Shared Vision Architecture

I’m from an architectural family, so it was natural that I was drawn to construction; I started work on-site as a ceiling fixer, and quickly saw how projects go wrong; clients poorly informed by their drawings, being surprised by what was being built, and changing their minds. There is a whole industry dedicated the generation of extra work, and the ballooning of budgets.

When I entered higher education I studied BSc Building (Science), rather than Architecture. The course covered deep aspects of the practical and technological aspects of construction, in contrast to the arts-based training given to architects. During the course I had lead management responsibility for the final design and construction of a 6 bedroom executive home with basement, which I designed and managed to structural completion over a period of 9 months, working full-time.

Even as an undergraduate I was working with computer aided design; 3D architectural design software is now very advanced, and can give clients a true vision of their project before it goes to site. Software is so effective, that an architectural design professional can guide clients through the basic design process in a matter of hours. They can have whatever they want within the bounds of budget, engineering, planning and regulation; and decide the compromises their way when constraints are encountered. Now there is no reason for clients to change their minds during construction.

Technology is also extremely powerful in the construction and running of buildings. I have designed, built, and studied low energy buildings, collaborated with a cutting edge building automation company, and qualified as a Certified Passivhaus Designer. Low-energy buildings don’t have to be complicated and expensive; a Shared Vision project for a terrace infill scheme was a finalist in the Architectural Technology Awards 2021; the building performs better than Passivhaus standard, and cost only £650k to build.

I started my Collaborative Design service in Oxford in 2010, and have now collaborated with more than 85 clients on over 100 projects; many by recommendations made by satisfied customers. Now in Glastonbury, I’m expanding the Shared Vision offering, and looking to build a team to provide more families, landlords, and organisations with the buildings they want, that the planet needs them to have.