Reflections on the loss of Michael Hammond, Built Environment Media CEO

We are very sad to announce the death of Built Environment Media CEO and editor-in-chief, Michael Hammond, at the age of 70.

Michael, who was a visionary entrepreneur and much-loved father, husband, colleague, and friend, died on 28 January 2023 following a long illness.

Michael founded the online global architecture magazine World Architecture News (WAN) and World Interiors News (WIN), which led to the hugely successful awards programmes for both publications, attracting participation from leading architects and designers from around the globe.

Mike’s entrepreneurial spirit saw him at the leading edge of architectural innovation, creating a suite of products designed to service the architectural community. These included global online architecture bookstore WAN Books, and the first global project leads service dedicated solely to an architectural market, WAN Business Information (rebranded to Tenderstream in 2017). He also launched an architectural podcast, Shop Talk, where he interviewed many globally recognized figures, including BIG partner Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Grimshaw managing partner Mark Middleton, Woods Bagot principal Christian Derix, Rafael Viñoly, and Will Alsop. 

In 2006, Michael’s book ‘Performing Architecture: Opera Houses, Theatres and Concert Halls for the Twenty-first Century’ was published by Merrell Publishing. The book explored fifty of the world’s finest performance spaces, including Frank Gehry's landmark Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid, and the Tenerife Opera House by Santiago Calatrava.  

Mike’s passions included his classic Alfa Romeo Spider, technology and innovation, as well as designing and building furniture and lights. He also enjoyed cooking, reading, travelling, and James Bond films! In his youth, Michael flew hot air balloons and was part of a team that was the first - and still the only crew - to land a balloon in Russia. Despite a terminal diagnosis in 2019, Mike remained characteristically optimistic and thoughtful as ever. Only last year, he raised funds in support of the Royal Sussex Cardiac unit by cycling 50K.

Mike’s presence, creativity, enthusiasm and humour will be sadly missed, but his achievements and the community that he created will be celebrated forever. 

He is survived by his wife Annalisa, who is a director at Tenderstream, and his children Catherine, Rebecca, and Phillippa, his stepchildren Natasha and Alexander, and his mother Elizabeth.