“I hadn’t really paid much attention to Urban Splash until my run up to be RIBA president in 2005-7 and then they seemed to be everywhere.

“In my two years in office they won nearly 100 awards, using great architects in low value areas. Surely that can’t work? And for such hyper cool lads from the North they seem to be very supportive of the RIBA.

“They were everywhere, at every party and at every after party. There were paradoxes all around. So, what was the trick?

“The “trick” was and is a great partnership, a visionary partnership, between Tom Bloxham, a natural and serial entrepreneur and Jonathan Falkingham, an architect who can see which way is up. They built their business from the ground up and didn’t let early set-backs deter them.

“With huge energy and foresight they bought properties for “less than the price of a carpet” and instead of demolishing them as others would have – they turned them into cool lofts and workplaces, establishing a superb company.

“They may be twenty-five years old, but they were always ten years ahead of the curve. Their use of top architects, because only they could get the best out of challenging low-budget projects, has been very shrewd.

“Urban Splash or Urban Legend? Here’s to the next 25.”

The position of RIBA President was established in 1835 and has been previously held by significant architects including Sir George Gilbert Scott, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Alfred Waterhouse and Sir Basil Spence.

'It Will Never Work' exhibition dates

20 June - 12 September Glenn Howells Architects, 321 Bradford Street, Birmingham, B5 6ET

17 - 28 September RIBA London, 66 Portland Place, Marylebone, London, W1B 1NT