Interviews

P&Csut_Johnathan_Smales_220916_Lewes_6367

Jonathan Smales: ‘I love the tangibility of building. I like the fact it’s got a beginning, a middle and an end’

By

From running Greenpeace to creating the UK’s largest timber neighbourhood, Jonathan Smales is a developer who doesn’t follow the herd, writes Ben Flatman

O_150506_N1661

Alex Ely: ‘Architecture is so central to our culture - it’s a pity it doesn’t seem to gain the traction it deserves’

By

The founder of the Stirling Prize-winning Mae Architects shares his influences and inspirations with Ben Flatman and concludes that his profession still has much to offer

Index pic (91)

Let’s talk about a brighter future for our towns and cities

By 1 comments

How can we create thriving communities and places that people enjoy and want to live in? Ben Flatman spoke to four key industry figures to find out

Henley and Hale-Brown cropped

Henley Halebrown: ‘We are genuinely interested in how people use buildings’

By

Simon Henley and Gavin Hale-Brown met at the University of Liverpool in 1986 and have been friends ever since, forming their award-winning practice together in 1995. Here Ben Flatman discusses their early influences, design philosophy, and commitment to improving access to the profession

Dan Hajjar, HOK (2)

‘Nobody believes them anymore’… HOK’s Daniel Hajjar on what is wrong with UK politics and the planning system

By

After 20 years in the Middle East, Daniel Hajjar moved to the UK, where, eight years on, he finds the political ‘flakiness’ of the country has made it an infuriating place to build. Thomas Lowe reports

shutterstock_2087433412

Interview | Eleanor Jolliffe talks to Nick Temple

By

In this interview Eleanor Jolliffe discovers how the opportunity to study in Rome changed the course of a renowned academic’s life

Advertisement

More interviews

David Rudlin podcast

Building Talks Creating Communities podcast: In conversation with David Rudlin at BDP

Episode 3: David Rudlin talks about the importance of urban design and why planning needs to rediscover its capacity to create good quality places

selinamasonwithlogo_243931 v.2

Building Talks Creating Communities podcast: In conversation with Selina Mason at Lendlease

Episode 2: Selina Mason talks about people-focused urbanism and the work she is doing on Birmingham’s Smithfield scheme

Jo Wright index pic

Building Talks Creating Communities podcast: In conversation with Jo Wright at Perkins & Will

Episode 1: Jo Wright talks about the impact on her career of working in Berlin before the wall came down and designing for the long term

Mason_Selina2-AMG54069

Interview | Eleanor Jolliffe talks to Selina Mason

By

Eleanor Jolliffe talks to the influential masterplanner about her time in Rome and its lasting influence on her life and career

shutterstock_1069626692

Interview | Eleanor Jolliffe talks to Robert Adam

By

Eleanor Jolliffe discusses the influence that Rome had on the career of the leading contemporary classicist

Thomas Heatherwick 6

‘Who are we designing for?’ Thomas Heatherwick wonders why buildings have become so boring

By 2 comments

In this exclusive interview, the Heatherwick Studio founder outlines the philosophy behind his new campaign to put the soul back into building design. Photography by Tom Campbell

Advertisement

Bldg_prod_search_1180