My Story

Paul King, Freelance Architect 
Specialist in difficult projects

"If I have learned one thing as an Architect freelancer, working for many good architectural practices over the years, it is that I love a challenge.  Bring me something juicy that others might find ‘too hard’, and I am hooked."

Plenty of designers out there do perfectly well cranking out drawings on autopilot – and to be fair, competent ‘production line’ cookie cutter architecture is where the money is – but what really gets me out of bed in the morning and working late into the night is solving interesting problems for interesting people, distilling elegant solutions from amongst the noise of seemingly conflicting requirements.

Let’s face it, I am an architectural geek.

Rather than cultivating my firm handshake and a network of clients on the golf course by day and schmoozing in restaurants and bars by night as I probably should, I would much rather spend my spare time (when I am not with my family) exploring new ideas and technologies, debating philosophy on-line, sketching and day-dreaming about architecture.

While a geeky cerebral focus certainly sharpens the tools,  by any normal measure it also makes me a lousy salesperson for any architecture business, where image and charisma are everything. It doesn’t matter how good an architect might be, ability means nothing without being well known in the right circles – and getting well known in the right circles requires a level of extroversion and face time and dull small talk that I just can’t get excited about…  A geek’s dilemma!

For this reason I think it is high time I forget the traditional networking approach (because frankly, I suck at it!), and just try and connect directly with interesting people who have interesting architectural problems in my own way – online.  A sort of ‘internet dating’ process for architecture.

So here goes…

Tall,  dark and handsome ** architect seeking meaningful connection with cool and worthwhile design projects, for cool and interesting clients. Enjoys long walks on the beach, romantic and evocative design that tugs at the heart as much as the head, and cosy nights in front of the CAD monitor, getting excited about new and elegant solutions to knotty problems.

My ideal collaborator should have an appreciation for design, as well as a good practical outlook.

Hopefully you will also bring a few ideas of your own, and enjoy working together to see them evolved, distilled, and brought to life.  

You should have a tough brief that I can really get my teeth into, and be just about as excited as I am about the whole thing – there are some life-changing opportunities ahead!

(** well, tall anyway)

Here are just a few of the challenges that I love to deal with …nj

Small site or difficult terrain

Use lateral thinking to exploit the spatial and sculptural possibilities of compact but well crafted and elegant forms.  Work with rather than against the terrain, leveraging unexpected opportunities

Design for connection with nature

Forge a strong connection with nature, a serene oasis, even while positively engaging with and enhancing a vibrant urban environment (yes, this really is possible, right in the city –

Design to convince a tough audience

Design with integrated and responsive 3D visuals and written outcomes, to get hard to please tenants, investors and other stakeholders on board.

Use new technologies and building methods

Exploit emerging technologies in prefabrication, 3D printing, self sufficient green energy systems etc.

‘Mixed Use’ done well

Achieve a vibrant mixture of commercial and residential activities on the same site, without compromising either

Future proofing

Build in flexibility to accommodate the accelerating rate of change in building use patterns and servicing.

Express who YOU are

Design to reflect your artistic and aesthetic sensitivity, spirituality, environmental views and lifestyle aspirations, without compromising practicality

Harmonize conflicting requirements

Accommodate elegantly what might otherwise dominate and diminish your experience.  For example make best use of the sun, while protecting from the prevailing wind and nosy neighbours. 

Make money for you

Maximising resale value while minimising cost – a lot easier if the design is good

Surprise me!

Go ahead, make my day …