VISION Issue 52 | Page 20

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 21