SOPHIE HICKS ARCHITECTS

FRAME

HOME AGAIN

by Tracey Ingram. Portraits by Andrew Meredith. July/August 2019

SOPHIE HICKS had an ace up her sleeve when developing fashion-forward retail concepts for the likes of Acne Studios, Chloé, Yohji Yamamoto and Paul Smith. Before becoming an architect, the Londoner worked for visionary fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa and as a fashion stylist for British Vogue. ‘Fashion people speak a different language,’ says Hicks, ‘but
I understand that language.’ Interested in architecture from a very young age, she made the switch ‘before becoming tired of fashion. I left on an up.’

Hicks formed SH Ltd Architects in 1990 while studying at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. With a few staff members on board, she juggled refurbishing residences with the responsibilities of motherhood. ‘It’s quite unusual to start a practice while studying, but as a mature student I could cope.’

Tom Hopes joined Sophie Hicks Architects in 2011. Maintaining the ‘unusual’ way of working she established during the days of rapid roll-outs for Chloé, Hicks and Hopes are a two-person show with multiple extras. ‘My main forte is design detailing whereas Tom’s is design for construction, but we work incredibly closely. Any support we need is farmed out to other people.’ And they’ll continue to work in this way as the studio shifts away from the retail realm and dives deeper into residences – back to where it all began.

View / Download PDF >

< PREVIOUS

RETURN TO ALL MAGAZINES

NEXT >

THE MODERN HOUSE

ARCHITECT SOPHIE HICKS ON LIFE IN HER HIDDEN CONCRETE HAVEN IN KENSINGTON
by The Modern House
Summer 2023

FRAME

YOHJI YAMAMOTO FLAGSHIP STORE
By Chris Scott
Photographs by Johannes Marburg
May/Jun 2009

KINFOLK MAGAZINE

4 NECESSARY EVILS – Competitiveness
By Pip Usher
Photographs by Marsý Hild Þórsdóttir
December 2016

J’N’C News

DIE GEISTERJÄGERIN
Interview by Svea Jörgens
Portraits by Volker Conradus
December 2012

FAMILY STYLE

BREAKING GROUND
Words by Rachel Summer Small
Photography by Simons Pinckney Finnerty
No. 7, Fall 2025

WWD

MAX MARA UNVEILS REVAMPED PARIS FLAGSHIP
Words by Rhonda Richford
Photography by Adrian Gaut
April 2026

WSJ MAGAZINE

TRACKED SOPHIE HICKS
By Ned Beauman
Photographs by Julia Grassi
December 2018 / January 2019