MY FIRM
LATERAL DESIGN STUDIO
| Firm Name : Lateral Design Studio | Managing Director : John Harte | | Established : 2011 |
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an you give us a bit of background on the irm ? Lateral Design Studio is a family run company with more than 30 years experience . We transform functional construction products into works of art . Combining unique designs with cutting edge technology , we use only the best materials and work with quality-assured British manufacturers to deliver our unique products . Since launching in 2011 , our products have attracted critical acclaim ; winning ive awards and featuring in several RHS show gardens . We have built up an impressive portfolio of projects to date , including Blackburn Cathedral , and most recently working for Grosvenor Estates and the London Borough of Hackney .
What is the most exciting piece of work you have done as a irm recently ? The London Borough of Hackney once had the largest collection of palm and pineapple trees from all over the world . Our brief was to design a bespoke manhole and forge a link between today and the past . We have designed and developed using 3D technology a relief within the mould to create these special castings . Some 21 covers have been installed to date , featuring a pineapple as the centerpiece surrounded by palm leaves with an English robin .
How do you ind the industry has changed over say the last decade ? There has been a very long established approach to products and function that construction product manufacturers already adhere to . With rising material and labour costs many of the types of products and services we provide in our industry have been long forgotten , especially in recent years . It has been our aim to revive the foundry skills used by the Victorians of yesteryear , reversing the trend of reengineering where the design aspects have been taken away from the product . We simply take functionality as a given and place aesthetics , quality of design and material above function .
What is the scope of your irm , in terms of staff numbers , premises etc ? Although Lateral Design Studio is predominantly a small company we are constantly growing . This year alone we have taken on numerous new staf members to help expand our ever- growing business and to deal with the increasing need for quality drainage products and solutions . We deal with clients all over Europe , and the rest of the world , and within the next year we will be relocating to new premises to help with this exciting period of growth and expansion that our company is currently enjoying .
What ’ s in store for the irm in the coming years ? The future at Lateral Design Studio is extremely exciting . This year alone we have launched our new range of 75mm ( 3-inch ) channels and covers in stainless steel , cast iron and Jonite composite stones as well as our Essential Range of mild steel galvanised covers . We are striking up a number of beneicial partnerships within the industry to further expand our products and services and will be launching many new products and drainage solutions in the near future . Not only that but we will also be personally involved in some huge landscaping and design projects .
website : www . lateraldesignstudio . co . uk Tel : 020 8450 2244
48 Landscape Insight | December 2017