Business of Architecture UK Podcast

075: Running a Global Multi-generational Practice with Tom Kundig, Olson Kundig

What a corker of an interview this was! What a delight and absolute pleasure to be speaking to an archi-hero of mine, Tom Kundig the principal and owner of the Seattle-based firm Olson Kundig Architects. Tom's honours include some of the highest design awards, including a 2008 National Design Award in Architecture Design from the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt; a 2007 Academy Award in Architecture from The American Academy of Arts and Letters; selection as a finalist for the 2005 National Desig...

074: Creating a New Global Social Network with Purpose, Simon Puleston Jones

Some of the most powerful lessons in business can come from interacting with other disciplines and industries. In this podcast I begin a series of conversations that will continue throughout 2020 where I will speak to a number of business owners, entrepreneurs, app and product developers outside of the architecture industry to understand their stories of creating, organising and building businesses. This week's story captures the early stages of a new social network driven by civic respo...

073: A Scandinavian-flavoured Approach to Systematically Producing Consistently Beautiful and Profitable Work with Magnus Strom

We kick off 2020 with Magnus Ström of Ström Architects who specialise in delivering stunning modernist homes, often located in areas of outstanding beauty across the UK and internationally. With an impressive and growing portfolio of delicious homes, Magnus shares with me how he has brought business precision to many elements of his practice, systematising important processes in both the delivery and acquisition of new work to ensure consistent quality and profitability. In this intervie...

072: Rethinking Procurement & Business Identity with Russell Curtis

In this week's podcast, I interview Russell Curtis on of the founding directors of RCKa, where he oversees RCKa's commercial and residential infill projects and is responsible for the delivery phase of the practice's work. Russell is also a founding director of Project Compass CIC, a not-for-profit organisation campaigning for increased transparency and accessibility in public sector procurement in the UK. In this conversation you will learn: How RCKa evolved into doing public work Wh...

071: Being an Architect in the 21st Century with Gianpiero Venturini

This week I speak with Gianpiero Venturini, founder of Itinerant Office, curator of the New Generations Festival and author of “ATLAS of emerging practices: being an architect in the 21st century” in the second part of our interview. Itinerant Office curates events, exhibitions, and publications, facilitating exchange of knowledge supported by a multi-disciplinary network. In this podcast Gianpiero and I discuss his book “ATLAS of emerging practices: being an architect in the 21st centur...

070: The Atlas of Emerging Practices with Gianpiero Venturini

This week I speak with Gianpiero Venturini, founder of Itinerant Office, curator of the New Generations Festival and author of “ATLAS of emerging practices: being an architect in the 21st century”. Itinerant Office curates events, exhibitions, and publications, facilitating exchange of knowledge supported by a multi-disciplinary network. In this podcast Gianpiero and I discuss his book “ATLAS of emerging practices: being an architect in the 21st century” (check the special 20% discount...

069: Honesty in Architectural Photography with Rob Fiehn & Jim Stephenson

Honesty in buildings and materials is a very architectural concept. But what does 'honesty' mean when we speak about architectural photography and why is it important to consider when marketing our services? In this discussion I am joined by PR Maestro Rob Fiehn and Jim Stephenson, a photographer film maker whose unique body of work has been beautifully documenting the built environment and its untold stories for the last decade. This has lead him to work with the likes of BIG; Herzog & de...

068: Building a Practice in London & Mexico City with Salvador Rivas

In this week's podcast I speak with Architect Salvador Rivas who is the founder of s*arc : Salvador Rivas Architects who have offices in London and Mexico City. With a decade of experience working at Fosters and Partners to now leading Salvador Rivas Architects, Salvador shares his journey and the lessons learnt from one the world's great practices and how he is implementing them in building his own international office. In this episode you will learn: - Business revelations and mindset...

067: Using Architectural Photography to Grow Your Practice with Keith van-Loen

In this week's episode I venture down to south east London into the beautifully concreted home of passionate modernist aficionado and architectural photographer Keith van-Loen. Coming from an engineering background and with a multitude of photographic experience working with editorial magazines to advertorial and advertising both B2B and B2C, Keith brings a highly specialised set of expertise to creating a photographic asset that captures architectural work. Keith discusses how architectur...

066 Learning to Use Failures when Designing Your Business with Rion Willard

In this week's podcast I include a segment from my recent webinar "Fail Forward, Fail Fast", which explored how we can utilise the iterative design, the same way we design buildings and apply it to designing our businesses. Elon Musk once said "Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you're not innovating enough." Learning to re-frame our business mistakes and failures as part of an evolutionary cycle takes much of the sting out of the pain of going through them and also al...

065: Marketing Strategies for Architects with Eric Bobrow and Richard Petrie, The Architect Marketing Institute

In this interview I sit down with some of the leading minds in architect marketing strategies, Eric Bobrow and Richard Petrie of The Architect Marketing Institute. The Architect Marketing Institute is a consulting firm focused on helping architects win better projects through effective marketing. Eric Bobrow is one of the world's foremost internet marketing strategists for architects. He has helped hundreds of architects grow their businesses and has worked with architects for the past 3...

064: Growing an International Luxury Interior Design Studio with Rachel Laxer and Beth Clancy

This week on the Business of Architecture UK, I visit Rachel Laxer Interiors, an Luxury Interior Design Studio based in London and New York with a portfolio of international work. In this interview principal Rachel Laxer and senior design director Beth Clancy discuss their working relationship, how Rachel began the studio and the details of how they manage their clients budgets and vision. Themes explored in this interview: - Making the transition into commercial work from private resid...

063: Business Systems for an Architecture Practice with Maria Mustapha

In this week’s interview I speak with Maria Mustapha, a business strategist and director of JMA Projects, a Business Systems Consultancy that helps Interior Designers and Architects work smarter and build a 21st century business with better processes & technology. With a background in a number of various industries from engineering and construction, branding and marketing, to software development projects, Maria has a unique insight into the constraints many new architectural businesses fa...

062: What Happens When An Anthropologist Studies Architects at Work? with Dr Thomas Yarrow

I was absolutely delighted and fascinated to meet this week's guest on the Business of Architecture UK. Dr Thomas Yarrow is an Anthropologist at the University of Durham, who has recently completed an ethnographical study of architects at work, through an intimate observational collaboration with architecture practice, Millar Howard Workshop. Dr Thomas Yarrow completed his undergraduate degree in archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge University before undertaking his PhD in social anth...

061: Succeed in the Gig Economy with Diane Mulcahy

This week's podcast is a powerful conversation with a highly accomplished guest, Diane Mulcahy, author of The Gig Economy - The Complete guide to getting better work, taking more time off and financing the life you want!. I recently read this book at the recommendation of a business mentor and excitedly consumed it at pace. When finished I was certain that this was one of those critically important books that architects and students must read as it wonderfully articulates so many important...

060: How to Finance Your Own Projects with Michael Bristow

This week I speak with Micheal Bristow, CEO and co-founder of CrowdProperty, a peer to peer lending platform for property projects. Prior to starting CrowdProperty, Michael spent 18 years as a strategy consultant advising leading international companies and private equity funds on mergers and acquisitions and corporate strategy as well as growing an 8-figure property portfolio predominantly in London. CrowdProperty provides a powerful alternative to traditional institutional finance, whi...

059: Winning Game Changing Projects with Tarek Merlin, Feix Merlin

What a joy! I love podcasting. I always get the good fortune to visit many architectural practices and get tantalising glimpses behind the scenes. Every so often I get the opportunity to conduct an interview in a recently completed project of the Business of Architecture guest. This week was one such interview as I sit down with Tarek Merlin, co founder of Feix Merlin, in their recently completed socially conscious private members club in Mayfair, The Conduit. Tarek discusses organic g...

058: Getting Published Made Easy with Bowerbird

In this week's episode I sit down with co-founders Nic Granleese, Ben Morgan and the UK Head of Operations Celeste Bolte of the Bowerbird Architecture App, a digital platform that makes getting your architecture project published very simple. Nic, formerly an architect turned architectural photographer and Ben, a former design journalist & Celeste, who's background is in communications, now operate an ever growing international platform connecting architects and designers with 1254 magazin...

057: Growing a Multi Disciplinary Urban Design Studio with Laura Crescimano

On this week's episode, I visit Google HQ in London to speak with Laura Crescimano, co-founder of San Francisco based SITE Lab, a multi disciplinary urban design firm. Laura is an expert on urban design, with an intimate knowledge of public realm and social power of space. Designing both processes and places, Laura’s projects range from Pier 70, where she led a multidisciplinary team through the design and community process for a 35-acre mixed-use waterfront development in a historic indus...

056: Twitter, Making Sure You Get Paid & Creating a Fulfilling Practice with Armin Gangugly

055: How to Turnaround Your Architecture Practice with Barry Stott Brookes

This week I'm speaking with Barry Stott Brookes who is the director and founder of Architects Atelier and a graduate of the Business of Architecture marketing course. In this interview Barry tells us how he took his once struggling business and transformed it into his ideal practice, with clients he loves working with, rewarding projects and the freedom to enjoy his life and work.   Barry embarked on educating himself in marketing, sales and business strategies and has seen his business ...

054: Creating and Winning Beautiful Commercial Work with Aleksandrina Rizova

This week I am speaking with Aleksandrina Rizova of Aleksa Studio. Prior to establishing ALEKSA studio in 2015, Aleksa worked at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners across the commercial, residential and cultural sectors. She was primarily involved in the design and on-site coordination of the Leadenhall Building. Aleksa was awarded the Komfort award for best interior space at the RIBA President’s Medals Student Awards in 2008. In this interview Aleksandrina discusses how she won those early...

053: Leadership and Diversity in the Profession with BFA

This week's interview speaks with the co-founders of BFA, Black Females in Architecture a network who's mission is to support, connect and empower black and black mixed heritage women working in the fields of architecture and construction. Co founders Neba Sere, Selasi Setufe, Alisha Morenike Fisher and Akua Danso discuss how they created the network and many important issues facing the architectural industry today. The leadership and entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by these ladies pro...

052: The 7 Most Common Obstacles To Growing An Architecture Business, BOA UK Live Event Part 2

This is part 2 of the audio from our Live Event in March. In 2018 I interviewed 42 architects, archipreneurs and industry thought leaders. Again and again the same themes appeared that I sensed were at the root of many architecture business problems. Over the Christmas period, I spent a lot of time quietly reflecting and re listening to those interviews in order to distill what these industry experts were telling me they had found to often be some of the most challenging aspects of runn...

051: 7 Threats To An Architecture Business Part 1

This is the audio from our Live Event in March. In 2018 I interviewed 42 architects, archipreneurs and industry thought leaders. Again and again the same themes appeared that I sensed were at the root of many architecture business problems. Over the Christmas period, I spent a lot of time quietly reflecting and re listening to those interviews in order to distill what these industry experts were telling me they had found to often be some of the most challenging aspects of running an arc...

050: Being Fearless when Building Dreams with Cory Brian Ingram

This was an impromptu and chance interview that happened a few weeks ago whilst I was travelling in Nashville. I had the good fortune to be staying in the Dream Hotel Nashville and got chatting to Cory who was sitting at the bar. Turns out he was the creative director of the hotel group and was working with an incredible array or architects, designers and brand consultants. So I ran upstairs and grabbed my podcasting kit! Cory is expert in creating brand language, developing brand experien...

049: Business Development for Architects with Melissa Woolford

In this week's interview I speak with Executive director and founder of the Museum of Architecture (MoA), Melissa Woolford. MoA is a charity dedicated to empowering architects to run better businesses and to support architects communicating the value of architecture to the general public. In this interview you will discover: - Common mistakes architects make in their marketing - How to develop your career at associate level by learning about business development - Innovative business ...

048: Navigating Economic Storms In A Design Led Practice with Oliver Salway

This week's podcast is with director of Softroom, Oliver Salway. In this interview Oliver shares how Softroom began using innovative digital rendering techniques to create speculative projects ideal for marketing their architectural talents. From collaborations with emerging design magazines (Wallpaper in 90s) they began to win an exciting array of projects working with global brands and cultural institutions navigating and evolving their practice as economic downturns injured other business...

047: What Happens When You Own A Restaurant, Bar and An Architecture Practice with Fourth Space

In this week’s interview I speak with Steve Sinclair, Huw Williams and Paolo Mozzato of Fourth Space about how they have set up a scenario many architects often dream of – owning a restaurant, Ombra on Vyner Street in London and running an architecture practice. In this conversation the Fourth Space gents share the valuable business lessons they have learnt from running a restaurant, how they have utilised the unique environment to nurture client and industry relationships. In this episo...

046: When Is P.R. A Bad Idea? with Robert Fiehn

This week I speak with PR Maestro, Rob Fiehn or Robert Fiehn Communications. Rob has an accomplished career to date, working deep within the architectural industry facilitating effective communication with diverse portfolio of practices from small bespoke operations to large international firms helping them communicate both internally and with the wider public. In this interview Rob discusses when PR is a BAD IDEA. Many architects look at PR as the quick fix solution to a number of busines...

A Practice For The Future with Piers Taylor

What a delight this week's podcast interview is as I get the opportunity to sit down with Piers Taylor of the Invisible Studio. Sitting in a unit studio at Reading University where Piers teaches, we discuss his career, the growing of two architectural practices Mitchell Taylor and Invisible Studio, working in the media and his blue prints for a light weight low risk architecture practice that delivers fulfilling, challenging design and creates a lifestyle where the distinction between work a...

045: A Practice For The Future with Piers Taylor

What a delight this week's podcast interview is as I get the opportunity to sit down with Piers Taylor of the Invisible Studio. Sitting in a unit studio at Reading University where Piers teaches, we discuss his career, the growing of two architectural practices Mitchell Taylor and Invisible Studio, working in the media and his blue prints for a light weight low risk architecture practice that delivers fulfilling, challenging design and creates a lifestyle where the distinction between work a...

The 7 Threats to an Architecture Business with Rion Willard

In 2018 I interviewed 42 architects, archipreneurs and industry  thought leaders.  Again and again the same themes appeared that I sensed were at  the root of many architecture business problems.   Over the Christmas period, I spent a lot of time quietly reflecting  and re listening to those interviews in order to distill what these  industry experts were telling me they had found to often be some of the most challenging aspects of running an architecture business and what they have d...

044: The 7 Threats to an Architecture Business with Rion Willard

In 2018 I interviewed 42 architects, archipreneurs and industry  thought leaders.  Again and again the same themes appeared that I sensed were at  the root of many architecture business problems.   Over the Christmas period, I spent a lot of time quietly reflecting  and re listening to those interviews in order to distill what these  industry experts were telling me they had found to often be some of the most challenging aspects of running an architecture business and what they have d...

043: Supporting The Next Generation with Phineas Harper

In this week's episode I speak with Phineas Harper deputy director of the Architecture Foundation. In this conversation Phin discusses the importance of architectural education and how it is essential for it to be protected and the role the profession can take in doing so.Phin also talks at length about the work of the Architecture Foundation in supporting new and upcoming architects and his work organising the radical discussion panels at the Turncoats talks THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES http://...

042: "Having the Balls to Diversify" with Pol Gallagher

In this week's episode I speak with founder of ZAP Architecture Pol Gallagher. Pol and the ZAP team have created an exciting and entrepreneurial practice who have become their own clients on a number of projects including the reuse of a dilapidated Victorian theatre into one of London's premier trampoline parks (ZAP Space), which is also where their practice studios are based. And yes I did have a bounce! ZAP's work includes art installations, live events, award winning garden's at the Chels...

041: Emotional Intelligence with Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore

Using Emotional Intelligence to win work, retain talent & grow a business with Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore. This week's podcast delves into a topic that so many successful business owners, industry thought leaders and CEOs place as the most important business skill of them all - Emotional Intelligence. Our emotional intelligence underpins all of our decision-making, our ability to take action, handle interpersonal relationships and our overall experience of life. In business it i...

040: 20 Business Growth Shortcuts for Under £500 with Rion Willard

This week is a rapid quick fire brainstorm of marketing, advertising and growth strategies for under £500 that can accelerate your business's growth if executed. I've picked up many of these from speaking to many architects, business mentors and entrepreneurs on the show and I use many of these both with the Business of Architecture UK and in my own architecture practice. In this episode you will get - 20 Business Growth Hacks for your Practice - Get a 2 page cheatsheet containing the ha...

039: The Art of Winning and Delivering Colossal Projects as a Small Practice with Haptic Architects

In this week's Podcast episode I speak with co founder, Tomas Stokke and Senior Associate, Dimitris Argyros of Haptic Architects about how as 20 person practice they have been able to deliver colossal projects at infrastructure scale around the world. This remarkable feat has been enabled by a unique company culture which focuses on the art of deep collaboration both with their clients and larger practices (100 people +) to facilitate high levels of design thinking and solutions to projects ...

038: The 3 Most Common Money Blocks that Stop Architects with Jaimie Sarah

This week on BOA UK I'm speaking with Global Success Coach, Jaimie Sarah about the 3 most common money blocks that architects, entrepreneurs and business owners face with their companies. Jaimie has coached CEOs, company leaders, founders and other influential leaders, change agents and public figures. She has been featured in Forbes, attended the Harvard Business School,  has a degree in psychology and is a qualified hypnotherapist. Jaimie is a master at unearthing the deep rooted obstacl...

037: Essential Business Lessons for Growing Your Practice with Tim Burgess

To kick off 2019 I sit down with one of the co-founders of Cove Burgess, Timothy Burgess. Timothy has extensive experience working with funds, family offices and long-term investors to help manage their portfolios and he has walked the path of starting out as a sole practitioner to creating a partnership and growing a team in their central London location. Tim has developed and educated himself in business over the years through extensive self learning and mentorship with other successful ar...

036: Building a Client Pipeline with Dicky Lewis and Joe Haire of White Red Architects

This week I am in the heart of Shoreditch speaking with 2 of the 3 co-founders of young practice White Red Architects, Dicky Lewis and Joe Haire. White Red Architects already has an exciting portfolio of work ranging from High-End Residential to Cultural and Co-Working office spaces.  Both Joe and Dicky embody a strong entrepreneurial sense and see business acumen as one of the most important keys to creating great architecture. In this episode you will learn: The systems to use to buil...

035: Multiple Streams of Income for an Architecture Practice with Tara Gbolade

This week I sit down with the entrepreneurial force of RIBA J Rising Star, Tara Gbolade, co-founder of Studio Gbolade and creator of the Mypart3 App, an app which helps professionals pass their Part 3 examinations to become qualified architects. In this episode Tara shares: How you can develop a business plan and model with multiple streams of income How you can always dependably deliver high-quality work on time with no stress or late nights How to charge the right fees for developer...

034: Business Models for Community Projects with Shankari Raj

In this week’s episode of Business of Architecture, I speak with Shankari Raj, Architect and founder of Nudge Group. Shankari has an immense wealth of expertise and knowledge that crosses a number of different disciplines from Architecture, technology, politics, and economics. Her work is focused on bringing about socio-political change and she utilises her architectural practice for developing community-focused projects that unite and influence how parts of the city are developed and used. ...

033: Business Essentials: BoA UK Live Event Panel Discussion pt2

On October 11th 2018, 7a Howick Place, U+I Offices, London, 7-10pm we held the Business of Architecture UK Live Event: Business Essentials, this event was designed to give you business strategies and winning formulas for running a profitable and impactful business. Speaking we had - A simple cashflow exercise to have your practice running way above the red line and into profitability, led by CEO of Fresh Projects (specialists in architecture practice management software), Simon Berry - se...

032: Money, Cash Flow and Profit

On October 11th 2018, 7a Howick Place, U+I Offices, London, 7-10pm we held the Business of Architecture UK Live Event: Business Essentials, this event was designed to give you business strategies and winning formulas for running a profitable and impactful business. Speaking we had - A simple cashflow exercise to have your practice running way above the red line and into profitability, led by CEO of Fresh Projects (specialists in architecture practice management software), Simon Berry - see...

031: Words for Winning Work with Juliette Mitchell

This week I speak with Juliette Michell of Architypal a writing consultancy for architects. In this interview Juliette discusses the power of using words in architecture to bring our work to life for our clients and colleagues. Juliette explains to importance of telling stories, to cultivate company culture, develop powerful and meaning marketing collateral and generate company values and mission statements. In this episode you will learn : - The key ingredients to writing a practice pro...

030 Marketing Formulas for Architects with Paul Iddon

In this week's episode I travel to Manchester to visit the phenomenal tour de force that is Paul Iddon. Paul has had a unique career which spans across practicing as an architect running his own office to now running a marketing agency which supports product manufacturers market to architects. His experience in both terratories provides him with a unique insight into the challenges that architects face both as individual small businesses and as a profession as a whole. In this interview Pa...

029: Creating an Architectural Franchise with Lisa Raynes

In this week's episode I travel to Manchester to visit Lisa Raynes founder of Pride Rd Architects, an architectural practice specialising in domestic and residential projects with an innovative business model. Discovering that the domestic market was relatively unaffected by economic down turns Lisa set up Pride Road Architects as a franchise  to empower architects who want a better work life balance and want a tried a tested method to set up on their own.   In this interview Lisa goes...

028: Essential Business Skills for Architects with Chris Williamson

'There's no reason why Business and Art can't go hand in hand' - Norman Foster This week I am speaking with Chris Williamson, co-founder of Weston Williamson, a 100 person strong practice based in central London specialising in large scale transport infrastructure.  In addition to being a chartered architect, Chris has an MSc in Project Management and believes strongly that the art of architecture requires excellent business skills in order to be realised. Previously Chris was the RIBA's...