5 minutes with … Holly Lewis at We Made That

Why did you choose construction as a career?

At the start of my career, architecture was a convenient combination of creativity and technicality that I enjoyed. As things progressed, I found the social aspects of buildings and city making more and more fascinating – that’s still definitely a driver.

What are you most proud of in your career to date?

I am proud tat we have managed to build a successful practice over the past 15 years by sticking to our principles and only working for the public sector or charities. We Made That has recently become a certified B Corporation, which is an external verification of the practice meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance – so that is definitely an achievement to be proud of.

What has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?

Running a growing business is a never-ending conveyor belt of challenges! At the start of the pandemic the prospect of lockdowns, moving the whole team to home working, cancelled or paused work… all felt pretty immense.

In hindsight, it was not so different (from a career perspective) to other challenges: you just knuckle down and do the best that you can. We are lucky to have such a tenacious and gritty team.

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?

For a profession that shapes the living environment of basically everyone, architecture can be incredibly self-involved. If we could better relate to those outside our own discipline, and be a bit more humble, then I think wider issues with diversity and inclusion, working culture, environmental impact and ultimately the quality and equitability of the places we are creating would improve too. 

What is the most helpful advice that you have been given?

I don’t think it was direct advice per se but, in my first architectural job at Hudson Architects, I learnt not to be afraid to ask questions. My boss, Anthony Hudson, was always asking quite straightforward things, and I remember thinking, “Huh, he has loads of experience”.

So asking questions won’t make people think you don’t know what you are doing. It just gets you what you need to know. For a girl at the start of my career, a bit unsure about my place, that was pretty powerful.

Name your favourite building in the world?

Tough one. Honestly, I’m quite a fan of the Cedric Price – “you don’t need a building, you need a divorce” – response to a brief.

Which famous building do you most dislike?

I’m thrilled that they are not going to build the Tulip. What an arrogant bit of nonsense…

Which famous building do you wish you had worked on?

Any of the post-war Camden housing schemes under Sidney Cook: Neave Brown’s Alexandra Road, Peter Tábori’s Highgate New Town, Benson Forsyth’s Branch Hill.

Not so much for the buildings, but the spirit of the endeavour – young, ambitious teams building socially-conscious schemes with a bold political agenda behind them. It must have been amazing! 

What single piece of advice would you give to someone starting out in your profession?

If you follow doing what you enjoy, you can’t go far wrong.

Who do you most admire in the construction industry?

I think Sadie Morgan does a great job of bridging the gap between practice and advocacy with national government. That is definitely something I aspire to.

What is it like being you (and doing your job)?

A plate-spinning circus act!

Do you have a life philosophy?

I have never thought about it. Probably a combination of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “Show some grit!”

What do you think your best quality is?

I think I am pretty resilient.

What trait do you most dislike in yourself? And in other people?

I hate to admit that I am wrong, and am very competitive. It’s a bad combination.

In other people: entitlement.

Name three things that you like

Oliver, Ada and Juno.

Tell us about a secret skill that we don’t know you have?

I was a national fencing champion in my youth. It doesn’t come in handy so much these days.

What is your most prized possession?

I have got a lovely bike that I don’t use enough.

Early bird or night owl?

We have a six-month-old baby and a toddler, so reluctant night owl at the moment.

What is your favourite food?

Fluffy American pancakes on a Saturday morning.

What would your superpower be?

Squeezing a few extra hours into the day from time to time.

We Made That is a London-based architecture practice founded by Holly Lewis and Oliver Goodhall in 2006. It works exclusively for charities and the public sector and has just beomce a certfied B Corporation. The firm also has an office in Manchester.