Published: 04 June 2026
A New London
The early 1980s were a transformative time for the built environment in the city of London. For centuries it had protected its heritage with a strong arm and strict regulations that maintained a distinct patchwork of styles, eras and period architecture that had come to define the capital.
A new generation of architects would appear during this decade with a more nuanced attitude to the complexities of late 20th century architecture and design. With commercial buildings in particular there would have to be a deeply thoughtful and civic minded outlook to support London’s history of design innovation in a more liberated way.
Eric Parry Architects Begins
The Eric Parry Architects studio emerged in 1983 right at the heart of this creative response. Its founder Eric Parry studied at Newcastle University and later at the Royal College of Art and the Architectural Association of London. His work and interests centred around the development of tectonics for building design where the relationship between architecture and art can be explored. This was quietly revolutionary for commercial spaces in London and brought with it a much more civic sensibility than the city had previously adopted.
Allowing the buildings of business neighbourhoods to behave in a more active and contributory way would be a key element to the success of the studio. It encouraged engagement, interaction and advocacy from the residents, visitors and culture that is destined to surround them for a more vital city altogether.
Design Philosophy
The work of Eric Parry and his studio can be seen to draw influence from a number of movements. From the Neo-Rationalism style or European Urbanism of the late 20th century through to the high craft of Contemporary Classicism, there are clear associations that stand out. However, it would be fair to suggest that the strongest fit for style would be with Contextual Modernism.
This is where the history of the city is respected and celebrated with a new belonging for the buildings created. The patterns and rhythms of his facades are strong and reliable without feeling confrontational or jarring.
The Art of A Material World
The central role of materiality in Parry’s work is impossible to ignore. Stone, ceramic and metal are employed in a structural way to deliver a classic permanence without defaulting to decoration. In a similar way, the practice is renowned for collaborating with early-stage artists and embedding their work into the fabric of a space.
This means that culture is represented from the outset with a new responsibility on commercial buildings to be integrated and aware with the world they are creating.
Transforming Trafalgar Square
In 2008 the status of Eric Parry Architects was firmly established through their work on the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust renewal project at Trafalgar Square. This was a £36 million restoration programme for one of the most important churches anywhere in the city.
The 1726 structure is a Grade 1-listed building and needed modernisation and adaptation to remain active and accessible. Redeveloping the church crypt would be perhaps the most transformative element carried out to add a collection of public spaces that would be used as a café, retail units, and social enterprise locations with dedicated rooms for performances, rehearsals and community adoption.
This is now a statement to the city, and the wider world, on exactly how identity can be successfully preserved with contemporary architectural methods guided by the right hands.
5 Aldermanbury Square
The financial district of the city is home to another significant Eric Parry creation. 5 Aldermanbury Square was completed in 2018 and subsequently shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize. This is over 300,000 square feet of commercial space with an integrated public square that radically altered the surrounding streetscape with a positive impact.
Once again, it was the civic engagement within a commercial footprint that made the structure stand out. A deep façade creates shadows and layered textures to add a sense of place among the classic post-war neighbours around it. Its pale limestone and repeated columns offer a clear signal of strength without showmanship and subtle purpose through rhythm and focus.
The Architecture Today publication went as far as to suggest that Eric Parry was now a ‘City Maker’ as a result of the building’s success.
Developing the Future
The next standout chapter in the Eric Parry story looks set to be the newest addition to the skyscraper cluster of the London skyline. 1 Undershaft is an approved supertall office tower that will reach over 300 metres high with almost 1.5 million square feet of space.
This masterpiece is expected to complete in the 2030s with a clear concept as a civic skyscraper, staying true to the Parry philosophy of public engagement in design. It will be home to Europe’s highest public viewing gallery in an incredibly ambitious piece of architecture that reframes what is possible in a modern city.
The Next Generation Awaits
Eric Parry is closely linked with a new epoch for London architecture that ushered in a new century. Through his work at universities in the UK, the United States and Japan, he is ensuring that all that vital knowledge, experience and information gathered as a builder of cities is passed on to the minds of the future.
His studio is also guaranteeing that a legacy already etched onto the London landscape will continue to be strengthened well into the next decade and beyond.
