Ahead of next week’s Planning post, we’d like to take a moment to celebrate the Project Lead for the upcoming London scheme, Lewis Hillsdon - or ‘Lewy’ as he’s more affectionately known. Oxfordshire born and bred, Lewy joined AO in 2013 after graduating from Portsmouth University, before completing his MArch at Oxford Brookes, and continuing his Part III studies at UWE, qualifying as an Architect in 2020.
An extremely popular – but ever modest – member of the AO team, Lewy brings a warmth and nurturing energy to The Big Barn. The consummate professional, he embraces every aspect of his role, and all those he works alongside – colleagues, clients, and fellow consultants alike – with immeasurable care, enthusiasm, and generosity. His design flair, technical knowledge, experience, and breadth of work is inspiring, and his conscientious nature unwavering.
Over the years, Lewy has gained recognition for delivering – and securing complex Planning for – unique and high-end schemes, including recently, a luxury car showroom for leading name in the world of performance and classic cars, Tom Hartley Jnr. Away from the drawing board, Lewy is passionate about anything on wheels – from track bikes and Formula 1, to restoring his original Mark 1 Mazda – so the opportunity to create a space to house some of the most significant cars in automotive and motorsport history is an incredible privilege for him, and exciting for us to witness.
Lewy has recently relocated from Oxford to Walthamstow with his fiancé, Natalie – an Assistant Art Director in the film industry – and their beloved cat, Luna. Architecturally, retaining the unique character and materials of an existing building – reimagined through a modern lens, and for contemporary use – is a particular area of interest for him. This, in addition to the rich architectural and cultural history of London, has been a driving force behind his relocation to the city.
Lewy really is a pleasure to work with, and we are so proud of him - for all that he’s achieved and continues to accomplish. We’re also more than delighted to share that he now heads up the new London-based division of Anderson Orr at LABS Camden, where we have no doubt he will thrive and continue to be the most dedicated – and quite frankly, best dressed – Architect around.
