CV for Alan Houston
Address: 18 Barton Leys phone: 01803.840.165
Berry Pomeroy mobile: 077.36.777.533
Devon email: [email protected]
TQ9 6NN reference: [email protected]
Career Summary
17/06/1970 Born in Glasgow, Scotland1975-1982 Callander Primary School, Scotland 1982-1988 McLaren High School, Scotland
1988-1992 Scott Sutherland School of Architecture,
RIBA part I & II BSc (hons) Architecture
1993-1995 University of North London
RIBA part II DIP Architecture
1995-1997 Office of Zaha Hadid
www.zaha-hadid.com Model maker Design team 1997-2003 Fluid Design www.fluidoffice.com Architects Assistant Event Coordinator
Community Engagement team Design team
Masterplanning team
2004-2007 Paper Scissor Stone
www.paper-scissor-stone.com RIBA II Architect & Director
2003-2010 Through the Woods
www.throughthewoods.co.uk Willow Farm Barns – Glazing junction
RIBA II Architect & Director between the old and new buildings
The theme to my career is diversity. I have been active in the UK Architecture scene since 1995, when I finished my diploma in Architecture at The University of North London. I immediately worked for Zaha Hadid, where I joined the design team for the Victoria & Albert Museum extension. I went onto work with Astrid Skelly setting up Tactical Café / Bar / Bookshop, the first of its kind, on a backstreet in Soho in London in 1997. I was invited into Fluid Design & Architecture, where I headed the team for the large scale community engagement around the Kings Cross Central development for Argent St George. I concluded my term at Fluid as part of the team co-ordinating the Urban Strategy for London’s Olympic Bid. I have recently rediscovered the pleasure of creating finely made architectural objects and projects. The Elk in the Woods is one such project where I created a gem of mixed metaphors and contemporary style on the bohemian backstreets of Islington. From here I went onto set up a successful architectural office specialising in residential projects. I then went back to Scotland for a rural lifestyle. While there I refurbished my own house in the Scottish Borders, where I have developed an understanding and
appreciation of traditional stone buildings.
Availability: Alan Houston is available immediately to work in a design lead office as an experienced part II architects assistant, in or around The South Hams & Devon.
Career Details
2003-2010 Through the Woods throughthewoods.co.uk
After years of working within the field of Community Engagement & Urban Masterplanning I had a strong desire to design and create beautiful spaces. This was achieved by setting up on my own and working as an architectural designer from home. Working in this way I have developed a full knowledge of the RIBA stages of work and have seen various projects through from conception to completion. I have become familiar with the Building Regulations, and contract procurement. Running self funded projects requires a full understanding of project development costs as well as the business side of running a design office.
2008-10 Through the Woods Project Reedy Loch Steadings
Planning permission was initially achieved for the conversion of 3 existing agricultural buildings, later extended to allow for a further 3 newbuild houses. This was an opportunity to gain an understanding of the full development process. There were many complex issues, including the overall access and drainage strategy for the site. The design of each house was used explore the definition of Scottish vernacular architectural and its relationship with the house buying market.
Site Strategy at Reedy Loch Steadings
2007 Through the Woods Project 17 Appleby Road
The rear extension to this London Victorian terrace brought light and space into this house with an open plan ground floor, the only divisions being well placed wooden storage boxes with a variety of scale and functions.
The contract value was £100,000 and was a good opportunity to work closely with the contractor to fabricate well crafted spaces.
Refurbishment of 17 Appleby Road
2003 Through the Woods Project The Elk in the Woods
This Bar Restaurant is on the back streets of Islington, North London. Set within the antique village of
Camden Passage, the client required a little more edge than the world of restoration. The design brings together the nightlife of cocktails and craziness with a charm from another era where in-situ concrete clashes with William Morris patterns. The venue has now been running successfully for many years and has received positive feedback from the style as well as design press.
2004-2007 Paper Scissor Stone paper-scissor-stone.com
I set up a traditional architectural office with 2 colleagues that maintained clients as well as developing our own in-house projects. The client based architecture was mostly refurbishment work on Victorian houses in London. This work funded the development of three houses of our own in rural Cambridgeshire.
2005-2006 Paper Scissor Stone Project Willow Farm Barns
Three Victorian brick railway sheds that had been used by a local farmer were converted into high spec residential units. As the head of the project my responsibilities were that of developer as well as architect. I prepared the business plan and secured funding, as well as preparing the schedule of work and negotiating a suitable contract with a German contractor.
The planning permission was gained for this very tricky site by proposing to preserve and respect the original barns by separating the additions with a glass ribbon. The concept for the open ended cube additions was based on the sculptures of Donald Judd and his attitude to the horizon and sky which is so prominent on this fenland site. The success of this project was not only to complete on time and on budget but also to realise the dilemma between building houses that will sell to the public while having architectural quality.
Willow Farm Barns, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4TZ
1998-2004 Fluid Design fluidoffice.co.uk
McAdam & Norton pulled together three ex students and set up Fluid from their family spare room. We were full of ideals and worked as a co-operative design studio. After years of self invented agitprop community projects our big break came in the form of the Architecture Foundation’s Roadshow Competition for Newham New Deal for Communities stage 1. At this time our office ran as a non-hierarchical body, which meant that any member of staff could find themselves brainstorming the latest concept, press and publicity, or even the book-keeping. It was a very eclectic experience.
2003-2004 Fluid Design Project
2012 Olympic Bid for London Masterplanning Team
My role was specifically the Event Co-ordinator, which was crucial in disseminating the masterplan to the local people of East London, as well as the national press, through a series of private and public events. This was developed as a fast track, nine month project, which had to grow from a very loose idea to an internationally acceptable
masterplan. The community engagement team had to grow quickly to 25 and liaise closely with the 75 colleagues within the other masterplan
departments.
As a member of the consortium Fluid had
responsibility for all aspects of partner, stakeholder, and community consultation, and for ensuring the masterplans were shaped in accordance with the consultation outcomes.
The original commission was satisfied by the provision of a ‘Statement of Community
Involvement’ for one of the largest consultation exercises ever carried out in England for an area-based regeneration project. Over half a million questionnaires and one and a half million leaflets were distributed during the course of the
consultation exercise. The full bid was submitted to the International Olympic Committee in November 2004. I believe our success in this project was the development of the on going benefits for the local communities and the introduction of a legacy for them, as a relevant by-product of Olympic Development.
Local Connections to the Olympic Village
2003 Fluid Design Project
Training Centre for Fitzpatrick Construction
The brief was to design a flagship building on a brown field site to encapsulate the skills of Fitzpatrick Construction’s techniques. It was a refreshing change for the conclusion of a project to be a building but I employed all the same tools and techniques developed for regeneration projects. We gained planning permission for a grass roofed concrete structure incorporating passive solar and environmental design.
Entrance appears like a gash in the Landscape
2002 Fluid Design Project
Kings Cross Central Masterplan for Argent St George
The local authority required Argent to consult the people that live and work around Kings Cross. They asked Fluid to develop a Community Engagement Strategy that would create a
successful urban development around the gateway for the Euro Tunnel, we were able to write a brief that was to blur the edges of the new build and integrate the old and new community.
Our starting point was to consult with local children, who gave an enthusiastic response. I worked specifically in a number of local schools and youth clubs, reporting young peoples desires and feeding the research back to the client and masterplanners. This information was then integrated into the plans and programme for building use and public spaces.
This masterplan was released at a public forum held at St Pancras Chambers, therefore acting as a guarantee from the developers that key issues raised, as well as idiosyncratic concerns, would be remembered and integrated within their future plans. A complete record of the findings is still online at the web site designed by the local kids.
2000-1 Fluid Design Project
West Ham & Plaistow, Newham NDC phase 1 & 2
We developed a series of tools to engage the local community, we installed ourselves within a vacant shop on the site, from here we could build models, develop posters and canvass the public on how to improve every aspect of there lives with £25M of government funding. Inevitably a lot of the issues could not be solved easily with money, however one proposal was for a series of interconnected public spaces to improve local lifestyle and community.
NDC Community Engagement Masterplan
1998 Fluid Design Project
Installation at Designers Block London
I persuaded the people at Blueprint to allow us to exhibit, so we were squeezed into the stair lobby where I deconstructed Duchamps ‘Bride Descending the Staircase’, creating a complex installation system of drips, saline solution and vodka, mesh and fabric resulting in a beautiful way of handing out free drinks and our office promotional material right at the front door!
1995-7 Office of Zaha Hadid
Bowling Green Lane London
During my degree education I developed a passion for the great contemporary stylists and included Hadid within this group. It was a pleasure to work there on and off over 2 years. At first I was brought in to develop model techniques in rubber and resins for the Victoria & Albert Museum, later I worked on the Royal Academy Habitable Bridge Competition, for which we were short listed to the final.
1997 Tactical Café Bar Bookshop
Soho, Westminster
With my partner, I set up a Café Bar Bookshop in Soho. There were elaborate lease negotiations, which led to 2 shop units being knocked together and the basement opened up, at the freeholders expense, therefore freeing up the unit for a re-design. This was a fantastic opportunity to put into practice all my design ideals from the academic years at North London University as well as the colliding forms from the office of Hadid. The concept was to create a visually robust interior that appeared to be cracking into the very foundations of London’s establishment and splitting it apart. At the time we believed it was a coffee shop that could change the world through underground literature and performance readings. Realistically it was a an opportunity to design a space for the practical issues such as selling coffee and beers as well as managing artists and creative performers.
Tactical Café / Bar / Bookshop, Soho London W1.
1993-1995 University of North London
Diploma in Architecture
The unit was run by Steve McAdam & Christina Norton, who had recently left the AA after setting up NATO, at a time when the teaching staff was at its best. The teaching process was full of the ideals of the Situationists and everyday architecture. Many of my ideas were best explained using collage or design models with the aesthetic of Dada –esque machines. It was here that I learnt to use the workshop to my best ability and lean to use mixed media to get my point across.
Diploma Design for a Transport Interchange
1988-1992 Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, Aberdeen
Bsc in Architecture with honours The school gave a strong technical education with a focus from the staff on the early 20th century, especially Bauhaus design ethos.
During my years at Scott Sutherland I went to work for a building contractor for 6 months in Glasgow, where I saved to get a ticket to Chicago in order to study the early towers. This led to employment in New York City for a small architects office on
Broadway, where I lived for the next 9 months. The placement ended with the relocation of this office to Denver, which resulted in a 3 week coast to coast road trip of North America.
Degree Design for 6 Houses by the River
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