Practice Hare founded in 1977 pays tribute to architect鈥檚 鈥渃urious and continually challenging approach to design鈥

Nicholas Hare, founder of Nicholas Hare Architects, has died at the age of 81.

鈥淚t is with great sadness that we announce the death of Nick Hare, the founding partner of our practice,鈥 said Nicholas Hare Architects yesterday afternoon.

Hare started the practice in 1977 from the attic room of his house in Highbury, north London, while teaching at the School of Architecture in Cambridge.

Nicholas Hare

Source: Nicholas Hare Architects

Nicholas Hare founded his eponymous practice in 1977

The firm was first put on the map after becoming the only British firm shortlisted for the design of the Opera Bastille in Paris.

It went on to win many high profile commissions, including Roald Dahl Plass, a public square outside the Senedd building in Cardiff, Sadler鈥檚 Well Theatre in Islington and the

鈥淗e was an inspirational teacher with a passion for the practice of architecture that attracted many students to the studio,鈥 the practice said of Hare.

鈥淗e never lost the impulse to teach and had the gift of drawing out the very best of all who worked with him. 

鈥淣ick set out to create an inclusive culture in the practice, with teams working on each project from start to finish, resulting in architecture with a unique integrity and attention to detail. 

鈥淗e was also insistent on properly professional service; award-winning architecture needed to be delivered on time and on budget too.鈥

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Hare felt that architects 鈥渃ould and should鈥 tackle any type of project, and was keen to avoid complacency by becoming too specialist.

鈥淗e favoured a curious and continually challenging approach to design, founded upon close client consultation that led to innovative and exciting architecture,鈥 his practice said.

Hare of the firm he founded and set out on a career in large scale sculpting.

At the time of his retirement, he said 鈥淚鈥檝e very much enjoyed working in a partnership. The nice thing about our job is making buildings you hope people are pleased with, but it is also about working with all sorts of different people making different projects. What we will miss is the people.鈥