About Me Adventures in architecture, design and life.
Projects
My projects have included new builds, conversions, renovations and modernisations. They have ranged from designing private houses, apartments, extensions, pubs, restaurants, shops, offices, a private hospital, a recording studio and even a ballroom. One design was featured on ITV Our House. Another was awarded a prize for the design of the New Republic Hall in Malta. I even had the privilege of designing London’s first West Indian restaurant!
Inspiring
The aspect of my design work that I’ve always enjoyed the most is meeting clients, discussing their ideas, inspiring them with possibilities they haven’t considered, and helping them to decide exactly what they want to achieve.
Questions
Over the years I have discovered a flair for asking the questions that matter, for digging down into the needs and desires of my clients and helping them clarify what will work for them emotionally, practically, and financially. I have found this design counselling aspect of my job to be just as important as the designing.
That is the challenge I have always loved – getting down to the nitty-gritty of what people want and need. That’s why I consider the initial stages of a project to be the most challenging and rewarding, and that’s the reason I started my Architecture & Design Advisory Service. Helping people clarify what they want at the start is the best way to make sure they are happy with what they get at the end!
Design
My love of discovering what makes people tick is matched by a curiosity about all areas of design, and life in general. In my spare time it has lead me to re-engineer and manufacture the Pedersen Bicycle, create a music venue, patent a bar system, and spend 7 months driving through South America. Long may the adventure continue!
Academic
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce.
(FRSA) 1998 – Present
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 1985-2001
Architects Registration Board (ARB) 1985 – 2001
Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Denmark.
(British Council Scholarship) 1980 -1981
Gloucestershire College of Art & Design.
Diploma in Architecture 1975-1979
Brunel Technical College, Bristol.
Institute of Building, Construction Technicians Certificate 1971 – 1975
Filton Technical College, Bristol.
City & Guilds, Construction Certificate 1969 – 1971
Career
Design Advisory Service 2014 – Present
Individual Projects 1970 – Present
Stanley Partnership Architects 1986 – 1987
Codel Design Associates 1984 – 1986
Andy Brown Architect 1980
Severnside Architects Partnership 1975
Blair & Curd Architects 1973 – 1975
Chipping Sodbury R D C 1969 – 1973
Community Participation
Horizon Cohousing, Gloucestershire. (Director) 2019 – Present
Cohousing Communities Foundation (Director) 1997 – 2001
A not-for-profit organisation set up to promote, inform and support the development of Cohousing schemes in the UK.
Stroud Valleys Cohousing Group 1997 – 1999
Promoting a community project to create and build a Cohousing scheme in Stroud. Gloucestershire.
West End Community Action, Cheltenham. 1995 – 2000
The Cheltenham West End Partnership (CWEP).
Was set up as part of the exit strategy for a £1.3m Single Regeneration Budget programme started in 1996. The SRB programme provided a five-year strategy for improvements to both business and housing in the area.
