A house should be inspiring,

it should be uplifting to live in.

You should be able to look at it, move through it and use it and feel that

“I like this place”.

Because we live in them every day we tend to forget that houses are very complicated and detailed living environments. A house is more than just the sum of its walls, floors, pipes and wires. There are a large number of interactions – sociological, emotional, physical, mechanical and aesthetic – that go into the overall “thing” that is a house. All these factors, elements and details need to be carefully considered. They need to be balanced, thought through and detailed.

Above all, a house has to be a “home”. It can be functional – it can be impressive – it can be a work of art – but if it doesn’t feel like “home” to the people that live there then it has failed.

A house should also be inspiring – it should be uplifting to live in. You should be able to look at it, move through it and use it and feel that “I like this place”.

At a very basic level spaces need to be furnishable. It is important that rooms are of the right size and configuration to be able to be furnished in a way that is comfortable for the occupants. If a room is too small it can be cramped – too large and it can be unfriendly. If the configuration is wrong the room can simply be uncomfortable to be in.

A house also needs to be a machine for living. It needs to “function” well. There is a whole range of little details that need to be considered and addressed at a very practical level. The kitchen needs to be laid out and configured well to make it both functional and enjoyable. Places for toothbrushes and hair dryers need to be considered in bathrooms. Lighting needs to be designed to both create moods and to provide light where you need it for practical purposes.

Design Approach.

My primary aim is to develop an understanding of what you like and how you want to live. I will use this information to create a building fabric based on theses parameters.

I use my experience and expertise to try to create the best “fit” for you taking into account your likes, dislikes, budget and the external parameters such as site conditions, planning constraints, etc. I will provide you with as much relevant information as I can together with my opinions and suggestions so that you will be able to make fully informed design decisions as we go along.

Basically I like to guide my clients not dictate to them.

By remaining flexible in the role that I will take in a project, my clients can tailor a level of architectural services that suits their needs – from design advice, right through to administration of the construction contract and by limiting the amount of work I take on allows me to provide timely and considered service to my clients.

The process of obtaining approvals for and building a house can at times be an emotional and stressful experience. Because of my expertise in personally handling most of the more contentious issues and by offering pragmatic solutions to issues as they arise I am able to make the design and construction process a much more enjoyable process for my clients.

Remaining flexible in the role that I will take in a project, my clients can tailor a level of architectural services that suits their needs