7:- Do you find that the
market for modular homes has
increased dramatically over the
past 12 months?
The investment in modular has
certainly increased interest in it.
London’s City Hall has said that it
is willing to give more funding to
modular development and Homes
England has also provided more
support with additional funding
for the sector. So that is bringing
manufacturers and developers closer
together. Where there are perhaps
challenges remain around issues
of design. We have to design each
modular development to the needs of
each manufacturer because they each
have their own way of building, so
some degree of standardisation here
would be helpful.
8:- With technology now being
at the forefront of most things
we do on a day to day basis has
technology helped you in your
creations or is it something that
has been hard to adapt to?
Before I set up the practice I always
worked on the more cutting-edge
projects such as London’s City Hall,
for which we relied upon technology
to help us create the designs. That’s
always been my kind of thing.
So, when we set up Astudio, we
did so with the intention of really
using technology to help us design,
whether that’s using 3D imaging, CAD
modelling or environmental testing.
Technology is part of our design DNA.
We would have a problem if we didn’t
use it.
9:- Looking back over your
history and very impressive
working past were you worked
as a project director at some
very prestigious architectural
practices such as Foster &
Partners what made you want
to take the leap and become the
founder and director of Astudio?
I was lucky enough to work for a great
architectural practice and work on
some very big projects.
For a long time, it was great but I got to
a point where I began to think I would
approach certain projects differently to
the way they were being designed.
There’s nothing wrong with this,
just a different perspective but when
you begin to reach the point where
you develop, perhaps, a different
philosophical approach to the
architectural practice you work for,
then you have to follow your own path.
At Astudio we are coming at the
construction industry in a completely
different way.
We like to look at a problem, like the
housebuilding crisis for example,
and find a solution to that which
challenges the current methods, uses
our experience in construction from
design to manufacturing to deliver a
better way.
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For us this involves a huge amount
of testing and research, which makes
every day worthwhile.
Comments from Richard Hyams,
founder Astudio
astudio
Tel: +44 (0)207 401 4100
[email protected]
www.astudio.co.uk
www.twitter.com/AstudioArch