Interview: GF+A Architects

Interview with Architect, Graham Ford

Tell us a little about the background of your firm?

My firm commenced in 2006 and one of the first projects we worked on was the boating pavilion in Hyde Park. Following the Great Financial Crash of 2008 we worked on larger scale projects such as the London 2012 Olympic Games and on other large apartment schemes for contractors. In the last 5 years we have focussed on residential work and sports buildings. What stages do you take your clients through on a typical job?

DISCOVERY...This is the feasibility study phase. We discover your requirements, budget and the problems you are wanting to solve with the project. We review design options and planning constraints. PROPOSAL...Our proposal for the project will include a team to meet your objectives. PRECONSTRUCTION...In this phase we will translate what we learnt in the Discovery phase into design options. We will build a compelling story to support the planning application. CONSTRUCTION...We put together a co-ordinated set of drawings and we help you select the right contract and the right builder. HANDOVER….We make sure we have all the signoffs you need from planning and building control and we will ensure the building is finished to the standard we all require. How can you add value to a home which is already in good overall condition?

You add value by making the spaces work much better for the family. A good home has a generous entry and a sequence of spaces that lead visitors to the more public areas of the house. There must always be great connections to the garden from these spaces and a close relationship between dining room and kitchen. The private spaces of the house such as bedrooms and study are carefully separated from the living spaces so members of the family can relax and work or sleep undisturbed. Is there a type of project which gets you more excited than others?

Our favourite projects are pavilions in gardens, parks or in the landscape. These could be places where you can read, entertain, exercise, or just meditate. We also enjoy renovating old buildings and I learned how about renovation working on The Roundhouse in Camden Town. How do you see the future of urban development in London?

I think that there will be more densification in the suburbs and more apartment living as the population continues to expand. I think there will also be more people working from home in London’s outer suburbs and patterns of work and leisure will change, with more money spent in the outer parts of the city in restaurants and retail outlets and less spent in the inner city.