Ahrends, Burton, & Koralek. (ABK) English architectural practice founded 1961 by Berlin-born Peter Ahrends (1933– ), London-born Richard Burton (1933– ), and Vienna-born Paul Koralek (1933– ) after they won first prize in the competition to design the Berkeley Library for Trinity College, Dublin (1960, built 1961–7). Other works include St Andrew's College, Booterstown, Dublin (1968–72); the Arts Faculty Building, Trinity College, Dublin (1968–79); extensions to Keble College, Oxford (1972–80); Templeton College, Oxford (1969–96); Portsmouth Polytechnic Library (1975–80); the John Lewis Store, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (1979–90); and the J. Sainsbury Supermarket, Canterbury, Kent (1982–4, with a roof suspended on cables from steel uprights). ABK received unwelcome publicity when its prize-winning (1982) project for the Hampton Extension to the National Gallery, London, was described by the Prince of Wales as a ‘carbuncle’, and the design was not realized. However, Hooke Park College, Dorset (1983–90), the Dover Heritage Centre, Kent (1988–91); the Whitworth Art Gallery Development Plan and Sculpture Court, Manchester (1991–5); Docklands Light Railway Beckton Extension and Poplar Bridge, London (1987–93); Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, Cardiff (1992–5); Selly Oak Colleges Learning Resource Centre, Birmingham (1995–7); W. H. Smith Headquarters Extension, Swindon, Wilts. (1994–6); the Waterford Visitor Centre, Ireland (1997–8); the Dublin Dental Hospital (1995–8); Loughborough University Business School and Economics Building, Leics. (1995–8); the British Embassy, Moscow (1993–2000); the Institute of Technology, Tralee, Co. Kerry (1996–2001); Blanchardstown Institute of Technology, Dublin (1998–2002); County Council Offices, Tullamore, Co. Offaly (1999–2002); and the Arts Building Extension, Trinity College, Dublin (2000–2), among other projects, demonstrate the firm's resilience.

Bibliography

Ahrends,, Burton,, & and Koralek ;
Kalman (1994);
K. Powell (ed.) (2002);
Vance (1985)