Melanie joined Orms in 2010, she leads a team committed to projects across diverse sectors and scales. Her current portfolio includes a major contemporary refurbishment at 1 St Martin’s Le Grand, a 19th century former General Post Office building designed by Sir Henry Tanner for Ho Bee Land, another at 10 Spring Gardens on The Mall for The Crown Estate as well as a number of sustainable workplace interiors in Central London, committed to crafting environments that not only support but inspire human interaction. This breadth of experience demonstrates her versatility in addressing varied client needs and urban contexts while maintaining design excellence.
What does ultrapractical mean to you? Ultrapractical architecture means creating environments that not only function with precision but also resonate with the people who use them. Spaces that serve both clients and users with equal care and consideration. Over the past decade at Orms, I have led and contributed to a wide range of workplace refurbishments and co-working interiors for clients including Derwent London, Aviva, and TOG. Developing a particular sensitivity to the potential of existing buildings, reimagining them as contemporary, high-performing workspaces that reflect the evolving nature of how we work. As a founding member of Orms’ first Employee Ownership Council, I’ve also been part of shaping a collaborative and inclusive studio culture—one that underpins our commitment to architecture that is both rigorously practical and deeply inspiring.