John has been named director & head of sustainable design, while Oliver takes on the role of director & head of interior design, both with immediate effect.

Kenneth Martin, who founded Block Architects 22 years ago and had been the practice’s sole director, remains as director and will work alongside the new management team and clients on all existing and future projects. He will also guide the future vision for the business.

Both John and Oliver were already established members of the Block team before their appointments, and will be familiar faces to many clients, consultants and industry contacts. The duo bring different but complementary areas of expertise, along with an existing understanding of Block, its clients and how the team works.

With the business continuing to evolve, Kenneth believes strengthening the leadership team feels like a natural next step.

“After 22 years of leading Block, this feels like the right time to strengthen the management structure around the business,” he said. “John and Oliver are people I know, trust and have worked alongside. They already make a significant contribution to Block, so this is about recognising that and giving them greater responsibility as we look towards the next stage of the practice growth.”

John Burns’ work across Block brings together architecture, planning, sustainability and building performance.

His new role will see him take greater ownership of sustainable design and planning, while also becoming more involved in the wider management and development of the practice.

For clients, John’s strength is his ability to look at the wider picture – connecting planning, design, regulation and sustainable performance rather than treating each as a separate conversation.

John said: “I’m looking forward to taking on the additional responsibility and playing a bigger role in the future of Block. Throughout my career, I’ve enjoyed helping clients and project teams turn complex challenges into practical solutions, and I’m excited to continue doing that as a director.

“I believe good architecture has the ability to improve people’s daily lives. Sustainability, quality design and building performance are all critical to achieving that, and our role is to help clients bring those elements together in a way that delivers lasting value.”

Oliver Shields will continue to lead Block’s interior design work while taking on a wider role within the business.

His experience across interiors and architectural services brings another perspective to the leadership team – one that considers not only how spaces look, but how they function, how people experience them and how interiors connect with the wider architectural thinking.

His appointment also reflects the continued growth of interior design as an important part of Block’s wider offering.

Ollie added: “I’ve always enjoyed the collaborative way we work at Block, particularly the opportunity to bring interiors and architecture together rather than treating them as separate disciplines. Becoming a director gives me the chance to take greater ownership of that work while contributing more widely to the future of the business.”