So why does architecture and buildings hold such an important status?
Structures, spaces, and buildings are essential for human survival!
But architecture is far more than designing physical forms - it profoundly shapes human life, health, and wellbeing.
Viewed through the lens of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, architecture plays a vital role—not only in meeting our basic needs for shelter and safety but also in fulfilling higher-level needs such as comfort, community, stimulation, and beauty.
Our approach is inspired by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Human Rights, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the principles upheld by UNHCR, and scientific research. Good design goes beyond mere functionality. Aesthetics are not a luxury; they are fundamental to well-being, creating environments where people can thrive physically, emotionally, and socially. We believe the architect’s logo should reflect these values—more like the one of UNHCR.
This is a “Human First” approach.
"Architecture shapes human life, health, and wellbeing."
A long Journey — maybe that’s why I see things differently.
I’m both a qualified Engineer and Architect, and also a trained technician in civil engineering. This combination allows me to work across design and construction with flexibility, depth, and attention to detail.
Architects, engineers, and technicians often work side by side — but it’s not always about titles. Some technicians are excellent designers. Some architects don’t care. What matters most is whether you can communicate with a person and how they collaborate with you and others.
This journey has made me more sensitive and respectful toward people and their needs. I’ve come to believe that good design isn’t about ego or image — in fact, it’s often the quieter, more modest solutions that serve people best. True architecture should be functional, human, and grounded in empathy.
As someone trained in different roles, I can bring together creativity with a technical mindset. I understand both the bigger picture and the finer details. Whether you’re looking for strong design ideas, solid technical guidance, or help navigating complex planning and building processes — I offer a modular approach.
At the heart of my work is a simple aim: to help you create a space that works, lasts, and improves your life.
Over 2,000 years ago, Vitruvius, a Roman engineer, wrote that good architecture should be solid, useful, and beautiful.
Over the last seven years, I’ve put a lot of unpaid time and energy into supporting the local community here in Falmouth and Penryn. We’ve been involved in projects like the Dracaena Centre Skate Park and the Prislow (“Prynslow”) Wood Boardwalk. We also supported the Kimberley Lodge project by providing the Concept and Planning Stage entirely free of charge — I gave my own time outside of paid work to help make something like this possible.
It’s been a huge effort for a small office — but it’s all for the future of my daughter and all the children in our community. Nothing makes me happier than seeing others grow and reach their full potential.
Architecture Without Arrogance
We believe architecture is a service — not a status symbol.
Structures, spaces, and buildings are essential to human life, health, and wellbeing — just as described in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. That’s why we believe in a “Human First” approach.
The traditional image of architecture — and I hear this often in conversations — is that people either don’t really know what architects do, or they assume it’s expensive and out of reach.
Architects are often seen as distant, formal, and stuck in a hierarchy. Too often, the profession revolves around prestige, status, and exclusivity.
But that’s not what we believe in.
We’re a small, approachable office in the heart of the town centre — open, local, and easy to talk to.
We listen. We collaborate. We create spaces that are meaningful and lasting.
We don’t hide behind jargon or position ourselves above others. We speak openly, act honestly, and focus on what truly matters: helping you understand your options, make confident decisions, and shape spaces that genuinely work for you.
We work on small and medium size projects and we try to help people who otherwise would not consider using an architect. We care.
Architecture needs to change:
We believe architecture as a profession has serious flaws — and we’re not afraid to challenge them.
1. Let’s make architecture welcoming, approachable, and meaningful
The RIBA logo shows two heraldic lions flanking a classical column, topped by a disembodied hand holding a pair of compasses.
Does that look friendly or welcoming to you?
To us, it symbolises tradition, hierarchy, authority — and colonialism.
It represents status, not what architects do every day.
Even my daughter said:
“It’s boring and unfriendly — and that’s not what a lion looks like.”
Let’s move away from distant symbols of power.
Let’s stand for something more human.
Let’s make architecture welcoming, approachable, and meaningful.
2. Culture, Fairness, and Representation
Many feel that RIBA prioritises reputation and business over fairness.
The ARB and RIBA must implement meaningful changes to better protect ordinary architects and their qualifications.
Small practices and lesser-known members are often left without meaningful support or representation — a reality I’ve experienced myself. RIBA has deeply disappointed me.
A toxic culture still persists in many parts of the industry:
● Unfair treatment
● Staff exploitation
● Poor mental health
● A lingering “star-architect” culture
These aren’t rare isolated problems. I’ve seen and experienced them myself.
3. Education Must Catch Up With Reality
Architectural education has big gaps — and I’ve felt them firsthand.
Many graduates leave university without the practical skills they need.
They often begin as cheap labour, only learning about essential topics like planning, building regulations, or collaboration on the job.
At university, only big, glamorous projects — like museums, airports, or visitor centres — were considered “good enough.”
Yet in my small practice, 80% of our work is residential extensions and retrofits.
Many student projects are impressive on the surface but disconnected from real-world demands.
They often ignore basic requirements like safety, cost, and technical feasibility — the result is Design-Wash.
It’s like asking me to design a floating research platform at sea —
without knowing anything about hydrodynamics, shipbuilding, or how scientific research even works at sea.
(And yes — that really was my Diploma Project.)
A Simple Idea: Town-Based Student Studios
What if universities had an office in town?
Students could act as ambassadors for design and ideas.
Locals could walk in, ask for help, and students — supported by professionals — could work on real projects, together.
They’d learn how to communicate, collaborate, about finance and run a practice.
And if the work succeeds, students should be fairly paid.
1. Be more critical
Architects have lost much of their influence as ambassadors for people and good design.
We just have to look around at most new construction: generic, profit-driven, and often disconnected from human needs.Too often, architects stay silent — even when they know something is wrong.
We accept poor housing conditions, lifeless public spaces, and buildings that are expensive to run, hard to use, and ugly to live with.
If architects don’t stand up for quality, sustainability, dignity, and real usefulness — who will?
We’re living through a quiet, global catastrophe of boring buildings that make us sick, stressed, and depressed, while simultaneously destroying our planet.
Our Principles
At our architectural studio, we strive to uphold the principles of integrity, transparency, and respect in everything we do. Our vision is to create a world guided by empathy, respect, justice, generosity, courage, fun, and love.
We follow the Vitruvian principles:
Vitruvius, was a Roman author, architect, civil engineer, and military engineer
Firmatis (Durability) - It should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.
Utilitas (Utility) - It should be useful and function well for the people using it.
Venustatis (Beauty) - It should delight people and raise their spirits.
In addition to these timeless principles, we also draw inspiration from the Bauhaus movement, which sought to unite art, design, music, architecture, and technology into a holistic vision.
What inspires us most, however, is the Bauhaus's diverse and creative approach to humane education. However the Bauhaus movement also pioneered new methods for industrialised building production, it is this very aspect that we feel needs critical reflection — as much of today’s construction has become overly economically driven, losing sight of the human being at the heart of design.
There are so many other influences.
David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, Rutger Bregman, Steve Backshall, Maja Göpel, Humanise Org, Chris van Tulleken, Prof. Harald Lesch, Prof. Brian Cox, Chris Packham, Prof. Alice Roberts, Dr George McGavin............
For us, being critical is not just important — it is essential. We believe that with more critical thinking and care, disasters like Grenfell Tower could have been prevented.
