Architecture, for me, is not a style but a discipline of decision-making.
The most critical work in a project is not the drawing; it is understanding which decisions are made and why. That is why I prefer to make the way I work, and the reasoning behind it, visible from the outset.
— you cannot make a building with someone you do not know.
A decision reveals itself when priorities conflict.
Every architect says they care about quality. The real question is what they choose when two good things cannot both be achieved. These are the choices I make.
- Scope
If the budget is tight, I reduce the scope, not the quality.
Getting fewer square metres right is always better in the long run than delivering more with cheaper materials. Building less is not a loss; it is a decision.
- Use
When what looks striking in a render conflicts with what works in practice, I choose what works.
An element does not stay in a project simply because it looks good in an image; I have to be able to justify what it does in the space. I do not draw what I cannot justify.
- Material
I use a new material where it can be reversed; in critical places, I choose what is proven.
If its technical performance, installation risk, maintenance needs and behaviour over time cannot be predicted with enough confidence, I do not place that risk in a critical part of the building or pass it on to the client. I am not against innovation; I am against putting it in the wrong place.
- Composition
When admired references conflict with the project’s own logic, I follow the project’s logic.
Bringing individually appealing images together produces a collage. I work to bring context, climate and structural logic together in a single composition.
A good building comes from a good working relationship.
In corporate projects, decisions are made by a committee; I do not try to change that. I only ask that approvals come through a single channel — knowing clearly who I am speaking to helps preserve the logic of the design and prevents delays on site. In return, I explain my reasoning openly; the best work emerges when you are equally clear about what you think.
Quality, time and cost are interdependent; all three cannot be pushed to their limit at once. So at the outset we discuss which should take priority on this project. When we make that decision together, there are no surprises halfway through the process.
I prefer to hold the first meeting at the office; if you are further away, we meet online. The reason is not distance — the first conversation is far more productive when it takes place with the drawings and samples in front of us.
Let’s talk about your project.
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