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34 Aspects of Land Spring / Summer 2019
Savills Architect David Shaw,
discusses designing new
buildings, retro-fitting old ones
and the opportunities that
new materials will open up
What is your role within Savills?
As a Savills architect, I can be involved
with all sorts of developments, from a
new build on a greenfield site to a farm
building conversion or working within a
historic context such as a listed building.
Our expertise, as architects, is to make
sure we’re creating places that are fit not
only for today, but also for the future,
and that marry as tightly as possible to
our clients’ aspirations. A large part of
our work is transforming existing and
historical buildings, through “recycling”
and retro-fitting.
Why is re-using old buildings so
important? A lot of energy and effort
has gone into these buildings, so it makes
perfect sense to put them to alternative
use. Most have been created in pretty
sustainable locations – with local
communities, good infrastructure, and
energy supplies – so why not re-use
them and save resources? Take barn
or warehouse conversions: creating
amazing homes from these beautiful
structures is a classic example of effective
property recycling.
Is good design still a priority?
Local authorities want higher densities of
residential property, but it needs creative
minds, and a good understanding of spatial
“Our expertise, as architects, is to make
sure we’re creating places that are fit not
only for today, but also for the future”
Old buildings mix well with new materials
awareness, to achieve housing density
without compromising on harmonious
design and a positive live/work environment.
We now realise that good architecture
contrasts, frames and embellishes the
existing environment so, thankfully, there
are fewer designs that pastiche the past.
What does the “ideal home” of the future
look like? Future housing is all about the
fusion of technology and adaptability.
Today’s appetite for post-modernism
– with technology, new materials and a
contemporary approach to aesthetics
– means buildings will be ripe for
adaptation in the future. Energy efficiency
is a must. Technology is also being
embraced more quickly, so that many
more people can control their home from
anywhere in the world.
What sort of new developments
will we see in the coming years?
How we use and recycle buildings is a
very exciting area. Glass, for example,
is no longer just a see-through medium.
When used to make photovoltaic panels,
it becomes an energy creator – you can
store that electricity within your building,
then you can charge your car and run
your house. Soon, buildings will actually
be glazed with transparent PV panels
instead of regular glass, and we’re not far
away from these surfaces acting as a giant
TV screen that can change appearance.
Another interesting new development
is 3D-printing and we’re seeing far
greater use of flat-pack construction.
There’s a start-up in Russia that has used
3D-printing to construct a new building
in just 24 hours. Then there’s virtual
reality that allows property owners and
developers to experience their potential
spaces much earlier in the design process.
This provides an understanding of their
buildings like never before.
What do you enjoy most about being
an architect? I love designing a building
where you understand completely how
your client wants to live or work – it lets
you create a space that is an extension of
their own character. I always encourage
our clients to bring ideas to the table
from day one – that way, they buy into the
design process from the very beginning
and the building truly becomes theirs. I
simply help the process happen.
n If you would like architectural advice on
existing buildings or new builds, contact
David Shaw, Winchester, 01962 857 413,
FINAL
SAY
HUFTON+CROW / ALAMY