The firm’s head of design on the importance of balancing creativity with viability, getting the fundamentals right, his favourite fruit and why he wishes he could speak to his cat
Why did you choose construction as a career?
I have always been drawn to how things come together. Even as a kid, I never really played with my toys, I used to take them apart to see how they worked. My dad was always, and still is very hands on with construction at home, which gave me a practical mindset.
At the same time I was drawn to creative arts and making things, especially through craft, design and technology at school, and maths came quite naturally to me. I was even a finalist in a national “home of the future” competition as a teenager. All of those strands came together and pointed me towards architecture.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
Helping to push forward more sustainable, low energy homes at scale. It is one thing to design something beautiful, but doing it in a way that genuinely improves people’s lives – with lower bills and better comfort – is what really matters.
What has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?
Balancing ambition with viability. You can design something exceptional, but if it does not stack up commercially or politically, it will not get built. Navigating that tension is probably the hardest part of the job.
If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
I would simplify it. Too much of the industry is weighed down by complexity, especially around building services and policy. We should focus more on getting the fundamentals right – good design, strong fabric and buildings that just work.
What is the most helpful advice that you have been given?
There is no point having a good idea if you don’t put it into action. And no one, in their final hours, will ever wish they had spent more time in the office!
Name your favourite building in the world?
The Alhambra in Granada, southern Spain. The craftmanship, geometric precision and layering of spaces are exceptional. The way it uses light and water still feels incredibly contemporary.
Which famous building do you most dislike?
The Walkie Talkie in London. It shows what can happen when form turns its back on context – in my humble opinion!.
Which famous building do you wish you had worked on?
The Great Pyramids, so the construction wouldn’t be a mystery anymore.
What single piece of advice would you give to someone starting out in your profession?
Understand how buildings are actually put together, not just how they look. The best designers know construction inside out. Choose the practice you apply to work for carefully, as working for one with incompatible values to yours may put you off from working in architecture. Also don’t worry, the profession gives you so many transferable skills, so you can always pivot and do something else with all that creative energy.
Who do you most admire in the construction industry?
Frank Lloyd Wright, for the way he integrated buildings with their surroundings and maintained a clear design language across different projects.
What is it like being you and doing your job?
Fast paced and varied. One moment you are dealing with planning strategy, the next you are deep in technical design or unlocking a tricky site. There is never a dull day spent spinning plates and fighting fires.
Do you have a life philosophy?
Keep things pragmatic. Focus on what actually matters. Don’t let others sap your time, it is finite and should be spent wisely and deliberately.
What do you think your best quality is?
Being able to simplify complex problems and move things forward.
What trait do you most dislike in yourself, and in other people?
In myself, impatience when things move too slowly. In others, lack of accountability.
Name three things that you like
Great proportion, a proper cup of chai (checkout Three Legends Chai), and time with my family.
Tell us about a secret skill that we do not know you have
I play flamenco guitar. Not professionally, but well enough to really enjoy it. I spent many years of my life trying to achieve Duende! – look it up, then it will make more sense.
What is your most prized possession?
My time and health – both completely inter-dependent – and by extension, space, which might also explain my fascination with it.
Early bird or night owl?
Somewhere in between, but I am at my best early once I am up.
What is your favourite food?
It is not possible to keep it to one. It would be a close call between traditionally slow-cooked paya (a Pakistani delicacy), or a medium-rare ribeye steak simply seasoned (sorry vegans!), or a really good Pakistani chaunsa or Anwar Ratol mango when they are in season in June – no better fruit in the world!
What would your superpower be?
It would be a combination of things: The ability to instantly understand how anything works, and having the world’s knowledge/truth (not the propaganda that is pushed on us) with the ability to irradicate fascism, bigotry and oppression of people everywhere.
Also, having control over time would be handy, so we could peer into any moments in history or the future… Or perhaps, just to speak “felinese” to understand why our cat Miso doesn’t like cuddles.
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