AJ 40 under 40: Common Ground
11 December 2020 By Richard Waite, illustration by Simon Hayes
Originally set up as Croydon’s in-house architect, AJ 40 under 40 practice Common Ground is already working for others and likely to survive the council s current troubles
It has been a tough year for cash-strapped Croydon Council and, in turn, for its housing delivery arm Brick By Brick, the parent company of emerging practice Common Ground Architecture. Both may yet be sold by the bankrupt local authority. Whatever the outcome, it is likely Common Ground, a rare design collective bridging the private and public sectors, will survive in some form and its talented team will continue to be a significant player in this field.
AJ 40 under 40: McCloy + Muchemwa
10 December 2020 By Merlin Fulcher, illustration by Simon Hayes
Steve McCloy and Bongani ‘Bo’ Muchemwa’s AJ 40 under 40 practice has demonstrated an ability to reach final stages of competitions and win impressive commissions
Steve McCloy, 31, and Bongani ‘Bo’ Muchemwa, 32, met while studying for their undergraduate degrees at Leeds Beckett University and, following years of collaboration, joined forces to form McCloy + Muchemwa.
The London-based duo attribute their ‘common outlook’ to the fact they both had childhoods in Africa, McCloy in Kenya and Muchemwa in Zimbabwe. However, they also share a remarkable talent for reaching the final stages of competitions and winning much-coveted commissions.