AD : IN A FEW WORDS , HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR DESIGN PROCESS – PHILOSOPHY ?
SAM : I like to explore conceptual ideas . The start of a good project for me is finding the points of interest that resonate with a client , that can then be explored and expanded upon until we find a solution to the specific needs of the scheme . It can be an idea that works over the whole space or it could be broken down into individual elements and areas . The other really big thing for the studio is materials . I ’ ve always been keen on using new and interesting materials , so I will usually be thinking about those whilst we explore design concepts . Research into these concepts then develop the meaning behind it and material selection is key to that philosophy , so materials research really is key to finding a unique solution .
AD : YOURS MOST PROUD - FAVORITE PROJECT TILL NOW ? ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT THIS PROJECT THAT MAKES IT SPECIAL FOR YOU ?
SAM : Merchiston Apartment has definitely been the design scheme that I am most proud of so far . The client was great to work with and she let me suggest ideas that other clients may not be so confident about , and it resulted in some really special bits of design , not by myself but with the people I worked with to make the unique pieces come to life .
AD : YOUR LATEST PROJECT – THIS WHIMSICAL EDINBURGH APARTMENT WITH USE OF BOLD COLORS LOOKS ONE OF A KIND WITH ITS INTERESTING PLAYFUL CONCEPT . TELL US SOMETHING MORE ABOUT IT ’ S DESIGN INCEPTION .
SAM : The Merchiston Apartment is actually from a few years ago now , but has been spreading across the world in the past 6 months , so whilst it seems fresh to everyone else , its actually a design from 2018 .
I have just finished a small Chinese Cafe called Bing Ting which has been a lot of funds its located in an old Victorian butchers shop in Hull , Yorkshire , where all the inside was listed , so we had to make sure nothing was fixed to the walls or floor . A very interesting project and of course the colour scheme is very much one of mine !
// below ; Merchiston Apartment in Edinburgh , UK by Studio Sam Buckley . Photographer : ALIX MCINTOSH
November - December 2021 Edition // Design Essentia // DE INDIA | 31