interview
important is research to Clients have become in-
architecture and what research
A
creasingly more sophisticat-
Woods Bagot
are you engaged in? ed over the past two or three
I am fortunate enough to be decades. The value of the work-
A part of an organisation that place to be an instrument to at-
encourages and values research tract and retain the best and
For more
that can be applied to our craft. I brightest is now understood as is
contribute to many of Woods the value of sustainability. information...
Bagot’s research publications,
most recently Work Life, which ex- What do you consider to CONTACT
amined a number of topical issues Q be one of the best ‘green Woods Bagot
facing workplace design today, in- buildings’ built so far?
cluding sustainable practices and I am fascinated by tradition- 020 7637 6880
innovations. I have a particular in- A al mosques in the gulf re- wblhr@woodsbagot.com
terest in sustainability and have gion. These sacred buildings www.woodsbagot.com
published research papers on The often employ wind towers that
Business Case of Environmental draw in hot air, channel it over a WOODS BAGOT
Sustainability and a global per- cistern of cool water and allow it Oxford House
spective of What’s Next in to dramatically reduce the ambi- 76, Oxford Street
Sustainability? ent air temperature of the prayer London
hall by way of convection. I also W1D 1BS
What is your favourite believe the most sustainable ma-
Q
sector to work in when chine is the tree. When you 142 West 57th Street
working on a project? think about it, what other ma- 8th Floor
I work across all sectors but chine can pump water 40 metres New York, NY
A I am the global Director of into the sky, all fed from sunlight, 10019
Workplace at Woods Bagot and enriches the soil and converts
have a deep specialty in this sec- carbon dioxide into oxygen? 228 Grant Avenue
tor. Creating workplace environ- 5th Floor
ments that are highly effective How do you see the fu- San Francisco, CA
and productive within often strict Q ture of sustainable 94108
commercial parameters is a good buildings evolving? Are we
discipline that can be employed on the correct course or do Level 3, Suite 313
in civic and educational projects. you feel that there is a bet- Emarat Atrium Sheikh
Similarly, transferring the ideas ter way of promoting a sus- Zayed Road
of an unfolding guest experience tainable approach through PO Box 58041
commonly applied to hotel proj- architecture? Dubai UAE
ects is a great way of elevating I do not believe that we will
workplace environments.
A
rely on technology to be the Level 10
silver bullet of sustainability. We 17, York Street
Take us through some of are seeing an increased aware- PO Box N19
Q
the innovative projects ness on learning from the past, Grosvenor Place
that you are leading for alignment of building response to Sydney
Woods Bagot? place and harnessing the power NSW 1220
We are currently exploring of nature to create environments
A bio-mimicry on a project, that touch the earth lightly.
which learns from Butterfly wings
and how they reflect and absorb
light and how this can create a
highly effective skin of a building.
Light emitting diodes have pro-
gressed in recent time by a simi-
lar technological transfer and
have been applied to making vi-
sual displays on mobile devises
more efficient.
What do you hope to
Q
achieve through the BNZ
project?
This project is focused on
A
creating a workplace, which
is a business enabler of cultural
change. The client is currently
housed in three different loca-
What is your earliest tions and this project brings them
Q
memory of becoming together in a connected vertical
an Architect? campus that is transparent to the
My father was an architect public and the customers they
A and my mother an accom- serve. The project also aims to be
plished artist. Both were avid a good urban citizen by being the
readers and our family home most advanced sustainable build-
was stacked with art and archi- ing in a country, which enjoys a
tectural books. Accordingly, my long history of caring for the
introduction to architecture was earth. The building was also a pi-
by osmosis. We regularly dis- lot project for the introduction of
cussed architecture, visited art the Green Building Rating System
galleries and reviewed articles in New Zealand.
in journals.
How have clients briefs
What is your career
Q
changed and evolved in
Q
highlight so far? How the recent years?
Architects Choice 15
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36