2014 - Are we still airbourne?

Twelve months is a long time in architecture. We started the year in take off mode, the question now is was it a long or short haul flight? Without wishing to over extend the metaphor, I think most would agree that we have hit some turbulence.

When I wrote our blog a year or so ago we were worried that we would see inflation in the building industry, labour shortages and economic meddling by the government. I think we are in for more of the same in the next 12 months, and we have a very uncertain political landscape after May. Who would call that election result?

The present climate will inevitably change, Gordon Brown was never more wrong than when he said he would put an end to the ‘boom and bust economy’. Increasingly the over heated market is inflating construction and material costs, as well as accelerating land values. Fees, however, are under as much pressure as they have ever been. Development margins are tight and we professionals have to pitch and bid for every job. All of us need to keep a watchful eye on the cashflow in the next 12 months. Contractors are even worse off, many bought jobs in a very competitive market and are building them in a very different one. This is a huge headache for us, construction today seems to be a constant battle for quality as the main contractors struggle to get quality sub- contractors, and sadly clients often end up having to accept second best.

Despite all of this gloom, I think 2015, like 2014, will be another busy year for us. In the last twelve months, we have had two exhibitions of our work, coinciding with the publication of our book, ‘Practising Architecture’. We won some big consents, Regent House, Great Minster North and Optima for example, we have some great projects under construction, and we have completed Queens for Derwent London (1). In the private residential portfolio we have completed several beautiful homes, our project 'House Bloomsbury' (2) was the interiors winner for the NLA’s “Don’t Move Improve” awards. Restaurants have been busy, with Hix, Chucs and Jamies Italian in Stockholm all opening, and we have quietly re-branded Costa Coffee. Melbourne Art Fair and Art 14 were a great success, and we look forward to Art 15, Art Central Hong Kong and Sydney Contemporary in 2015.

Next year Westbourne House, Russell Square House and Sloane Street will all complete, and we will hand over our first project for the Office Group, we will also move Cadogan into their new offices. Talking of which we will be expanding ourselves, we have taken additional space at Woodfield Road, as well as more desk space we will have more meeting rooms thankfully.

So a big thank you to our clients, our colleagues and our friends, we wish you a safe and prosperous 2015.