Architecture Firms

The first firm I would like to talk about is Bennetts Associates Architects, this firm has done many projects since its founding in 1987. What I especially like about the site is the layout which is relatively clean and there isn't a lot of noise or distractions. Although the transitions between pages is nice as the photographs fade into view at different I also appreciate that their portfolio is available to look at there work. Bennetts Associates Architects is a firm with locations London and Edinburgh.

Benson and Forsyth another UK based firm with offices in London and Edinburgh. There website while not as full of motion as Bennetts is still clean cut and easy enough to navigate that it works quite well. I really do love there designs and some of the buildings they have been contracted for include the British Embassy Poland. My only complaint is that, there is nothing to read about the projects which is something this site could really use.

Foster and Partners, this firm has touched nearly every great building in London, I couldnt ignore them. There website is diffidently the flashiest that I have been to yet, but I expected no less from the firm that made London Town Hall, and the Gherkin. This site also has some of the most extensive multimedia in the portfolio, quick time movies, as well as images and text explaining the goal of the design.

Haworth Tompkins, another London based architecture firm has a brilliant website. In terms of ease of use I appreciate that they divide there projects by those in progress and those completed. The best part is "The Dumpster" where one can dig through things the firm has seen and heard. Not really sure if the dumpster was an appropriate title but none the less it was an interesting feature.

Next up Wilkinson Eyre, is a multi award winning London Based architecture firm. There website is very easy to use despite its flashy features. Want to find projects? They've made that text colored so it is easy to spot and you dont go running about the page trying to find a certain sector. They have also divided the projects up by type making it easier to narrow down what it is your looking for. The rest of the website is pretty much a gray scale scene except for images which seem to feature a lot of colour because of it.

RMJM started as a firm in Scotland in 1956 it has since spread it self all over the globe. This website is very different from the others which chose more to focus on images of work, this page has alot more to read, in a way I feel abit bombarded by text which I feel maybe due in part to its large size. You can look at there designs but I did not much care for them so I quickly clicked through and moved on, one feature I will highlight which I did not really prefer is that you must drag images to view them larger, why not just have a button?

Future Systems, a strange name for an architecture firm, but this firm really is designing what may very well be the future. Their buildings are all very organic and look like well, the future as it was seen in the 50s and 60s, round shapes everywhere. Their website is rather nice, with white with pink and blue text. It is very easy to navigate as projects are right on the main page with no need to look around. The layout is nice with small thumbnails that give you a hint of what they are with out actually spoiling a surprise.

Cartwright Pickard Architects, based out of greater London has a very basic website, the flash portion of the site really only has a portfolio and their recruitment information. Despite this though it almost plays to their favour as you will have already seen their contact information before getting to the portfolio which in a way almost makes you remember it the most as you look through out its portfolio.

Eric Parry Architects, London based and I must say this is possibly my favorite site, the text is very simple, no elaborate fonts and no over done graphical things, just really easy to flow around in, I also love the firms work. but in regards to the site, I had no problem finding anything, I looked at the history of the firm, its goals and its portfolio and was not once confused about how to return to the main page like on some of the other sites. Brilliant work.

Hackett + Hall's website is possibly the most basic, no real home page, just a logo and links to the portfolio, contact, awards and history. This works to their benefit though as the user can easily navigate around the page to each and every part from what ever page they're on with out having to go back to some kind of menu screen.