Interpreting a client’s brief means balancing objectives, audience, and programme, while still delivering something that feels effortless when it’s finished. And then there’s the budget…..
Budgets have a reputation for restricting design. In reality, they often do the opposite, they force you to think more intelligently. Our initial layouts showed the building was simply too large to meet the project budget. Rather than compromise the client’s target seating capacity, we reduced the building footprint and introduced an external patio. A more cost-effective solution that actually enhanced the experience for visitors.
Another significant cost contributor was the ventilation strategy. Instead of defaulting to expensive mechanical systems, we designed a passive solution: high-level windows allow warm air to escape, while low-level openings draw in cooler fresh air. We also incorporated high-level solar panels, a highly insulated building envelope to minimise heat loss, underfloor heating and high-level glazing. The glazing didn’t just frame the views, it also helped warm the building naturally, reducing running costs.
This wasn’t a project that set out to champion sustainability as its headline. But through smart thinking and close collaboration across the whole consultant team, the result delivered far more than the brief originally demanded.
After more than 50 years in practice, one thing remains true: good design is rarely about having unlimited resources. It’s about asking the right questions and finding smarter answers.
