Legacy, leadership, and local roots: a landmark year for Wincer Kievenaar Architects

2026 is a monumental year for Wincer Kievenaar Architects, as we hit three milestones worth celebrating: over 45 incredible years in business, ten years of Philip Branton and Craig Western’s leadership as directors, and one year at our new Hadleigh office. We couldn’t be prouder to be celebrating these landmark achievements and the work we’ve done to get here.

To mark these milestones, we spoke to Philip and Craig about the practice, their decade-long journey as leaders, and our Hadleigh home.

45+ years of Wincer Kievenaar Architects

Wincer Kievenaar Architects was originally formed as a partnership in 1980, became an LLP in 2006, and remained so until 2015, when the business was incorporated and became Wincer Kievenaar Architects Ltd.

Looking back at the firm’s 45+ year history, what do you think has kept the practice successful over four decades?

Philip said:
Longevity in architecture rarely comes from chasing trends. What has sustained the practice for 46 years is its ability to adapt without losing its core values. There has always been a strong emphasis on relationships with clients, collaborators, and within the team, alongside a belief that thoughtful, well-considered architecture will stand the test of time.

Craig added:
That consistency, combined with a willingness to evolve, has allowed the practice to remain relevant through changing economic, technical and cultural landscapes. Having a diverse portfolio across a number of sectors has also been key. It gives the practice resilience and the ability to pivot, drawing on a broad range of experience rather than relying on a single market or building type.

Architecture has changed since the firm’s humble beginnings. What’s one tradition or principle from the early days that you’ve fought to keep alive?

Craig said:
A commitment to doing things properly. From the earliest days, the practice valued rigorous thinking, careful detailing and a deep understanding of context rather than shortcuts or surface-level design decisions.

Philip added:
While the tools, technology and processes have changed dramatically, that principle still underpins how we approach every project. We take the time to understand the brief, the place and the people it serves, because that is where meaningful architecture begins.

If you had to pick one project from the archives that defines the firm’s contribution to the architectural landscape, which would it be?

Philip said:
It is an incredibly difficult question because rather than a single flagship project, it is really the cumulative body of work that best defines the practice.

Craig added:
In particular, our work within education, community and residential sectors reflects our ethos. Many of these buildings quietly support daily life rather than seek attention, and that has always felt like an honest expression of who we are. Architecture that serves people and place and continues to work well long after completion.

Philip said:
That said, if put on the spot, our work in the community building sector has been especially rewarding, and we are particularly proud of Lavenham Village Hall.

Ten Years of Leadership

In 2015, founders Mark Wincer and Paul Kievenaar retired. 2015 saw Philip and Craig take the reins, completing a management buyout of the original LLP business before turning Wincer Kievenaar into a limited company. Philip has been with Wincer Kievenaar since 2002, and Craig joined us in 2013.

You’ve both been at the helm for a decade now. What was your primary mission when you first stepped into director roles?

Craig said:
The aim was evolution rather than reinvention. We wanted to protect the practice’s reputation for quality and integrity while modernising how it operates.

Philip added:
That meant embracing new technologies, improving systems, broadening the scope of work and creating a more collaborative studio culture. Just as importantly, we wanted to ensure the practice could offer a sustainable and rewarding environment for the team as it continued to grow.

Craig said:
A great deal of time and effort has been invested in the team and in ourselves to build a strong and genuinely empowered culture.

How has your working relationship evolved over the last 10 years? How do you balance each other’s working styles and design philosophies?

Philip said:
Like any long-term collaboration, it has matured through trust and shared experience.

Craig added:
We approach problems from slightly different angles, and that difference has become a strength rather than a challenge. Open dialogue, respect for each other’s judgement, and knowing when to lead and when to step back have allowed us to make better decisions together than either of us could in isolation.

Over the last decade, is there a specific moment where you both thought, ‘this is why we took this on’?

Craig said:
While awards and peer recognition are always appreciated, the most meaningful moments are when a project is genuinely embraced by its users. A school that becomes the heart of its community, or a private home that transforms a family’s day-to-day life.

Philip added:
Alongside that, it is the team. Seeing people progress and grow, or hearing clients offer unprompted praise for the team’s work, really reinforces why leadership matters.

The first year in the new office

Last year, we moved into our new office space, still within the familiar surroundings of the Suffolk market town of Hadleigh, our home since 1980.

What was it about the new office space that felt like the right next chapter for the firm?

Philip said:
Hadleigh has always felt like a natural fit. The practice has been based here since the 1980s, so there is a strong connection to the town and its community.

Craig added:
Our previous premises served us well, and we enjoyed our time in the Market Place. However, over the last decade, it became clear that the space no longer aligned with how we wanted to work. The move represented a conscious step towards a more considered, collaborative way of working and better reflects the values we promote through our projects.

Architecture is a high-pressure profession. Has the town setting helped the team find more headspace or balance?

Craig said:
Absolutely. The work is no less demanding, but the setting makes a real difference.

Philip added:
Hadleigh is a unique market town. Reduced commuting stress, a strong sense of place and the surrounding rural landscape all contribute to a more balanced working day. There is a noticeable wellbeing benefit when the team can walk into the High Street for lunch or take a break along the river walk.

As architects, you design for others. What was the one ‘must-have’ element you insisted on for your own workspace?

Craig added:
One of the best additions to the new office is the staff welfare area. It is light, airy and encourages a more social environment.

Philip said:
For the workspace itself, we wanted something that could adapt to different ways of working, from quiet focus to collaboration and conversation, without feeling over-designed. It was important that the studio felt comfortable and human, not like a showroom.

Name one small joy or surprise about being in Hadleigh.

Craig said:
It is the sense of familiarity and belonging.

Philip added:
Simple things like greeting neighbours, walking to lunch, meeting fellow business owners and supporting independent High Street shops all help the practice feel genuinely embedded in the town. We want to support the community where we can, so we sponsor a board at the Hadleigh Rugby Football Club, and are proud sponsors of The Hadleigh Show (celebrating its 187th show this year) and Hadleigh Cricket Club. 

Thank you for 45+ incredible years

To our clients, network, family, and friends, thank you for your support over the last 46 years. It’s been a wonderful journey, and we’re incredibly proud of the team we’ve built and the work we’ve produced, from private residential homes to community hubs full of heart. 

We look forward to designing for many more decades to come, all while learning and evolving as the architectural landscape changes with time and technology.