Episode notes
Matt Loader and Iain Monteith are the directors of Loader Monteith, a Glasgow-based practice known for their approach to meaningful, local and sustainable architecture. In this episode, Matt, Iain and Dave discussed: The challenges of managing clients, project scopes and costs in the early days of starting their practice, and how saying no to work that didn’t align with their vision was just as important as saying yes. How every small project is an opportunity that can lead to larger work in the future, but why it’s important to make sure smaller project budgets aren’t spread thin for the…
Podcast
Office Talk UK, Marketing for Architecture
Office D.SHARP · Arts & Books · English
Office Talk UK is a fortnightly podcast hosted by Dave Sharp, and a great excuse for him to have conversations with leading UK architects about their approach to business, marketing, communications and brand strategy. Office Talk has been shortlisted for the 2023 ArchiTeam Awards for Innovation &
More from Office Talk UK, Marketing for Architecture All episodes →
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10 Jul 2024 · 1 hr 17 min
Alison Brooks
Alison Brooks is the director of Alison Brooks Architects, a London-based practice known for generous and inclusive city-building supported by uniquely sculptural design. In this episode, Alison and Dave discussed: The challenges of participating in design competitions, and how the need to produce so much more and satisfy stringent criteria compared to the early days, creates barriers for emerging practices. The important role competitions play in their business, and how they think strategically about selecting the right competitions to invest time and resources in. The challenges she faced…
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26 Jun 2024 · 1 hr 13 min
Oliver Leech
Oliver Leech is the director of Oliver Leech Architects, a London-based practice known for crafting homes that celebrate life, light, and materials. In this episode, Oliver and Dave discussed: How he attracted new clients in the first few years of the practice when there was limited imagery to post to social media, and why building his professional network played such a big role. Why less can be more when it comes to posting social media, and why they chose to avoid posting process imagery in favour of final project photography. How he curated the practice’s portfolio to attract a broader…
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12 Jun 2024 · 1 hr 23 min
31/44
William Burges and Stephen Davies are the directors of 31/44, a practice with offices in London and France known for making architecture that sits comfortably in the fabric of the city, introduced with care and consideration. In this episode, Will, Steve and Dave discussed: How teaching in both undergraduate and masters programs have changed the way they communicate their work, and how they view their projects as being part of a research agenda. The approach they took to their website design in the early days of the practice when they didn’t have much built work to show, and why they began…
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15 May 2024 · 1 hr 13 min
Office S&M
Hugh McEwen and Catrina Stewart are the directors of Office S&M, a London-based practice known for their inventive and experimental approach to materials and colour. In this episode, Hugh, Catrina and Dave discussed: Their commitment to have a 50/50 split between private and public work, and how this declaration helps them differentiate themselves from other similarly sized practices. How having a diverse range of non-architectural collaborators on your team when pitching for public projects, such as a chef or photographer from the local community, can help to demonstrate that you understand…
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1 May 2024 · 1 hr 8 min
Mary Duggan
Mary Duggan is a London-based architect known for her well-conceived and thoughtfully-detailed architecture for forward-thinking clients in the cultural and housing sectors. In this episode, Mary and Dave discussed: How keeping the practice small allows her to focus on the work she wants to do, allows her to avoid some of the challenges and compromises required to sustain a larger practice. Why she believes architects don’t have to be involved at every stage of the design and construction process, and how her front-end focused business model is rethinking the way architecture is delivered.…
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3 Apr 2024 · 1 hr 10 min
Jim Stephenson
Jim Stephenson is an architectural photographer and film-maker, known for capturing the many ways people interact with architecture. In this episode, Jim and Dave discussed: Why photographing people enjoying buildings, rather than empty spaces, can better explain the story and concept of the project, but also serve as a visual testimonial to the success of the building. How architectural filmmaking has grown and evolved over the years, and why architects are increasingly seeing the value in having the story of their projects told in film in addition to still photography. The different ways…
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21 Mar 2024 · 1 hr 4 min
McLaren Excell
Luke McLaren is a director of McLaren Excell, a London-based practice known for delivering beautifully conceived and finely crafted buildings. In this episode, Luke and Dave discussed: The importance of communicating projects in a simple, restrained way, rather than overcomplicating their images with too many distracting elements. How designing to a long-held set of values has led to the practice having a stylistic consistency throughout their work and a more distinctive brand image. The importance of photographing projects in a way that emphasises the feeling of being inside the building,…
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6 Mar 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
Nimtim
Nimi Attanayake and Tim O'Callaghan are the directors of nimtim architects, a London-based practice known for their approach to sustainable, unique and playful architecture. In this episode, Nimi, Tim and Dave discussed: How taking a year off from architecture to travel India led to their first project together and the start of their new practice. They reflect on the challenges in the early days of starting their practice and discussed the importance of connecting with colleagues in the profession so that you can ask questions or just vent your frustrations. How the COVID downturn gave them…
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21 Feb 2024 · 58 min
Mae
Alex Ely is the director of Mae Architects, a Stirling Prize-winning London-based practice known for their approach to sustainable, resilient, and socially conscious architecture and urbanism. In this episode, Alex and Dave discussed: The significance of winning the Stirling Prize in 2023 and how its impact on the practice has gone far beyond the architecture industry. Why having a clear mission statement and a set of values that employees can identify with makes it much easier to consistently communicate those values to the outside world. The importance of undertaking post-occupancy studies…
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7 Feb 2024 · 1 hr 15 min
Feilden Fowles
Fergus Feilden and Edmund Fowles are the directors of Feilden Fowles, a highly recognised London-based practice known for their sustainable and characterful public and cultural buildings. In this episode, Fergus, Edmund and I discussed: The importance of competitions to help develop their portfolio, studio culture, and connections with potential clients. How they were able to curate their website to appeal to cultural, public and educational sector clients–despite having little built work in those areas in the early years of the practice. The benefit of designing a unique studio space that…
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