I deliver a fully comprehensive service not only bringing in the builders but also all the specialist sub-contractors.I also coordinate the
interior decoration and design the landscaping. In a nutshell they are
turnkey projects.Many of my clients are non-resident here and need
somebody they can trust to ensure everything goes smoothly.”
How do you take the clients requirements
through to design?
“When I arrived here I wanted to operate as an architect on a more
personal level. Whilst I was in Ireland I was working on huge commercial projects such as shopping centers and office buildings. I
liked Marbella as I saw that it had great opportunities for architects;
there were fewer restrictions here than there were in the UK and
Ireland. I also wanted to live in a warm climate. Taking an initial brief
through to completion can sometimes be fairly easy but on the other
can be extremely difficult. For example, you can have a husband and
wife who have different tastes and finding common ground can be
a major pain!
You can also have a client who has fixed ideas but not necessarily
great ideas. It can be hard to get them to shift away from those to
a better solution.Thirdly you can get clients who are not sure what
they really want.
I start with some basic ideas and their response tells me how to proceed and gradually the design emerges.I work on the principle that one
approach does not fit all.I deal with each client on an individual basis.”
Tell me about some of your projects
“The vast majority of my projects here over the last thirty years have
been upper-end residential.That was the market I was aiming for. At
that level there is usually a decent budget which gives me the scope
to design something interesting.
I have investment clients and clients who are building for themselves.
I see different reactions from commercial and investment clients to
those who are building for themselves.
Commercial clients are building a house to sell on and tend not to
be emotionally involved but they still want a good quality finish to a
good quality house. With clients who build for themselves, they are
emotionally connected to the house. It is going to be their home for
the foreseeable future so it’s a life changing experience for them and
a very rewarding feeling for me”.
What about your commercial projects?
“The La Sala projects were probably among the most interesting
ones I have done. The work was challenging; however a thoroughly
enjoyable process. The La Sala brand has become one of the most
recognizable over the last four years and has become a “must visit
“venue for tourists and visiting celebs alike. La Sala’s flagship restaurant in Nueva Andalucia was the first, followed by Rincon de La Sala
in San Pedro in 2013.
In Nueva Andalucia we were working with an existing building and in
San Pedro we kept about a third of the existing building. On the design of both restaurants I dealt directly with Ian Radford the chairman
of the La Sala Group, a passionate and inspired client who had very
clear ideas about what he wanted. The brief was more about creating an atmosphere rather than dictating a specific layout. The layout
evolved through a progression of designs and discussions until the
final plan was agreed.
Ian had accumulated a collection of photos, magazine cuttings and
materials which helped to clearly get his ideas across. Colour, light
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and texture were the most important design tools once the shape of
the space was clear. The project was challenging. We were always on
a very tight schedule because the sooner you open a business or restaurant, the sooner you are going to start recovering your investment.It
was great to have a client who knew exactly what they wanted.
With commercial projects especially restaurants or premises’ with
music, there is quite a complex procedure to get all the necessary
licenses. It is vital to understand the procedures coupled with the order in which things are done; otherwise it could delay their opening.
After La Sala Puerto Banus, I designed La Sala San Pedro.This was
quite different, in so far as La Sala Puerto Banus was primarily interior
work in an existing building plus the terraces, whereas in San Pedro
we kept the front of the building and demolished everything behind.
It was essentially a completely new build.Therefore we had a bit more
flexibility with our design with the height inside and the whole way it
was put together.
We had more scope with that building despite the fact it is a smaller
restaurant.Once again the knowledge of the licensing system was an
absolute essential. The restaurant was an immediate success and
continues to thrive.Personally it is one of my favorite projects because
of its success from both a design and commercial point of view.”