Chris Williamson
When Chris was asked to work with Andrew Weston for group projects at Leicester School of Architecture (for no other reason than they were next to each other alphabetically) they both realised that their skills dovetailed perfectly. They particularly bonded on environmental issues during the energy crisis in the mid 1970s which altered the world to the need to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. Their shared ambition made for a perfect business partnership and Weston Williamson was formed in 1985 after gaining valuable experience in the offices of Richard Rogers and Michael Hopkins.
05 Aug 2021
The second of a three part blog series by Chris Williamson
The biggest challenge facing any architect, urban designer or anyone involved with the Built Environment is undoubtedly how to combat climate change by designing smart sustainable settlements. For over 35 years WW+P has been helping to entice commuters out of their cars onto safe, efficient well designed public transport and can demonstrate a long-established history of challenging traditional ways of thinking and demonstrate original thought.
We are passionate about the provision of excellent, safe, efficient and well designed public transport. We have been designing and delivering city shaping projects since we formed the practice in 1985. We see the reduction of cars and the promotion of walking and cycling as the means to the creation of sustainable places.
We regularly involve the whole of our 150 strong group of talented individuals from over 20 nationalities in our Friday afternoon sessions where we forget the politics of the projects and the clients that we concentrate on during the week, and imagine the world that we would like to be part of. Everyone in our studios from the 65-year-old founder partners to the 18-year-old school leaver embarking on an amazing career has an equal voice; the former with the benefit of experience and knowledge the latter with wide eyed optimism and hope. Each informs the other. Some of the results of our Friday ideas sessions have emerged in my presentation to the Kuwait Cityscape conference on the Happy City and found their way onto our thought pieces such as Creating a Civilised City, and into an article written for the first edition of CITIZEN magazine and reproduced on our website about how technology has changed our capabilities much faster than people have been able to adapt.
We believe the future will not be the dystopian vision of Blade Runner but one that uses technology to create a green and pleasant place for all.
Chris Williamson
When Chris was asked to work with Andrew Weston for group projects at Leicester School of Architecture (for no other reason than they were next to each other alphabetically) they both realised that their skills dovetailed perfectly. They particularly bonded on environmental issues during the energy crisis in the mid 1970s which altered the world to the need to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. Their shared ambition made for a perfect business partnership and Weston Williamson was formed in 1985 after gaining valuable experience in the offices of Richard Rogers and Michael Hopkins.