Following a successful public inquiry, Berkeley Homes were granted planning permission to convert the Lambeth College building by Tower Bridge into a ‘boutique’ hotel, maintaining Ian Ritchie Architects’ 100% record in securing planning permission for every project that it has designed and submitted for permission in the UK and Europe.

Ian has been member of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851’s selection panel for its Research Fellowships in The Built Environment for the past few years and, also since 2006, its Research Fellowships in Design. The 2008 Research Fellowships is currently being reviewed by the panel of Alan Baxter, Dr Joanna Kennedy, Lord Lindley and Ian. The Research Fellowships are worth £60,000 over two years.

Ian Ritchie and Jocelyne Van den Bossche will be participating in the RSC International Council Meeting 10-12 September in Stratford - upon - Avon.

Ian Ritchie will again be contributing to President Lee Bollinger’s Manhattanville Ad Hoc Committee in October and November which is critically reflecting upon the evolving Renzo Piano’s Masterplan which was commissioned by Columbia University for its significant expansion north into Manhattanville, a neighbourhood bordered on the south by Morningside Heights on the west by the Hudson River, on the east by Harlem and on the north by Hamilton Heights.

Ian Ritchie will be giving lectures in Scotland - at Aberdeen University and Edinburgh University during the coming academic year.

Forthcoming lectures being given by Ian Ritchie include the annual key note lecture at USC Los Angeles.
"This Land is OUR Land... GREENING Architecture, Ethics and the Environment"

A Key-Note Lecture exploring the pioneering work of our practice and to provoke meaningful reflection among USC students and professionals.It will be given in the USC Boavard Auditorium to an audience of 1200 on January 21st 2009.

Poïesis in Architecture
This exhibition captures the essence from 20 international projects of Ian Ritchie Architects through poetry, drawing, photography, models, components, materials and books. The exhibition is at the University of Liverpool, Department of Architecture, Leverhulme Building, Abercromby Square from 3rd October 2008 to 16th January 2009. Opening night party is 2nd October.

Purfleet, Cory’s Wharf, a 700 metre long Thames-side mixed use development, was granted Reserved Matters Approval by the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation. The approved scheme, which we have designed for Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd., and consists of extensive public landscape and play areas, and a riverside walk surrounding buildings from 3 storeys to 18 storeys tall which contain 502 residential units and 1398 square meters A1 / A3 use.

A related full planning application proposing a further 157 residential units at the eastern end of the site is expected to be decided by the Development Corporation in the very near future.

Site works have commenced on this project which is scheduled to be largely completed by September 2010 for a construction cost of £17million. The project involves the renovation of Leonard Mannasseh’s original Grade II* School in Penfold Street, and adding new nursery, primary and secondary teaching spaces and dance/performance facilities.