Phil Hawdon, PRINCIPAL PARTNER & ARCHITECT

It seems Phil has been an architect since childhood – fascinated in junior school by how spaces are put together, weekend working for an architect in his early teens. At art school he became aware of the social and community side of architecture and was quickly involved in campaigns to save established housing areas from mass demolition, coming out of the experience dedicated to making the practice of architecture accessible to all, at whatever level of need – hence his determination one day to have an open door studio directly off the main street.

His professional life has involved him in tilting at many windmills, whether it be environmental improvement, a more accessible architecture or supporting and playing a part in community initiatives - currently realised in the Sowerby Bridge Fire & Water project which he helped steer from embryonic beginnings to emerge as a major achiever and community partner in the town, heavily involved in Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone and its spin-off Cultural Programme of public events and street festivals.

His specialism in designing for access reflects his commitment to people’s circumstances and needs. His fascination in the history of building development lead to a specialism in historic structures, the reasons that they are what they are and how the continuum develops, and ultimately the architectural archaeological analysis of buildings. His design approach is one of negotiation and iteration, a determination that the final result will be owned by all concerned in the process and will be to the benefit of the community and the environment.

Finding himself in Calderdale back in the 70s, on a journey which was meant to take him back to the northeast, he fell in love with the landscape, its history, its building stock and its people and he never left.

Rob Hawdon, MANAGING PARTNER

Having grown up on building sites and worked in the construction industry since 1992, Rob developed an interest in practical problem solving and understanding construction techniques from an early age.

He started to explore the world of design during school & college years, progressing further at Batley College of Art, and advancing to study architecture at degree level at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Rob joined the Hawdon Russell team in 2000, became managing partner in 2017, and is focused on taking the practice forward…

Mike Middleton, ARCHITECT

Mike has been interested in low energy buildings and sustainability since the late 80’s, receiving a Master Degree in Sustainable Architecture in 2002.

He has always believed that the urgent requirement for living and building sustainably offers enormous potential to improve people’s lives and the quality of their living, working and playing environments.

Mike understands that embarking on a construction project is a hugely significant process for both clients and places – and adopts a personable and respectful attitude to both in pursuit of positive results.

He gained hands-on experience of constructing an innovative timber-framed house (between 1995 and 1997) and has undertaken retro-fits of two of his own properties; a 1948 steel-framed pre-fab in 2008 and, currently, an 1850’s traditional stone-built terraced property; in order to make them beautiful, healthy and very low energy.