Sidell Gibson is preparing to become the first British architect to restart work in Libya. It hopes to begin work on a stalled commercial development in the capital Tripoli early next year.

The London practice would be the first British architect back into Libya following the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi in October.

The firm was forced to lay off a dozen staff earlier this year when the country’s civil war brought the Medina Towers project to a halt in February just weeks before it was due to break ground — and lopped a third off the practice’s income.

“It caught us out pretty badly,” admitted partner Ron Sidell, who said it coincided with a UK project stopping. “To whip away a great chunk of your income just like that — it’s been a difficult ride.”

He admitted that work getting underway again had come “in the nick of time” for the practice.

Outstanding fees of €300,000 have finally been released by Lloyds Bank to the practice, which is now planning to start hiring again, albeit in small numbers.

Sidell said it was able to begin work on the Libya scheme because it is privately funded and does not require government sign-off. Other firms’ projects are waiting for ministers to be sworn in.

The practice was commissioned three years ago by Maltese company Corinthia Hotels to design the 40-storey serpentine mixed-use tower.
“Corinthia has been in Libya for many years and was the only non-Libyan group that stayed during the conflict,” said Sidell. “It wants to be up and running as soon as possible.

“There will be a board meeting next month in Tripoli and we hope to be back out there by February.”