20 VIEWS
WHAT DO YOU LEAST ENJOY? There is not much I don’t enjoy, although the geo-political climate in the UK at the moment is causing sleepless nights. And I’d be lying if I said a little more down time wouldn’t go amiss!
WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO TACKLING THE FUTURE POSSIBLE IMPACTS OF BREXIT BOTH IN TERMS OF STAFFING AND WORK? We’re thinking all the time about how we can add value to our projects, bring in efficiency and certainty and trimming out excess spend in anticipation of the rising cost of labour and general Brexit uncertainty. We are trying to support our staff and also understand the likely implications of an independent and isolated UK. We are extremely proud of our work culture, so what’s really important to us is that our European employees feel as welcome and valued as they always have done.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH AS A LEADER? I try to ensure that the team are given the freedom to express themselves and that work is delegated with trust and support. We need to grow their experience and their architectural progression. Chris and I have never sought to micro-manage our team so that our architects remain creative, try new things all the time and be given the trust to do so, even if that means picking up the pieces from time to time. We’re really lucky to have an extremely talented and hard- working team here at the studio, so it’s fairly easy for me to put my trust in them to deliver.
DESIGN COMPETITIONS – BANE OR BOON? Boon! It’s always great to be recognised for your work and be the best in class for something you all work so hard for. We’ve won a few and we’re really proud of that.
WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU PROUDEST OF? We’re currently working on a number of really exciting projects for industry-leading developers and that’s a testament to how far we’ve come since our birth in 2012. They’re going to be right up there once they are finished, each of them being really unique and complex in their own way. In terms of past work, Bakery Place with the developer West Eleven proved to be the elevator that really kicked us off. West Eleven purchased a bakery dating back to 1898 and
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THE VIEW, BATTERSEA Planning has been granted for a new 15-storey residential tower with commercial space at lower levels
we converted the three buildings into a number of unique residential units.
WHAT INNOVATIVE MATERIALS HAVE YOU COME ACROSS RECENTLY? We haven’t used them ourselves but I read recently about an Australian University, which started developing bricks from cigarette butts. It’s that kind of innovation which makes the construction world such an interesting and forward thinking space to operate in.
HAVE YOU MADE INCREASING DIVERSITY A KEY POLICY WITHIN THE PRACTICE? We are extremely conscious of diversity and the benefits that brings to the success of the practice both in design and dynamic. We are doing well in our male/female ratios, and are over 50 per cent female and flexible to all of our staff. The profession has a long way to go in terms of overall social diversity, and we are looking to promote ethnic diversity, and bring forward architects from a range of
Our practice maintains a diverse approach when it comes to the different asset classes and seeks to take a fresh approach to each sector
socio-economic backgrounds – a major failing in the industry as a whole.
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT BIG CHALLENGE? We are just starting work on some exciting new hotel projects in the hospitality sector.
WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX? I love travelling and get about as much as I can, although that’s not so easy given how busy we are at the moment. But in all honesty, I love being with my children and find lazy days with them the most relaxing time away from the office.
ADF DECEMBER 2019
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