Interview with George Omalianakis exciting when you get a chance to come up with something unique that makes the client happy.
Why should people appoint an architect instead of managing their own project? You appoint an architect for the wealth of their experience and the knowledge they have accumulated over years, rather than just for their ideas. An experienced architect is your insurance policy to ensure your project is run as smoothly as possible and you want to invest in their skills and know-how to guide you through the regulations, obligations, and approvals you need to obtain for your project. And of course, architects will come with a tonne of ideas about how to maximise what you can achieve, how to make your home more energy efficient, how to retain the character of your property while adding contemporary touches and ultimately how to make your home a joy to live in. What type of projects get you most excited? Looking back, I have always been involved with designing projects with a strong connection to historical and heritage context or with buildings that were environmentally conscious. And as it happens these are still the type of projects I am very passionate about working on today. This is because there is always something unique about environmental and heritage projects, no two properties are the same, no two clients have the same requirements and priorities. It is the bespoke way you engage with both the building and the client that is fundamental to developing and executing each project. I guess what these projects have in common is that as an architect you are required to look carefully at what is there, to understand what the requirements are before you are able to discover their full potential. I take the same consistent approach for all projects I work on as an architect and it is very
In developing a style for a client’s property who takes the lead or is it a collaborative effort? All projects I work on must be collaboration between GOAStudio and the client. At the start of a project, we must listen to the client and make a map of their requirements, likes, and style of their ideal home. For me, collaborating with a client is about asking the right questions to help reveal what the homeowners like, what their needs and priorities are, and to understand what really matters. From there we will make suggestions and present a range of options and ideas to the homeowner. As an architect I then lead the design development process to benefit the project. In this partnership I am the one with the wealth of experience and it is my job to plan, control and manage the process as well as to advise the client how we can maximise what we can achieve with their project. Is there a project that you are most proud of? I am proud of every single project we have designed and I have been involved with. Since 2009 our projects have featured in a number of publications and magazines. This is always satisfying both for ourselves and for the homeowner. As an architect you immerse yourself in the design of a project from its infancy, you find a way to look beyond its impossibilities, you have the light-bulb moments. And the aim is to come up with a beautiful and carefully resolved design that eventually becomes someone’s home long after you had anything you do with it. A happy client is what you end up being the most proud of because this is the measure of success in everything you do as an architect. • Chartered Architect with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) • RIBA Conservation Registrant – Specialism in historic buildings and conservation areas • Which? magazine residential expert and contributor • Member of the Green Register of Construction Professionals Contact George if you need help with your home project: george@goastudio.co.uk.
goastudio.co.uk
