Hollaway Studio is a Kent-based architectural and interior design practice that embraces the past, the present, and the future and places people and feeling at the core of its architecture philosophy.
Kent is our home. We have designed and built many projects in the port town of Folkestone over the years including Rocksalt restaurant in Folkestone harbour, Workshop in the new Creative Quarter, and F51, the world’s first multi-storey skatepark. We create ambitious designs that reflect the surroundings focused on how people use spaces and flow through a building. Working closely with our clients, our team of architects and interior designers realise your brief and aspirations to create a successful and memorable guest experience.
Design begins with feeling – for place, for the past, for the needs and wants of the now, and for a future that matters. It listens. It empathises. It’s pragmatic. It’s an understanding that informs everything we do. It makes buildings that work – truly, beautifully. This is how we approach all architecture and design projects.
An architecture and design practice is nothing without its people, and the very best practices are those in which everyone has a voice – however different it may be. We are extremely fortunate Hollaway is exactly this: an extraordinary bunch of thinkers, talkers, and doers. These are the people that get buildings made.
Set in one of the town’s most deprived wards, F51 is much more than either skatepark or engineering feat. With membership for just a pound a month, it serves as a one-stop shop for the most extraordinary set of social services, its mission to give the young of Folkstone a place they can call their own, and permission to take risks, to wonder, to have enormous fun.
Hollaway’s approach to architecture and design always starts with people and place. How does a building contribute to the community it will inhabit? How will people interact and engage with the architecture created in this space? Under his leadership and hands on approach Guy Hollaway has created a design-led Practice committed to innovative building solutions, with work ranging from prestigious one off commissions to large scale regeneration projects.
The RIBA award-winning architecture and design practice has built its reputation working on a wide array of projects, including a cutting-edge skate park, the world’s first heritage theme park, a bespoke artist’s studio in an open field, and a high-end seafood restaurant. The breadth of these projects may be wide, but each one brings the perfect balance of playfulness and sincerity, with a firm focus on placemaking, sustainability and the experience of the individuals who will use the space.
London
10A Acton Street WC1X 9NG
+44 (0)20 7096 5425
Kent
The Tramway Stables, Rampart Road
Hythe CT21 5BG
+44 (0)1303 260 515
Did you know?
Folkestone Triennial: the largest exhibition of newly commissioned work presented in the UK
Unfortunately, the majority of events scheduled in 2020 were cancelled, with the Creative Folkestone Triennial being one of these. However, we are delighted to say that the event is going to be returning this year. You can expect the Creative Folkestone Triennial 2021: The Plot to take place from the 22nd of July through until the 2nd of November. If you have never heard of this project before, read on to discover everything you need to know about it and what you should expect.
What is the Creative Folkestone Triennial?
The Creative Folkestone Triennial, for those who are unaware, is actually the flagship project for Creative Folkestone. It is the biggest exhibition of newly commissioned work that is showcased in the United Kingdom. Artists receive an invite to utilise the town as their own gallery, making the most of public spaces so that they can put together striking pieces of art that will reflect issues that impact both the Folkestone area and the wider world as well.
Some of the artists that have showcased at the Creative Folkestone Triennial before
To this date, there have been four Triennials that have taken place, with more than 440,000 visitors attracted during this period. There are many different artists that have been commissioned during this time as well. This includes AK Dolven, Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Wilson, Cristina Iglesias, Mark Wallinger, Martin Creed, Jeremy Deller, Christian Boltanski, and Cornelia Parker.
One of the most significant global events on the calendar today for artists
Since the inception of the Triennial in 2008, the Creative Folkestone Triennial has quickly become established as one of the most significant recurring art exhibitions on the global calendar. The reason it has been able to achieve this is that it is one of only a few art exhibitions that have set out with the aim of having an impact that goes beyond just the art programme. Instead, the aim here is to change the character of the location in which the event occurs. As a consequence, you can expect exhibitions like this to generate a spirit of place through the artwork collections on display, as well as the changes to the physical environment. The main changes occur as a consequence of helping to alter the thinking within the communities of these special exhibitions. Therefore, we can safely say that the Creative Folkestone Triennial is going to have a significant impact on the location and the community as a whole, making it an incredibly exciting event for Folkestone architects to be a part of.
The Creative Folkestone Triennial impacts the wider area, going beyond just the project itself
At every Creative Folkestone Triennial, artists are invited to engage with the rich cultural history of the area and the environment that has been built here. They also get the chance to showcase newly commissioned work in the public spaces around Folkestone. You will find that typically 20 significant pieces of art are commissioned per each Creative Folkestone Triennial. Moreover, there is a fair quantity of them that will stay in situ even once the exhibition has concluded, becoming part of Folkestone Artworks. This is an ambitious process that we have seen paralleled in only a small number of creative and impressive exhibitions from around the world, with examples including in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as Echigo-Tsumari in Japan and Munster in Germany.
If this is your first time learning about the Creative Folkestone Triennial or getting familiar with this event, we would recommend that you do a bit of digging regarding the past events that have taken place here. Professor Lewis Biggs O.B.E curated the last two Triennials, including Double Edge in 2017 and Lookout in 2014. He is also the man who is going to oversee the Creative Folkestone Triennial for 2021. He is a distinguished professor of Public Art at the University of Shanghai, as well as having achieved a number of awards in the industry and being the Trustee of the Liverpool John Moores Exhibition Trust (JMLET).
So there you have it: everything that you need to know about Creative Folkestone Triennial 2021: The Plot. For the past 12 years, this event has established itself as one of the most significant global events on the calendar, and so it is certainly exciting to hear that it is going to go ahead this year. We certainly expect to see a lot of Folkestone architects and other professionals attending this year. Will you be making an appearance?