Practicing architecture carries great responsibility, not only to immediate clients, colleagues and collaborators but also to the wider public, the places we build and the planet we share. We take these obligations very seriously, advocating shared ethical, social and environmental values and upholding the RIBA Code of Professional Conduct and the ARB’s Standards of Professional Conduct and Practice.
Dickens Architects believes passionately in the considered use of the earth’s resources and carefully account for the whole life cycle of buildings, including their construction, operation, adaptability, energy consumption and maintenance requirements. For example, the Ray Dolby Centre at the University of Cambridge will be powered by a vast ground source heat pump array. Although requiring additional capital investment, over the building’s lifetime it will save the University money and slash their carbon footprint.
We believe that architecture should add social value and improve people’s lives. This does not necessarily mean increased expenditure and can be accomplished through resourceful design. For example, at the University of Southampton the ingenious stacked arrangement of the Mountbatten Building reduced construction costs and created a new public square not envisaged under the original brief.
Responsible Practice
Dickens Architects delivers sustainable, functional, elegant architecture tailored to every client, site and brief. Our specialisms include science and technology, higher education, residential, hospitality, workplace and data centres. Led by award winning architect Julian Dickens, we are innovative problem solvers who bring coherent thinking, design creativity, economy of means and rigorous attention to detail to all projects.
By listening carefully to our client’s needs, we respond collaboratively with intelligent low carbon solutions which meet functional and technical requirements but also inspire and delight. Our design approach is contemporary and site specific, informing architecture that is memorable, sensitive to its historical, social and physical surroundings, and reflects the identity of our clients.
Function, purpose and adaptability are fundamental to our approach, but great architecture transcends utility creating beautiful places that raise the human spirit and improve people’s lives. We design for all the senses and consider the experience of all building users, local community and wider society, enabling exchange between people in public and private.
Our architecture seeks to minimise its environmental footprint and improve physical and mental wellbeing through careful control of material, colour, light, views, acoustics, ventilation and environmental comfort. We believe that materials should be used responsibly in a robust and honest way, expressing structure and services where appropriate and revealing the innate beauty of surfaces and light.
Inventive Design
Our approach is responsive and collaborative and we enjoy new challenges which spark inventive solutions. Good architecture is built on healthy debate, close consultation and teamwork.
Adapting our approach to suit your familiarity with design and construction, we enjoy working with a diverse spectrum of clients. Our experience of client collaborations ranges from Nobel prize winning scientists to multinational pharmaceutical companies, Russell Group institutions to international Universities, private homeowners to national housing associations, boutique hoteliers to global hotel chains, local charities to worldwide corporations. We are specialists in complex stakeholder management, drawing for example from experience engaging with the 16 research groups from the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge.
Dickens Architects are accomplished leaders and partners in multi-disciplinary design teams. Our architecture embraces engineering, but we also have the expertise to challenge project team colleagues, always seeking to optimise design solutions. We collaborate openly with contractors and their supply chain to add value and drive innovation.
Collaborative Approach
Whether your project is large or small, refurbishment or new build, public or private sector, Dickens Architects have the experience to deliver on time and on budget. Ranging in scale from a £70,000 house renovation to a £214m laboratory, our team have a proven track record delivering architecture across science and technology, higher education, residential, hospitality, workplace and data centres.
Establishing a comprehensive brief is our starting point for every project. We can help you clearly define your requirements, referencing them throughout all stages to guide decisions. Employing benchmarking metrics, we inform realistic programmes and budgets against which progress and costs are assessed. Having implemented traditional, management and design and build contracts, we advise smart procurement which is key to delivering value.
We lead and collaborate closely with other consultants and contractors to meet your funding and time constraints and proactively manage risk. Critical amongst these is securing planning permission and we have decades of experience negotiating with local authorities on behalf of clients.
Proficient with the RIBA Plan of Work, we have managed teams effectively across dozens of UK and international projects. Previous experience includes BIM Level 2 on the Ray Dolby Centre for the University of Cambridge and a British Construction Industry BIM Application award for the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester.
Reliable Delivery
At the foundation of design excellence, responsible architecture, effective collaboration and efficient delivery is a thriving practice culture.
Our aim is to produce happy and satisfied practice members, clients, stakeholders and communities. Dickens Architects embraces diversity and fosters a supportive working environment where everyone feels valued and talent is nurtured. Bringing humour to our work, we promote health, wellbeing and enjoyment.
Acting fairly, objectively and professionally, we advocate unity, enthusiasm and mutual respect. We cultivate relationships and openly explore diverse ideas irrespective of who conceived them. Responsive to change and planning for growth, we review and address problems honestly, continually questioning and seeking improvements in the way we work.
7. Group study trip
Nurturing Culture
“Julian is an exceptionally talented architect who brings energy, versatility and effective solutions to projects for the optimum outcome for clients”
Luigi Scalera, Project Leader, Estates Division, University of Cambridge
A practice’s culture is reflective of its leaders. Dickens Architects was founded by Julian Dickens in 2021. Formerly an Associate Director and Science and Technology Lead at Jestico + Whiles, Julian has a proven track record leading teams and delivering exceptional architecture within challenging budgets and timeframes across the UK and internationally. This design quality been recognised with awards from the RIBA, AIA, BCI, NLA and Civic Trust, and over 100 publications including Detail, Blueprint, Wallpaper, RIBA Journal, The Times, The Guardian and the BBC.
Julian brings over two decades’ experience across newbuild and refurbishment, public and private sectors, all project sizes and multiple sectors including science and technology, higher education, residential, hospitality, workplace and data centres. He is one of the UK’s leading science and technology Architects, with over 15 years’ experience designing world leading R&D facilities.
Passionate about architecture, urbanism, sustainability and education, Julian is a visiting tutor at London Metropolitan University, a member of the University Design Forum and an assessor on the RIBA’s Validation Panel. He has also lectured widely at leading institutions including the RIBA, RICS, NLA, Manchester School of Architecture and Clare College Cambridge.
Experienced Leadership
Images: Peter Cook: 1 & 3, Hufton + Crow: 2, Currie & Brown: 6, Jestico + Whiles: 4, 5, 7 & 8