Our two new joiners answer our quick-fire questions!
What made you want to work in architecture?
Nikos: Since I can remember I was either spending days building Lego houses or playing design games on PC. At 14, I followed the interior design course at my local school which gave me a fantastic foundation in interior design. That’s when I decided to go to a University and follow this path.
Blair: Originally I was more interested in fashion design and the way you structured garments on the figure but gradually that flipped and I became more interested in how people experienced structures and spaces.
Which would you rather have: tea or coffee?
Nikos: Coffee!! please?
Blair: I’m an Iced Coffee kind of person – regardless of the weather.
What was your first-ever job?
Nikos: Waiter at a Bar & Restaurant.
Blair: For work experience in school I was a hairdresser’s assistant, but outside of that my first proper job was as a Research Fellow at the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. I was mainly greeting visitors, chatting away, and making sure everything looked tip-top. I was also doing a self-directed research project when not in the pavilion.
What has been your favourite project to ever work on?
Nikos: The new Linton Camp hotel proposal in Yorkshire Dales National park.
Blair: In my previous job (also as a Workplace Designer) our team got to work on a pitch for a cafe space in Canary Wharf. It was a challenging process and lots of work went into it, but we were able to create a beautiful proposal in a short amount of time. So good we won the pitch.
If you could have an unlimited supply of anything, what would it be?
Nikos: Dogs or plants, I’m flexible.
Blair: Travel tickets (plane, train, or boat). Unlimited travel to any destination sounds like a dream come true.
What is your heaven and hell food?
Nikos: Heaven would be Olives. Prawns are a no-no.
Blair: Heaven has to be Mac & Cheese or anything with truffle oil. If it’s both even better!
And hell, I’m one of those unfortunate people who taste coriander as soap. I’ve been caught out many times buying something for lunch and then tasting it and realising it has coriander in it. So unfortunately anything with fresh coriander.
If you could meet any architect or designer (dead or alive), who would it be?
Nikos: Kelly Wearstler.
Blair: I was a big fan of Zaha Hadid after watching the Imagine documentary on her in my early teens. She was super talented and boundary-pushing.
