Craig Downie
Before founding Studiodownie Architects in 1993, Craig Downie studied architecture within the layered environment of fine art, sculpture, graphics and textiles at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. Following the success of his architectural practice, Downie has been included in The Architecture Foundation's 'Britain's Best Young Architectural Practices' in both 1998 and 2001.
Awards include the 'Design Business Association's Design Effectiveness Award' for Interiors: Office and Commercial and the British Construction Industry Award's 'Judges' Special Award' for an inspirational building as a result of Downie's design for the Study Centre for the Royal Geographical Society. Just one year after having set up his architectural practice, Downie was commission by Wilfred Cass to create the Cass Sculpture Foundation's Visitors' Gallery in 1994. Downie was to receive a RIBA award for this building - which was also short-listed for a BCI award.
From 1994 onwards Downie's work has involved creating interiors for the Ondaatje Theatre; the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA); KPMG; Microsoft; government-funded outreach centres for the West London Training & Enterprise Council and offices for the French Treasury. His recent commissions include a new mixed-use gateway building as part of the King's Cross Development.
In 2006 the Casses commissioned Downie to create its Foundation Centre. The centre provides new offices, a library, exhibition space and archives for a unique collection of 21st century British sculpture. The greys and whites of the building's surfaces refer to the indigenous flint that is so specific to Sussex whilst providing a contrast between inside and out, and the hard and soft expression of the building and the landscape.
His work has been published throughout Europe, North America and Asia and in early 2007 the first monograph of Studiodownie's work was published.
