Hi, my name is Mark; architecturally trained for 7 years, I now move between the drawing board, CAD station, drill, hammer and saw.
I no longer confine my lifelong passion, refined style and creativity to sketches and drawings; I see projects through from conception to completion...
When I completed my Post Graduate Diploma at the height of the The Great Recession I turned my back on Architecture and joined a Stone Specialist (sub-contractor) design department. After 3 years I was promoted to Senior Design Manager, running the department of 8 to 14 people (and up to 85 sub-contractors). I learnt a lot about the construction industry from the other side of the table: how contractors get things done and their relationship with the Interior Designers and Architects.
Frustrated by the poor business sense and construction knowledge that some Interior Designers/Architects displayed, I was happy that my parallel career to Architecture allowed me to do something I was passionate about: creating spaces that people live in.
Having enjoyed Technology classes at school, producing full scale Architectural models during my education, and with a GNVQ and BTEC in Construction I have a sound knowledge of how materials can be put together and a good DIY skillbase. I began an ambitious personal project from which I have learned innumerable practical skills: a full renovation of a repossessed, neglected, one bedroom flat in South East London. For this project I was Interior Designer, Client, and Builder.
The challenge was to fully renovate the flat using as many upcycled materials as possible - all whilst living in it. Eventually spaces were redesigned and every surface was new; the achievements can be seen in a series of articles on the Boidus Website. I took a hands on approach, conducting all of the work myself (except specialist trades: plumbing, electrics and stone flooring). I tested my organisational skills – a key strength - and learnt important lessons about the sequence of construction, programming and organising finances, loans and mortgages.
Now I transfer my construction knowledge, carpentry skills and passion for design to property renovations. A seamless marriage of materials old & new, rough & smooth, brings my concepts to life. Expressing the raw form, story, and history of a building or material is important; I feel that a material should be respected for what it is.
I believe the texture of materials are the most important of all the senses, before even sight. The way people engage with a building leaves a lasting imprint in the mind. The feel of a surface, the flick of a switch, hot or cold, all add to the atmosphere...
A thorough understanding of how contemporary spaces are used, but more importantly how spaces will grow and adapt with their users, is of the utmost importance to good design. Through my University studies of Urban Design and Multifunctional Land Use (MLU) I learnt that adapting or changing the way a space can be used is one of the most important problems that design should solve; achieve this and you future-proof the place. Modern, flexible living spaces are what I create.
You can read further information on MyBuilder and CheckaTrade.
My CV is on LinkedIn.
Qualifications
Mark has been actively involved in building and design since 2000.UIL has a combined total of 29 years construction industry experience and further education.
Qualifications and certificates include:
- Upper Tier Waste Licence;
- DBS check Certificate;
- Full (clean) driving licence;
- CPD Certificate - Stone Federation GB
- CSCS - Construction Skills Certification Scheme,
- 3D Studio Max – 3D Modelling,
- Pg Dip Architecture. RIBA Part 2 (London Southbank University),
- BA (Hons) Architecture (2:1). RIBA Part 1,
- BTEC National Diploma Construction – DISTINCTION (Weymouth College),
- GNVQ Construction & the Built Environment - DISTINCTION (Weymouth College),
- CITB Level 2 Carpentry.
- Eleven GCSEs, including Photography, Graphics, Business Studies, English, & I.T. all at Grade B.
- Young Enterprise - Managing Director of a PLC;
-In 2010 I volunteered to help build the Urban Orchard on Union Street with "Wayward", the client was The Architecture Foundation.
Mark has been investing in property since 2012.
Comments