Stories by Design gives insight into the process of architecture design where ideas take shape - solving problems, making choices - in the context of design thinking, drawing, conversations, and inspirations. Through a series of personal experiences - anecdotes, thoughts and discoveries - from helping a client find the perfect shade of white to discovering a clearing in a dense woodland to finding a stair on eBay for a primary school science lab, these stories reflect on the layered process of design and the choices we make, often with unexpected results. It is a window into how a designer thinks, what they notice, sources of inspiration and how these become part of what is ultimately realised. At its heart, this page is about people, places, and the thoughtful, sometimes peculiar journey that connects them through the world of design.
Open Plan Kitchen-Living-Dining
As kitchens define the heart of contemporary family homes, they are no longer separate, utilitarian zones but integral to our living, dining, socialising and working lives. All under one roof - open-plan as they are referred to - these spaces have become the most used rooms in our homes.
A Forest Clearing
Within the denseness of a forest you often find open patches of space, varying in size and shape. These are known as clearings. Like desert oases they are moments of sudden contrast - where one is a sigh of relief from parched sand and the other from the thicket of trees. What is dry is suddenly wet and what is dark, cluttered and dense is suddenly light, open and revealing.
Shades of white
We were asked by our client to help find the perfect white for her house. There would be no other paint finish, so we had to get it right.
A Living Architecture
Our vision is for a living architecture. This is a concept that has held the imagination of our studio for over 20 years.
Filling the room with sun
Designed as a joyful and calming space. The yellow surfaces are at the core of deepening the room’s emotional resonance.
Picture a window
In the early stages of design, we were considering different ways of connecting the house not only to the garden but the ancient woodland along which it is sitting.
Finding a stair
We were asked to design a science lab for a primary school
in North London with a budget made by selling cupcakes.
