Our Story
KIRE Publishing has a passion for storytelling and a deep appreciation for local communities—their histories, homes, and the lives woven within them. Our mission is to capture the spirit of London’s most beautiful neighbourhoods and inspire communities to connect through a shared love of place and heritage.
KIRE Publishing was founded by Samuel Patterson and Michael McHale, who began collaborating with author David S. Percy on Remarkable Homes of NW3 — a book that celebrated the architecture, history, and people of Hampstead and brought together a remarkable local community in the process.
What began as a single publishing project quickly revealed an opportunity to do more. Inspired by the response to the book and the stories still waiting to be told, they established KIRE Publishing to continue exploring London’s most characterful neighbourhoods through thoughtfully crafted books that combine history, architecture, design, and personal narratives.
To bring each publication to life, KIRE Publishing works closely with local historians, writers, photographers, and designers, ensuring every book is visually rich, deeply researched, and carefully produced.
As of May 2026, KIRE Publishing has one published piece and two more in production. With a book on Belsize Walks that will be published in September 2026, and The Remarkable Homes of St. John’s Wood, which is expected to be completed in the fall of 2027.
Our Team
David S. Percy
Author and Local Historian
“As a photographer and filmmaker I’m glad to be able to contribute to the Belsize, Hampstead, and St. John’s Wood communities – a beautiful part of London that I love.”
About the Author:
A long-time resident of Belsize Park, David S. Percy is an award-winning cinematographer, NW3 specialist historian, architectural photographer, director, and graphic designer. Over the past 30 years Percy has authored and co-authored many articles and books, including several recognized films and books about Belsize and Hampstead. Full Bio
Belsize & Hampstead experience:
In 1975 David was commissioned to photograph Hampstead Garden Suburb, a documentary film (for European Architectural Heritage Year) detailing the suburb’s architecture and history, narrated by Sir Donald Sinden. David later directed and produced The Belsize Story (2012) narrated by Belsize resident Fiona Bruce, an in-depth, feature-length documentary film of the history, architecture and people of Belsize Park.
In 2017 he co-compiled and published Belsize Remembered, fully illustrated with many of his photographs. In 2020 he wrote and published The Harlots of Haverstock Hill a compelling, fully-illustrated account of the remarkable life of ‘Moll’ King, one of the first settlers on the road to Hampstead in the mid-18th century.
David grew up in Belsize Park in the 1940s and takes a particular interest in the history, people and architecture of Belsize and the wider Hampstead community, and is an active member of local groups such as the Belsize Village Association and The Belsize Society.
David has decided to work with KIRE on the book because he is delighted to help showcase many of the varied buildings in Belsize and Hampstead.
“I am thrilled to work with KIRE because of their knowledge of Northwest London and their passion for the area.”
For an in-depth view of his experience and accolades, please see the links below.
To see some of David Percy’s work and to get inspired about being a part of the next round of documenting the history of the area, see below.
The Story of Moll King’s Belsize Houses
Michael McHale
Michael McHale has spent his life immersed in the streets, stories, and architecture of North West London. Born on Eton Avenue, raised in Hampstead, and now living in Belsize Park with his wife Athena and daughter Elektra, his connection to the area runs far deeper than profession alone.
Known locally for his playful “Knowledge Bombs” on social media — witty, videos exploring everything from hidden architectural details to fascinating street histories — Michael has built a reputation as someone genuinely passionate about the homes and heritage of NW3 and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
It was this passion that first led him to author David S. Percy. Having long admired David’s knowledge of local history, Michael approached him with the idea of creating a book celebrating the remarkable homes, people, and stories of Hampstead. What followed was the creation of Remarkable Homes of NW3, the first publication by KIRE Publishing.
Michael’s love for beautiful homes extends beyond architecture alone. He is fascinated by the lives lived within them, the evolution of neighbourhoods over time, and the unique character that gives London’s historic streets their identity. Through KIRE Publishing, he hopes to help preserve and share those stories for future generations.
Outside of publishing, Michael enjoys tennis, cycling, creative projects, and, perhaps most of all, bringing people together around a shared love of place and community.
Sam Patterson
Sam Patterson’s fascination with beautiful homes began long before KIRE Publishing. When applying to university, he found himself torn between following his mother into architecture or pursuing engineering. Ultimately, his curiosity about how things worked — from machines to flight systems to complex mechanical devices — led him toward engineering. He went on to study Mechanical Engineering with Aerospace Applications at Brown University, while also immersing himself in courses on architectural history and design.
That dual fascination with structure and beauty continues to shape his perspective today. Sam is particularly drawn to the relationship between engineering and architecture: how materials, proportion, light, and exposed structural elements can transform spaces, and how modern interventions can respectfully elevate historic homes. Alongside a deep appreciation for the period architecture found throughout North West London, he has a strong interest in modernist ideals of “form follows function” and the elegance of purposeful design.
Professionally, Sam brings a cross-disciplinary background spanning engineering, entrepreneurship, strategy, technology, and design. Before co-founding KIRE in 2022, he worked as an Associate Partner within Accenture’s Strategy practice in both New York and London, where he advised C-suite executives across the communications, media, and technology sectors on growth strategy, business design, and new ventures. Before joining Accenture, Sam founded a consumer goods startup and held a variety of engineering and management roles. He also holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.