ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV

What has been the hardest challenge you have faced to get to where you are now?

School- I struggled until I decided on architecture as a career

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

As an architect continuing to put climate change mitigation & adaptation at the heart of what we practice. I hope by 2020 Sustainable design in the UK will be mainstream & by improving building efficiency, strategic planning & decarbonising the grid we will successfully deliver ’zero carbon communities’. We have a lot to test, learn & implement to achieve this ambition in the UK but we also need to look overseas. Climate change does not recognise borders & the global market place is accelerating.

For large practices to maintain or increase their market share we will need to move into unfamiliar territory. For me the UK has a number of leading architects in the field of Sustainable Design who could share the knowledge gained in Europe & take this experience into countries that do not currently have the desire or skill base to change. It’s a cliché but we have reached a watershed & I relish the challenges ahead as we strive to reduce carbon emissions in buildings & our behaviour . I hope over the next 10 years I will have a small part to play in delivering world class sustainable development.

Where do you see the construction industry going in the next year, three years and decade?

The next three years is going to be tough with market uncertainty and legislation revisions needed to achieve carbon reduction commitments. This next 10 years will be a challenging but exciting period and we will only achieve these targets through cross industry collaboration.

What has been your career high point so far?

Throughout my career I have enjoyed the variety of projects & challenges that have arisen during 13 years as a chartered architect whether it is a headquarters office building, a school or housing. One project that stands out for me is the ’Lighthouse’ at BRE which was the first ’Code for Sustainable Homes’ Level 6 house, complete only 6 months after inception and accredited 3 months after the Code was published.

And the low point?

Working through a recession, first in my year out eager as a student to learn in practice when jobs were few & far between & now as a partner trying to secure work, putting your heart into projects that are not realised due to funding or lost for reasons beyond your control.

Who is your hero?

Not sure I have a hero but the first person that springs to mind as someone I admire is Sir Ranulph Fiennes for his sheer determination to succeed despite the odds.

If you could take one thing with you to a desert island, what would it be?

My family, if not allowed a boat.