On the programme this week is Michael Squire.

In 1976 Michael founded his eponymous practice from a basement studio in Pimlico. Over the intervening 41 years the practice has grown at a prodigious rate, now being ranked as the 9th largest architecture firm in the UK, according to the AJ100 rankings. The firm now employs more than 215 staff.

The practice has moved several times from those early days, first to South Kensington and then Kings Cross, but  most recently to their stunning new building – The Department Store – in Brixton.

In this week’s episode we ask what it means to create ‘polite architecture’ and when you might  get paid in traveller’s cheques.

We talk about succession planning and why you really can do without an HR department, but really shouldn’t go without buying your own building.

And finally we find out why it’s so important to still feel the fear.

On the programme this week is Chris Dyson, principal of Chris Dyson Architects – a multi-award-winning practice, much lauded for their sensitive conservation work on historic buildings in London.

In today’s episode we speak about Chris’s passion for drawing and his work for James Stirling.   We talk about going to boarding school and walking the plank. And finally, about making grand plans – or perhaps plans to be grand.

Chris originally studied Architecture at Oxford Brookes University and then at Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow before going on to spend 11 years working at James Stirling Michael Wilford and Associates (which after James Stirling‘s death in 1992, became know as Michael Wilford and Associates)

Chris then spent three years as a Design Director at Sir Terry Farrells’s practice, from where, in 2003, he left to start his own firm.

I joined Chris in his studio – in a former pub in Spitalfields for our conversation.

On the podcast this week is architect Mary Duggan.

In 2004 Mary and her then partner Joe Morris founded Duggan Morris Architects which quickly went on to become one of the most critically acclaimed young practices of the early 2000s.

Over the intervening 12 years the practice grew from a team of two – to now employing more than 50 staff. The rapid success of the business also coincided with the practice winning a huge number of architectural awards.

Earlier this year the practice announced an amicable demerger, with Joe continuing to lead Duggan Morris whilst Mary – along with nine members of staff – went on to launch a new practice Mary Duggan Architects.

I joined Mary at her new practice in Shoreditch where I asked about the nature of creative partnerships; about convincing clients and dealing with business growing pains. We also spoke about their Alfriston School Swimming Pool and the PedElle cycling challenge.

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