For London-based studio Mosley Thorold, the role of architect doesn’t stop once walls are erected and the skeleton of a space is set. By contrast, the team employ a detail-oriented approach to each of their projects, taking full responsibility for the craftsmanship of the architecture, the interiors and even the objects that fill these spaces.
After a chance encounter at a making-focused unit at The Architectural Association, Nathaniel Mosley and Henry Thorold both went on to work at separate architecture practices before reuniting in 2017 to set up their own studio, Mosley Thorold.
“We’ve taken that making-focused approach into our work,” they tell enki. “For us, craftsmanship isn’t about style – it’s a way of thinking through making, where every detail is a conversation between hand, material and place,” Henry adds.
And though this “making-focused approach” ensures a highly crafted finish to all of the duo’s architectural endeavours, it also has seen Mosley Thorold design a series of individual objects and furniture pieces. Offering a more precise response to a space than sourcing a solution, these ventures include a statement counterbalance pendent, a dining table designed for conviviality and a curved concrete bench that curls through garden planting.
Here enki sits down with Mosley Thorold to chat all things object design, craftsmanship and how bespoke detailing has lent a dexterous depth to the studio’s portfolio…
At what point in your architecture journey did you step into object design?
On one of our very first projects. We were struggling to find an ideal light fitting for a tricky double height space and were lucky to be commissioned to design one instead.
How would you describe the relationship between the architecture you envision and the objects you design?
We love designing objects to inhabit our projects. With both architecture and objects, what we’re fundamentally trying to do is improve the quality of people’s experience of their immediate environment. The difference in scale presents different opportunities, but both are focused on curating spaces for living.
What does craftsmanship mean to you? How does this manifest in your work?
Good craftsmanship brings a feeling of coherence to a project and allows for resonances to emerge in the materials and detail. This can only be achieved through a fruitful collaboration between designer and maker.
When it comes to designing individual pieces, how does this process usually unravel?
The process is always different. The key idea for a piece could come from a site-specific opportunity, the development of a previous prototype, or an exploration of a material and making process.
How do you find just the right makers to bring your ideas to life?
We’ve built up a roster of great makers over the years, mainly through word-of-mouth recommendations. In our experience, the most important thing is that the maker shares our ambition for the end result and an enjoyment of the process
With the objects and furniture you’ve envisioned so far – do you see these as one-off pieces designed as a solution for a singular piece of architecture, or could you see these coming to life as a collection of their own?
Many of our pieces are built-in or fully site specific. But increasingly, we are designing free-standing furniture which would hold together as a collection and work in a range of spaces.
What is your favourite piece you’ve designed for a space so far?
Probably the dining table, which has become the heart of our client’s much cherished home.
What is something you haven’t designed yet that you would love to?
A cutlery set. We spend so much time thinking about the design of kitchens – it’s fun to have a go at what goes into them
How would you describe the style of Mosley Thorold?
A textured and materially conscious architecture. In each project, we find a distinct character in the interplay between the way the building carries its weight, admits light and sheds water.
What are your favourite materials to work with and why?
The most joyful materials to work with are those that best suit the context and character of the project. This could be in a collaboration with skilled masons using local granite on a coastal house in Cornwall, or in the use of weathering steel to form rainwater goods in a London terraced house extension.
Why is it important to carefully consider the pieces we fill our homes with?
Through use and physical connection, we imbue the objects in our lives with meaning and memory. This instinct runs counter to the modern culture of disposability which we desperately need to reject. A well-considered piece will always stand a better chance of being cherished.
What are you currently working on?
A rainwater-fed plunge pool and a record shelving system.
Take a deep dive into Mosley Thorold’s architecture here.
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