Our Process in Practice
Welcome to our Project Stories, a place where we share how we approach complex problems. For us, every project is a unique puzzle. We're driven by the philosophy that the best solutions often come from unexpected places and are fueled by creative thinking. In these stories, you'll see how we apply a reality-based approach to solve real-world problems and build a better reality for our clients.
The Problem with the Kitchen
When a client calls to tell you how delighted they are with the result, you know you've done the job well. For this family, the delight came from a simple change that fixed a frustrating problem.
The kitchen and dining room just weren't working for them. The kitchen was in a back corner, at a lower level, making it feel cold, dark, and unwelcoming. The dining room, despite being bright and open, was rarely used. The house's layout was actively working against their daily lives.
The Obvious Solution
The solution came quite quickly. Instead of a complex, costly rebuild, the answer was to simply swap the rooms around and create an opening between them. This brought the kitchen into the center of the house and created a natural link between the two spaces, enhancing the usability of both. The steps between the two levels now draw occupants from one room to the other, making the flow feel effortless and natural.
The Broader Philosophy
This project was a great example of how our homes borrow heavily from the past, sometimes to their detriment. Historically, kitchens were a servile space, hidden away in a corner of the house. As the role of cooking has evolved and become more social and central to family life, the kitchen has become the heart of the home. This shift requires us to think beyond tradition and create spaces that truly reflect how we live today.
The Outcome
The new design transformed the space. The kitchen is now the first port of call when entering the house, inviting guests in from the main hall. The owners can comfortably host while preparing meals, and the entire ground floor feels connected, open, and functional. It was a solution that not only fixed a problem but helped the family connect with their home in a new way.
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The Architecture of the Self: Building a Reality from Within
Following a serious low point in my life, I found myself navigating a complex and fragmented inner landscape. My traditional creative outlets no longer fit my journey. The task ahead felt like peeling back a multi-layered onion, a painstaking process of emotional discovery with no clear end. I needed to find a way to make sense of the journey and build a new reality for myself.
The Obvious Solution
The solution didn't come from invention, but from discovery. After building a guitar, I found myself writing music that flowed easily, with each piece encapsulating one aspect of my journey to a better headspace. Like the double helix of my DNA, the music became highly complex and intricate, yet cyclic and meditative. I began to find a "safe place" in the process, a touchstone to return to. The entire album became a structural framework for healing.
The Philosophy
This project taught me that the principles of design apply to more than just buildings. The architecture of the self requires understanding the problem, finding a unique solution, and creating a framework for a better reality. The music, a reflection of the endless cycles of recovery, became a tangible manifestation of an invisible journey. It is a promise that even from the most difficult seeds, something beautiful and purposeful can grow.
The Outcome
The result was "From These Seeds...," an album that has been battle-tested at events for the Glastonbury Mental Health Network, a charity I work with as a trustee. A safe place for listeners, it is an unveiling, a contemplation, and an offered balm. By making this journey public, I've created a work that not only served as a foundation for my own recovery but also as a source of strength for others. All proceeds from the album are sent directly to the charity, turning a deeply personal project into a force for good in the community.
The Digital Act of Remembrance
As part of The Festival of Death and Dying, we were commissioned to create a digital act of remembrance for the Lady Chapel of Wells Cathedral. The inspiration was the "calling of the names" that occurs during evensong. The challenge was to create an audio-visual installation that was both a gentle, digital space for contemplation and a worthy reflection of a deeply sensitive subject.
The Solution:
The solution came from building a digital act of remembrance. Using Touchdesigner, we created a three-dimensional cloud of names submitted by the public. The names gently floated, tumbled, and rotated, with the cloud shifting every 20 seconds. This visual act of remembrance was supported by curated music and recordings of local people reflecting on death, transforming the chapel into a contemplative space.
The Philosophy:
This project taught me that the principles of design apply to more than just buildings. It's about using technology to build a new kind of reality—one that can honor timeless traditions and human experience in a digital space. The installation was a testament to the power of design to bridge the gap between the historical and the modern, proving that a digital reality can be just as real and meaningful as a physical one.
The Outcome:
The installation ran all day on All Hallows Day, providing a quiet and moving space for visitors. It was a testament to the trust of the festival organizers and the Wells Cathedral staff, who allowed a modern digital installation to grace a sacred and historic location. I observed people sitting for hours, waiting for a loved one's name to appear. Watching one woman break down when her loved one's name appeared made it clear: this wasn't just a technical project, but a deeply human one. It shows that technology and creative design can be used to honor timeless human experiences.