We are an interdisciplinary research platform, based between London and Amsterdam. We seek to freely expand the production of space and objects by bringing the physical and virtual worlds closer together. We create ‘soft bodies’; entities which slip between the realms of architecture, virtual reality, film, furniture and art practice.
With a shared education and professional background in architecture, Paula, David and John formed Soft Bodies in 2018. We believe that space is not a static medium, and aspire to produce work that also understands its presence over time; whether by employing narrative, speculating on the applications of emerging technology, or simply by recognising a changing context. We work with private commissioners, public bodies, institutions and galleries to extend the production of our built environment beyond it’s four walls. We aim to be future-minded, experimental, practical and provocative. For any questions or thoughts about potential projects, please get in touch.
John Cruwys
BSc (Hons), MArch (Dist), ARB/RIBA Part II
John is an architectural designer and film-maker, and recent graduate from the Bartlett, UCL. Having previously worked on international public projects with Heatherwick Studio, John has recently turned his attention to design through narrative; with his graduate project ‘Rugeley in Resilience’ addressing ideas of contemporary work, craft and ritual through a semi-fictional architectural documentary, with parts of the project having recently been exhibited at the Royal Academy. His thesis took a deep look at the nature of fulfilling work in the UK’s peripheral towns, in particular addressing work in the Amazon Fulfilment Centre. He continues to supplement his work through collaborative research projects at UCL, addressing the architecture of vision, as well as the creation of an allegorical city.
Paula Strunden
BArch, MArch (Dist), ARB/RIBA Part II
Based between Amsterdam and Vienna, Paula is an architectural designer and PhD researcher who develops and builds multisensory mixed reality experiences. Since graduating from The Bartlett UCL and working for Raumlabor and Herzog & de Meuron, Paula explores the role of Architecture within speculative virtual and mixed reality environments. As Associate of Store, and co-founder of the educational XR program Virtual Fruits, Paula has led XR workshops in London and abroad. She tutored at Whitechapel Gallery, Het Nieuwe Instituut and the Bartlett Summer School Programme and holds a teaching position at the Architectural Association. Her room-scale XR installations have been exhibited at design and film festivals internationally, as well as the Royal Academy of Arts, Estonian Museum of Architecture and Eye Filmmuseum Amsterdam.
David Flook
BSc (Hons), DipArch (Dist), ARB/RIBA Part II
David is a multi-disciplinary designer based in London. Having studied at both the Bartlett and the Architectural Association, David has focussed his work to address ideas of value and facsimile, and also writes on the intersection and relationships between architecture and art. David’s visual and written works have been published in the publications such as AArchitecture and the RIBA Journal and his physical works have been exhibited in various locations in London, as well as A/D/O New York. David conceived and lead a lecture series at the Bartlett called Arch Objects that sought to question the format of the lecture with two weekly speakers both presenting and discussing the similarities and differences of their work.
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soft bodies LLP, reg. OC424730, is registered in England and Wales.
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John Cruwys