Thomas Heatherwick

He often achieves his projects by defying gravity, and there’s an enormous amount of engineering wizardry involved

¢  In those early days, he was inspired by the work of cartoonist W. Heath Robinson, who depicted absurd contraptions for simple tasks, like a massive machine driven by pulleys and a foot pedal that would peel a potato. “I was excited about thinking up things that didn’t exist,” he says. “But as I got older, I found that inventors were considered mad. They were recluses — weird, disheveled hermits

¢  Born 1 March 1970.

¢  English designer, often mislabelled as a sculptor or artist. He is known for innovative use of engineering and materials in public monuments.

¢  Thomas studied three dimensional design at Manchester Polytechnic and at the Royal College of Art, winning several prizes.

¢  Shortly after graduating from the Royal College of Art after a two-year furniture MA course in 1994,

¢  He founded Heatherwick Studio in 1994 with his aim being "to bring architecture, design and sculpture together within a single practice".

¢  It presently comprises a thirty-strong team which includes architects, landscape architects, designers and engineers.

¢  Work is carried out from a combined studio and workshop where concept development, detailing, prototyping and small scale fabrication take place.

¢  The studio's work spans commercial and residential building projects, masterplanning and infrastructure schemes as well as high profile works of public art.