Welcome to Future Talks by RTF, where we engage in captivating conversations with trailblazers who breathe life into design narratives. In this installment, we have the pleasure of conversing with Andrew Brown, a distinguished Scottish Architect and the co-founder of Brown & Brown Architects. Hailing from Northern Scotland, their multi award-winning practice specializes in crafting bespoke residential projects that transcend geographical boundaries, leaving an indelible mark across the UK and beyond.
Andrew Brown’s architectural journey unfolds as a tapestry woven with influences from diverse design styles, ranging from the sleek lines of Scandinavian design to the innovation of Australian Modernism. With a portfolio that speaks volumes and has garnered international recognition, Brown & Brown Architects bring a unique perspective to the ever-evolving world of architecture.
Join us as we delve into the mind of this visionary architect, exploring the stories behind the structures and the inspirations that fuel their creativity.
RTF: Hi Andrew, We are glad to have you as a guest on Future Talks by RTF. Thanks for joining us. Tell us about the architectural ideas of Brown and Brown Architecture.
Andrew: Good architecture should be a considered response the site and context, whilst also harmoniously blend functionality, aesthetics, and the unique needs of individual clients – it’s an intricate balancing act of often competing needs. In the realm of one-off homes, we feel the design process becomes even more intriguing, as we endeavour to create spaces designed around how our clients wish to live. We aren’t attracted to designs which are wilful or lack context, and aspire to create understated buildings which are a ‘whisper not a shout’.
RTF: You have also taught design at various Architecture Universities. Is architectural teaching changing and evolving? What are your ideas about shaping future architects through tutorship?
Andrew: The role of the architectural teacher is increasingly shaped as a collaboration between the tutor and the student. We carry that approach across to our studio where we are lucky to have several members of the practice who we taught at university. It is our belief that a strong link with academia can only enhance our studio culture. Further, we have members of staff who are completing their studies while working in practice, rather than returning to university, and can see this being an important and fruitful route into the profession in the future.
RTF: What was the initial spark that propelled you towards architecture and design?
Andrew: Like most architects, I was always interested in creative endeavours as a child (Lego, Meccano, etc), but I was never artistically gifted, and found an inability to draw well very frustrating. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, until in my final year of high school I attended a lecture in Glasgow by Santiago Calatrava, which was so impressive and engaging that I knew this was the profession for me. Thankfully as I started my studies I was relieved and enthused to discover the various mediums through which architecture can be presented, which allowed me to find other interests to communicate ideas (model making, CGI, etc).
RTF: What is your favourite project to date and what makes it so?
Andrew: My favourite project of ours is probably the Arbor House. We completed this project at a critical time as our practice was growing, and it was the first project we delivered with a wider team, which always brings me a great degree of satisfaction. I also have a special place in my heart for our Spyon Cop project, due to the challenge of designing a contemporary but contextual home, in such a sensitive location. Both projects embodies our approach to design which centres on creating an architectural framework for our clients to live sustainably, whilst considering the specific aspects to site and materiality.
RTF: How important is it for designers to shrug off the rigidity in their approach towards design to be on the ever-evolving design bandwagon?
Andrew: I feel this is very important. On a personal level it is important to keep evolving, in order to prevent stagnation of your design skills, and to maintain your interest in architecture and design. I’ve found this ebbs and flows if not nurtured, and I’m very aware of a need and desire to challenge and improve myself throughout my career.
RTF: What are your views on working collaboratively with clients, consultants and contractors?
Andrew: Over the years, we have developed a specific work methodology that is focused on nurturing a collaborative working relationship with our clients, especially in the early design stages but also into the later technical and interior design stages of our projects. Working collaboratively is deeply imbedded in our studio’s DNA, and this approach is bringing a mix of ideas, specialism, and knowledge into a project. Our own work is enhanced with the input of skilled collaborators, and at the end of the day the thing we care most about is the quality of built work.
RTF: How do you look at innovation in the world of material and technology development through the lens of sustainability?
Andrew: We think about sustainability from a design-first approach, and feel that buildings should be as sustainable as possible by their conceptual design, before the introduction of renewable technologies to deliver on stated aims. It is exciting to see technological advancements which can enhance our buildings, from ever-improving battery systems to micro-thin solar collectors. As a practice we are getting deeper into the specifics of designing to passive house principles and are keenly monitoring how the innovative segments of the construction industry is developing in that regard.
RTF: What is your perspective on the evolving role of architectural criticism and the influence of architectural critics in the digital age?
Andrew: Architectural criticism is an important barometer, which we use to improve the quality of our own work. Simultaneously it’s important to consider if there is ever a disparity between the views of architectural criticism and those of the clients who commission a piece of architecture, and whether it’s always possible to fully ‘serve two masters’.
RTF: How important do you consider the role of platforms working towards providing recognition to such influential projects?
Andrew: Apologies – I’m not 100% sure I understand the question. If it relates to platforms like your own then I’ve tried to answer below. The digital age has transformed how we consume architectural critique and reporting, and gives a much wider access to architectural projects from around the globe. Whilst we still enjoy traditional architectural platforms (we are big fans of The Architectural Review, and the Australian magazine Houses), digital platforms and social media has made architecture more readily accessible, and the recognition projects received has benefitted from this enormously.
RTF: What is your idea of rethinking the future in the realm of architecture and design?
Andrew: In our specific area (that of residential design) I think the future is likely to embrace the continuing shift to people-focused spaces, over form-making or symbolic architecture. Also, we see a move to embrace the tactility of our immediate surroundings as well as an enhanced connectivity to nature, maybe as an antidote to living in a highly digitalised world. Mindfulness and general happiness is greatly influenced by the spaces we inhabit, and I can see a shift towards learning from vernacular spaces of the past, which have characteristics proven to aid wellbeing (scale, materiality, warmth, and even ornamentation).
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us. It has been a pleasure getting to know about you and your work. We’re sure that your insights will be highly valuable to our audience which includes architects and design students.
