Founding Director Alina to leave 2hD

Thibaut Devulder
June 8, 2015

Press Release date: Monday 8th June, 2015

2hD co-founder Alina Hughes is leaving the practice after 12 years to pursue new creative directions. 2hD was started in 2003 by Alina, Tom Hughes and Thibaut Devulder when they collaborated on the competition-winning Sky Vault landmark design. Since then the practice has evolved with the three founders collaborating on a series of successful projects. Alina in particular has been instrumental in networking and putting the practice in front of new audiences through competition entries and her role as Nottingham and Derby Society of Architects President from 2009 to 2012. Alina has built up her role in architectural education, including the setting up of a new Architecture course at Nottingham Trent University (now finishing its 9th year), whilst retaining her role as Design Director at 2hD.

“Starting up 2hD and seeing it develop has been an amazing experience, intensely hard work at times but with some real high points,” said Alina. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in building up a body of work and supporting our community, both locally and within the profession. I look forward to seeing 2hD develop with Tom, Thibaut and Chris at the helm, and will continue to be involved as a collaborator in particular projects in the future. The time is right for me to explore my creative practice outside of architecture.”

“Alina has had a huge contribution to 2hD’s trajectory and development” said Tom Hughes. “Her passion and intensity has remained undaunted and she has worked to bring a small startup practice recognition on the local, national and international stage. I’m sure Alina will be keeping a watching brief as we move on — and we look forward to collaborating with her in the future." Co-founder Thibaut Devulder said "Alina has ensured that we have continued to be principled and deeply thoughtful in our design work, and has embedded this approach so that it will endure for the future. I wish Alina every success in her new ventures."

2hD's inflatable pavilion wins RIBA East Midlands Award

Thibaut Devulder
September 23, 2011

We're proud to announce that our inflatable pavilion for Lille Museum of Modern Art has been awarded an RIBA East Midlands 2011 award.

The annual Awards celebrate 'excellence in architecture and encouraging sustainable design' and were held at the Athena in Leicester on 22nd September.

Tom and Alina accepted the award from Ruth Reid, ex President of the RIBA and were joined at the ceremony by Nick Crosbie of Inflate, who did the specialist design, fabrication and erection of the pavilion.

2hD shortlisted for the RIBA East Midlands Awards for Architecture

Thibaut Devulder
June 28, 2011

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have announced the shortlisted projects for the 2011 RIBA East Midlands Award for Architecture, celebrating the finest examples of architectural excellence in the region.

Two of our projects have been shortlisted this year:

our memorial for the Nottingham Progressive Jewish Congregation
our inflatable event space for the Lille Museum of Modern Art (LaM).

Here's the official press release from the RIBA:

2hD in RIBA journal

Thibaut Devulder
February 28, 2011

A great article on East Midlands regional architecture practice has appeared in the Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects. It features 2hD's Alina Hughes talking about her dual roles in practice and education, and the importance for the region of retaining talented graduates.

See the online version of the RIBA Journal.

‘Very beautiful’ Inflatable events space debuts at Lille Museum of Modern Art

Thibaut Devulder
September 23, 2010

Date of press release: 22nd September 2010

French Culture and Communications Minister, Frédéric Mitterrand, described this inflatable events space designed by UK architects 2hD as “Very beautiful” during an official tour yesterday.

The compliment came as the Minister toured the newly reopened Museum of Modern Art in Lille, France. He diverted from his official route to view the inflatable structure, which is a focal point for celebrations of the Museum’s reopening after four years of refurbishment and extension.

The pavilion later wowed guests at the official opening ceremony with its flowing lines and glowing structure. According to German artist Barbara Gaul, “The fascination with this wonderful pavilion is so great that everyone -- despite the summer weather outside -- wants to be inside it, and all faces are lit up with joy!” “Not only is it functional but also very sensitive and protective” said Simone Few, visitor and wife of jazz musician Bobby Few.

Located in the sculpture park at the entrance to the Museum, the events space will be the focal point for a week-long programme of events, including the public opening on 25th-26th September. As well as hosting official speeches, dinners and performances, the space will help to welcome and introduce people to the extended Museum and its impressive collection of Modern art.

Features of the events space:

Designed to hold up to 350 people for events and performances
Constructed of lightweight fabric by specialist manufacturer Inflate
Shipped to site in a single container
Pressurised with electric fans, the structure takes just 10 minutes to inflate
Creates a space 40m (130 feet) long by 15m (50 feet) at its widest point
Covers the area of two tennis courts
Will be depressurised and stored ready for future events

Images

The events space in context of the sculpture park.
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The events space with the refurbished museum buildings behind.
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Events space interior.
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Events space exterior at night.
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Events space interior at night.
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Notes to the editor

For further information please contact:

Tom Hughes
Tel: +44 775 195 8003
Email: tom@2hD.co.uk

Further information on 2hD architects

2hD is a creative architectural design practice based in Nottingham, UK. It is a three-person practice: Alina Hughes, Tom Hughes and Thibaut Devulder, who make inventive and friendly architectural spaces that create a strong sense of place for their clients and their community.

2hD contact:

Tom Hughes
Tel: +44 775 195 8003
Email: tom@2hD.co.uk
Website: www.2hD.co.uk

Further information on inflatable designer/manufacturer Inflate:

Inflate offers a range of award winning, architecturally stimulating structures that have been specifically designed to suit the portable and temporary events market.

Inflate contact:

Nick Crosbie
Tel:+44 797 692 7432
Website: www.inflate.co.uk

Further information on the Lille Museum of Modern Art

After more than four years of renovation and extension work, the Museum of Modern Art of Lille Métropole (Villeneuve d’Ascq) will be reopening to the public on 25 September 2010 under a new name: the LaM, Lille Métropole Musée d’art moderne, d’art contemporain et d’art brut (museum of modern, contemporary and outsider art).

International press contact for LaM:

Laurence Gillion
Agence Heymann, Renoult Associées
Email: l.gillion@heymann-renoult.com
Tel. +33 (0)1 44 61 76 76

LaM – Lille Métropole Musée d’art moderne, d’art contemporain et d’art brut
1 allée du Musée, 59650 Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
Tel. +33 (0)3 20 19 68 68
Fax: +33 (0)3 20 19 68 99
Website: www.musee-lam.fr

ENDS

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UK designed inflatable pavilion welcomes visitors to French museum of modern art

Thibaut Devulder
September 21, 2010

Press Release date: Monday 20th September, 2010

2hD Architects of Nottingham, UK, have designed an inflatable pavilion for the Museum of Modern Art in Lille, France. The pavilion will house events celebrating the re-opening of the Museum, from 21st to 26th September 2010.

On reopening after more than 4 years of refurbishment and extension, the Museum wanted to hold its celebratory events in a striking alternative to the standard marquee. They called on the specialist knowledge of 2hD’s French director, Thibaut Devulder, an expert in fabric and membrane architecture, and the design flair of fellow director Alina Hughes, to come up with the idea for the events pavilion.

Located in the sculpture park at the entrance to the Museum, the pavilion will be the focal point for a week-long programme of events, including the formal opening by French Culture and Communications Minister, Frédéric Mitterrand, on September 21st.

The inflatable structure and flexible design mean that the pavilion can be simply depressurised and stored after the celebrations, ready to house future events ranging from theatrical performances to video installations.

“The organic shape of the pavilion is meant to stand out from the Museum buildings behind, making it a focal point for arriving visitors”, says 2hD’s Alina Hughes. “It will help to welcome and introduce people to the extended Museum and its huge, exciting collection of Modern art.”

“Inflatable structures are an excellent way to cover a large area for events,” according to Thibaut Devulder. “They are more efficient and interesting than traditional tent marquees. The lack of rigid poles gives a clear floor area, they are quick to set up, look fantastic during the event, and then fold away into a tiny storage area.”

Designed to hold up to 350 people for events and performances, the pavilion is constructed of lightweight fabric by specialist manufacturer Inflate and was shipped to the Museum site in a single container.

When pressurised with electric fans the double skinned fabric deploys to form a rigid but organically-shaped enclosure, covering a space 40m (130 feet) long by 15m (50 feet) at its widest point.