Library
A curated selection of books and references that have shaped how I think about atmosphere, space and the experience of place. These are foundational works that continue to inform how I approach design - how spaces feel, how they are experienced, and why some places stay with us long after we leave.
In Praise of Shadows
Junchiro Tanzinaki
A meditation on shadow, material and atmosphere, design rooted in subtlety, depth, and the quiet interplay between natural light and darkness. This book influenced my thinking for the design of the Forge which remains one of the most intimate spaces at Middleton Lodge.
The Poetics of Space
Gaston Bachelard
A foundational text in understanding the emotional life of a space. The idea of a child making dens and hiding in cupboards stayed with me - a reminder of intimacy, memory and imagination are often found in the smallest places.
Walk the House
Do Ho Suh
An exploration of memory and the invisible threads of home, as something we carry with us, shaping our sense of place long after we leave them. I first encountered Do Ho Suh’s ephemeral work more than 20 years ago, and seeing it at the Tate Modern recently it had lost non of its exquisite impact.
Undesigning the Bath
Leonard Koren
A reflection on the simplicity of stripping back design to human desire and nature, reframing luxury as something far quieter, slower and more intentional, rooted in atmosphere, in material, and in experience. I kept coming back to this when designing the Forest Spa.
Blind Light
Anthony Gormley
An immersive work that altered my perception of the body in space, through disorientation. A reminder of how the physical containers we inhabit shape our awareness, our comfort, and feelings of safety.