05
What was your brief?
We wanted a place that felt raw and relaxed, yet sophisticated.
We didn’t want it to feel too precious and we wanted spaces to be
mutable and multipurpose. There is a small nod to our country of
origin in the rawness of the design.
06
The builder is integral to a successful project. Did you
have much involvement in the building process?
We were very lucky with our builder, SFN Constructions. The
architects and the builder also had a great working relationship,
so even though we were playing a project manager role, they
resolved a lot of things together without us. SFN brought a level
of structure, discipline and expertise to the project. Building in the
inner city is always difficult, especially when you are right on top
of your neighbours. Our site was tricky and they both worked well
together (and with us) to deal with issues as they arose.
07
Is the result achieved by working with an architect
what you expected?
It’s better than we expected. There are parts that we envisaged
through all the discussions about design and how we live, but the
architects added another level of thought and some lovely surprises.
The end result demonstrates that not only were they great designers,
but they also really knew our family and how we wanted to live.
08
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking
of using an architect?
We had a few false starts with other architects, but when it worked,
it came down to the architects’ design/aesthetic, their knowledge of
the local area, their experience of working with a small, inner-city
house and flexibility. Chemistry between the architect and client is
also important – it’s vital that you “get” each other and what you
are trying to create without needing too much explanation. Finally,
if both parties are enjoying the process and what is being created,
you will get a better result. With Welsh and Major Architects, we
felt they cared about our house as much as we did. In hindsight,
we really benefited from the fact that they were a small and
growing practice – it felt like they gave us more.
09
Would you engage an architect again?
Absolutely. Even though we were glad to be finished, it was hard to
say goodbye to Welsh and Major Architects. We keep threatening
to find a new project so we can dream and create together again!