Our Business

We are an RIBA chartered, award-winning architectural and interior design Practice, working within the Business Services sector. We have a strong reputation for high quality design, competing on a national and international level. Located in London and on the South East coast, the practice offers both architecture and interior design expertise.

We employ youth and experience in balance and the team is passionately involved in all projects from inception through to completion, ensuring delivery of quality and reinforcement of the design concept. The design processes, in which we sketch, build physical models and create computer visualisations in order to experiment and innovate, deliver architecture that balances sensitive contextual response with elegant functionality.

We are committed to delivering high-quality projects that present innovative design solutions and excellent value through careful control of cost and programme that ensure client satisfaction. For all projects undertaken, regardless of scale or budget, we strive to gain a clear understanding of our client’s brief to define clear objectives and requirements. We spend time to work with our clients and specialist consultants to identify opportunities, allowing us to investigate design options to produce an optimum design proposal.

Underlying the approach to all our projects is an unwavering pursuit of the right solution, meaning that we strive for simple yet subtle designs that work efficiently, have a clear delivery of concept and are enjoyed by end users, and ultimately contribute to the context of place.

A large number of our projects are situated within the local area, including Rocksalt, a new destination restaurant in Folkestone Harbour. The restaurant forms a crucial milestone in the regeneration of the ‘Old Town’ and harbour, serving to reconnect visitors and the population of the coastal town with the working harbour and seafront.

We are currently working on a new sports park for Folkestone, this will be the world’s first multi-storey facility of its kind, and will add to the ever expanding skate and BMX scene. The ambition is to focus on the youth of the Shepway District and draw a National and International following for the park.

Location – Hythe

The Practice was originally founded in 1970 as Cheney and Thorpe Architects, which later became CTM Architects. In 1985 the practice moved to the Tramway Stables in Hythe, which was converted and refurbished as a new office.

Guy Hollaway joined the practice in 1998 and quickly established himself as a key member of staff. He was appointed partner in 2004 and the Practice was re-branded as Guy Hollaway Architects in 2010, when Nigel Thorpe retired. Guy is now the sole owner and Principal Partner of Guy Hollaway Architects consisting of 45 staff over three studios, two based in Kent and one in London. Guy is an ‘Ambassador of Kent’. In this role he shows his commitment to the County, in order to promote Kent positively and widely.

Advantages of Hythe

Hythe offers good motorway connections, allowing clients and staff to easily reach us; whilst the high speed train connection from Folkestone to St Pancras enables easy access to our London office.

Hythe is a great place to both live and work by the sea, because of its high speed connections we are not constrained by being by the coast, we can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Funding and Support

We have benefited from business networks in Kent, which have allowed us to forge a number of connections. Guy is also a member of the design panel for Design South-East and sits on the board of Kent Design and Development (KDDA) along with Ashford Design Panel.

Advice for start-ups

We would advise a business looking to start-up in Hythe to choose a location which is close to the station, with good transport links; allowing flexibility for both staff and clients. Parking is limited in Hythe, therefore sufficient on-site parking would be advisable.

Visit guyhollaway.co.uk