Interview: Karenna Wilford

What does the future hold for residential architecture?

An interview with Karenna Wilford, the owner of Karenna Wilford Architects

What are the most common misconceptions people have regarding using an architect? I think there is a common belief that Architects can be overbearing, only interested in proposing what they want and not listening to the client’s needs. We believe it is really important to ask our clients the right questions when discussing the brief, in order that we can fully understand what they ultimately want to achieve and how we can ensure changes or additions are made so that the space works for them. There is also the misconception that Architects are expensive, but the reality is that if a project is well run and overseen by an Architect then money can be saved during the building process. We advise clients on whether their budget will accommodate their desires and give them practical advice on alternatives if needed.

Are there any current trends in the nature of projects you are being commissioned to design? Every project is different and will depend not only on the type of building or the surrounding land, but predominantly on the client’s needs and how the building needs to be adapted or designed to suit them. The main trend currently is to create a more open plan feel to the ground floor, with a combined kitchen/dining/living space as well as a separate living room. We are rarely asked to plan a formal dining room as most people want a more sociable space that has plenty of light and feels open to the outdoor space. Recently during the Covid crisis, people have been forced to work from home and it appears that this may continue for some time.

We are now being asked to include home offices either within the house or as a separate extension as some people like the idea of distinguishing work space from home life.

Are there any types of projects you find the most fulfilling to work on? We are really fortunate in having a variety of experience in both the size and type of projects that we work on. The most fulfilling are when clients are really surprised by an idea we have proposed, are excited by the space and love living in their newly renovated or extended home.

How are design costings usually calculated on residential projects? The calculations on design costings will first of all depend on whether it is a refurbishment or extension to an existing property or alternatively a new build. We base our fees on the projected building costs or the overall budget the client would like to spend. We always advise having a 10% contingency for unforeseen circumstances, particularly for refurbishment projects. A project is broken down into different stages, such as design, planning application, building regulations and technical information for the potential builders and then the construction and completion phase. Our fee proposals clearly set out the costs for these stages and clients have the flexibility to decide which stages they would like us to be involved in. We find most clients like the reassurance of knowing that we will oversee the project from the beginning to the end and we make sure they are kept well informed at every stage.

What changes do you think are most likely to reshape profession in the coming years? People are becoming more aware of environmental issues and wanting to be more sustainable in terms of energy and materials used in the building. There is a move towards installing renewable energy rather than traditional methods of heating. Unfortunately in our climate we still cannot rely fully on solar or PV generated heating, but it is certainly being used effectively for heating hot water. The cost of renewable energy is still very high and the government subsidies have ceased but we are hopeful that new more economic solutions will be developed and Architects need to keep abreast of this technology. We are very keen to encourage builders to keep a tidy site during the works and also to ensure that as little materials as possible are wasted on site.

Karenna Wilford |karennawilfordarchitects.com