VISION 52 – MITCHELL ST RESIDENCE NORTHCOTE
And the biggest challenge?
Trying to ensure we actually get the brief and the client’s
expectations all in one. Our style of work is minimal and
our approach one of simplicity with glass and concrete.
Clients expect one thing at the start and then see the
finished product and so the challenge is to deliver what
they really want.
So there’s a strong sense of relief when it works?
The relief is delivering over and above what they wanted.
Once they occupy a space, then they’re like “oh, well,
didn’t expect this”, or “we really love it”. You really have
to get them enthused about it on the way through.
When they’re expecting almost the miracle it can be
easy for clients to feel deflated or disappointed.
It is. We’re pre-empting what they may need. And that’s
not so easy because you’ve just met them. You try
to get to know them the best way you can. You try to
understand their lifestyle. And moving from that, you’re
trying to pre-empt what they may need in a good way.
So that, to me, might be the biggest challenge/fear in
what we do. And when we get it right, it’s quite rewarding.
There is an ‘aesthetic’ to the
building that sees it sit on a
very gentle frameless glass
ground floor allowing the
upper level to just float above.
FERAS RAFFOUL, ARCHITECT
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