects and designers. Within the tale, we would see ourselves as the traveller, and the stone as the nucleus from which ideas are able to develop and improve through the engagement of the client and wider community.

There is no doubt good architecture can be created from a single vision, it is just we think better places can be made by including within the process the people who will use and live in and around the buildings we make.

At SOUP, we believe every project is special and each client unique and therefore work hard at listening and interpreting their ambitions within the constraints and opportunities the site and budget allow.

This thorough approach to the design process ensures we create perfectly suited, beautiful architecture that maximises the potential of every project.

SOUP is a simple dish with complex flavours. Distinct and delicious variations are derived from the influence of culture, resources and environment.

This made SOUP the ideal analogy for our approach to architecture.

Our Approach…

With all SOUP projects we aim to demonstrate a collaborative approach to our built environment that explores the key elements we believe are necessary for successful architecture:

1. Unlocking opportunities

We are able to understand the potential of under valued sites. Where an off the shelf product doesn’t fit, we are able to develop possibilities using bespoke solutions. From tight urban sites to innovative solutions under Paragraph 79 (previously para 55 – the ‘country house exception clause’) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

2. Transforming the ordinary

Whether a family requires more space for storage, or a company requires additional office space to expand their business, the built environment needs to change, adapt and improve over time.

3. Maximising limited space

We believe quality design is extracted from the most restricted design parameters. Challenging sites and briefs offer the most rewarding opportunities.

4. In with the old & in with the new

Almost all projects have to fit within an established streetscape or landscape. We believe successful buildings sit harmoniously into their surroundings.

5. Sustainable solutions

In every part of the process, we need to consider the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the built environment we are designing. From passive cooling techniques, to managing the impact of site activity, a sustainable approach is a key element to our thinking.