Photograph by Alasdair McLellan
SOPHIE HICKS
RIBA, AA DIPL
Sophie Hicks became a chartered architect in 1994, prior to which she worked in fashion: as a stylist for Vogue Magazine; and for the legendary designer, Azzedine Alaia. She leads a practice with extensive experience in both the fashion retail and private residential sectors. A clear conceptual as well as practical thinker, with an instinct for the zeitgeist, she is especially strong on design.
2025
- Completion of a building for 025S Perfume in Seoul, Korea.
- Concept development and design of a building in Seoul for Layer Studios.
- Concept development and design of a new a flagship in Paris for a prestigious fashion brand.
2024
- Concept development and design of a new store for Mugler.
2023
- Staging of a concert by Russian pianist Pavel Kolesnikov which will launch the Aldeburgh Festival of Music.
- A building that will embody perfume for 025S in Seoul, South Korea.
- Completion of the new Alaïa New York Flagship at 149 Mercer Street, SoHo.
- Completion of Alaïa stores in Osaka, Japan and Chengdu, China.
2022
- House Between Two Lakes is one of 11 projects shortlisted for the Architects’ Journal prestigious Manser Medal House of the Year Award.
- Concept development and design of a new store for Bottega Veneta.
- Implementation of our architectural concept for the new stores of Alaïa in Tokyo and Shanghai.
2021
- Concept development for the architecture of new stores of Alaïa.
- The House Between Two Lakes, a newbuild house situated deep in the Northamptonshire countryside, is completed.
- Project development continues for a new build house in the Holland Park conservation area of London.
- From 2018 to 2021, Sophie Hicks has held a prestigious position at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, as a member of an International team of External Examiners that verifies the awarding of ARB/RIBA degrees.
2020
- Sophie Hicks Architects is commissioned by Givenchy to bring a new visual identity to their stores worldwide, following the appointment of Matthew M. Williams as the new creative director of the brand.
- Feasibility study for a new factory for Inventec (part of the Groupe Dehon) that produces chemical products, at Bry-sur-Marne.
- A newbuild house, situated between two lakes deep in the Northamptonshire countryside, is under construction.
- Project development continues for a new build house in the Holland Park conservation area of London.
2019
- 1A Earl’s Court Square is the winner of a RIBA London Award.
- 1A Earl’s Court Square is longlisted for the RIBA House of the Year Award.
- 1A Earl’s Court Square is shortlisted for the British Homes Awards.
- 1A Earl’s Court Square is shortlisted for the AJ Manser Medal House of the Year Award 2019.
2018
- A new build house in the Earls Court conservation area of central London is completed.
- Concerned by the difficulty young people have in getting a satisfactory first job, Sophie Hicks applied for and was appointed by the Institute for Apprenticeships as a member of the Panel for Creative and Design. Apprenticeships are designed to provide education, training and paid employment simultaneously. The aim is to improve the work opportunities and job satisfaction of young people, avoid student debt, and address the skills shortage in the UK. The IFA is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Education of the British Government.
2016-17
- We continue to design and build contemporary houses in central London.
2015
- A new building in Seoul, a flagship store for Acne Studios in partnership with Shinsegae, is completed.
- A new build house in Regent Square, conservation area of central London, is completed.
2009-14
- Focus on the acquisition of properties and the designing of contemporary houses in central London for our own property portfolio. We dedicate ourselves to the investigation of innovative approaches both to urban living and retail design.
2008
- Architect of Yohji Yamamoto flagship store in Paris.
- “Miró, Calder, Giacometti, Braque: Aimé Maeght and His Artists”, concept development and design of this exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
2007
- Architect of Chloé stores worldwide, including concept development. Since 2002, over 100 stores designed to date, including flagship stores in Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and New York.
2005
- Development of warehouse into offices and residences, Notting Hill, London.
2002
- Development of concept for Chloé stores.
- Architect of Chloé flagship store in Sloane St, London.
- Architect of Paul Smith store Heathrow.
- Architect of two Paul Smith accessory stores in London.
- Architect of new concept Paul Smith women’s stores in Japan.
- Architect of Red Ear jeans store, Tokyo.
2001
- Architect of private residence, Notting Hill, London.
- Architect of Paul Smith accessories and underwear stores, London, plus underwear display furniture worldwide.
- Architect of Paul Smith flagship store in Milan.
2000
- Concept development for Paul Smith women’s stores in Japan.
- Concept development for Paul Smith perfume display, also used for advertising campaign.
- Architect of office refurbishment for Boden, mail order clothing company, including space planning and call centre.
- Architect of Sigerson Morrison shoe shop, Notting Hill, London.
- Architecture and concept for Paul Smith’s “World Bar’” Paris.
- Product design – a perfume bottle for Paul Smith. Launch July 2000.
- Architect of new build private house on the coast at Hyères, South of France.
1999
- Vice President of the Architectural Association Council from 1997. Ordinary member from 1993.
1998
- “Picasso: Painter and Sculptor in Clay”, design of this exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
- Architect of Paul Smith Westbourne House flagship store, London.
1997
- Architect of Paul Smith Store, Sloane Avenue, London.
- “SENSATION, Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection”, design of this exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
- Architect for numerous private houses in and around London.
- Architect of ‘Sieghart House’ reconstruction of a studio house, Holland Park, London and new-build guest house.
- Prototype shopfit design for Connolly.
1994
- Received RIBA Part 3 qualification becoming a Chartered Architect.
Design of offices for Forward Publishing, London.
1993
- Interior refurbishment of apartments in London.
1992
- Design of glass furniture, exhibited at Joseph, London.
1991
- “Pop Art”, design of this exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
First private house refurbishment, London.
1990
- SH Ltd Architects formed.
1987
- Studied at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, from 1987 to 1993. Received AA Diploma.
1986-88
- Fashion stylist for Azzedine Alaia, working on his collections and a photographic book.
1986-88
- Fashion stylist on advertising campaigns.
1986
- Acted in L’Intervista, a film directed by Federico Fellini.
1985-86
- Fashion Editor of British Vogue Magazine.
1984-86
- Fashion Editor of Tatler Magazine.
1982-88
- Travelled to South America, Oceania, Indonesia, North Africa, India.
1977-83
- Fashion assistant at British Vogue Magazine, and Harpers & Queen. ‘Lifeswap’ with Bob Colacello of Interview Magazine in New York.
1977
- Harpers & Queen magazine – guest fashion editor for teenage issue.
1965-77
- School in England.
1960
- Born London.