Niall Maxwell is the director of Rural Office, an award-winning practice with a reputation for delivering considered architecture, strategic thinking and research. Based in Wales, the practice is known for their work in regional settings and their understanding of context, and in recent years, they have diversified to deliver strategic projects for national clients and institutions. The practice won the RIBA House of the Year and National Award in 2017 for Caring Wood, and were listed as one of the 25 UK Disruptor practices in the Architects Journal AJ100.

If you’d like to learn more about the studio, you can visit rural-office.co.uk or follow them on Instagram @rural_office.

Office Talk is hosted and produced by Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and communications practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the UK. To learn more about our approach and offerings, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Thank you to Programa for sponsoring today’s episode. Visit programa.design/officetalk to start for free and save 25% on annual plans.

This episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Oscar Crawford.

Benni Allan is the director of EBBA, a London-based architecture and design practice known for their investigative and hands-on approach to buildings, places, objects and furniture. Since establishing his practice in 2016, Benni has overseen a diverse mix of projects, from considered dwellings to cultural spaces and retail for brands and institutions including Adidas, Erdem, Royal Academy, Tate Modern, TFL and V&A. Alongside his architectural output, Benni leads EBBA Objects, a home for the studio’s experimental furniture and product design.

The practice has won multiple awards for its work and was shortlisted for the Dezeen Awards Emerging Architecture Studio of the Year in 2024 as well as being profiled by Wallpaper* magazine as one of the ground-breaking new generation of studios.

If you’d like to learn more about the studio, you can visit eb-ba.co or follow them on Instagram @ebbaarchitects.

Office Talk is hosted and produced by Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and communications practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the UK. To learn more about our approach and offerings, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Thank you to Programa for sponsoring today’s episode. Visit programa.design/officetalk to start for free and save 25% on annual plans.

This episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Oscar Crawford.

Piers Taylor is the director of Invisible Studio, a multi-award-winning architecture practice founded in 2011 that operates through collaboration, experimentation, research and education. Piers has pioneered a number of academic programmes that rethink the relationship between design and making, and look at how material practice can address social and political questions. His studio’s work has included numerous National RIBA award-winning projects, including the Wolfson Tree Management Centre, Room 13, and East Quay Watchet.

If you’d like to learn more about his studio, you can visit invisiblestudio.org or follow the studio on Instagram @invisible_studio.

Office Talk is hosted and produced by Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand strategy practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the UK. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Thank you to Programa for sponsoring today’s episode. Visit programa.design/officetalk to start for free and save 25% on annual plans. You can also follow Programa on Instagram at @programahq.

This episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Oscar Crawford.

Colin Baillie is a director of Baillie Baillie Architects, a practice based in the Scottish Highlands he founded with his partner Megan in 2019. The studio is focused on crafted rural projects and working with natural materials, and has recently completed Iorram, a design retreat in the Highlands that reflects the approach and ethos of the practice.

If you’d like to learn more about their studio, you can visit baillie-baillie.co.uk or follow them on Instagram @bailliebaillie.

Office Talk is hosted and produced by Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand strategy practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the UK. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Thank you to Programa for sponsoring today’s episode. Visit programa.design/officetalk to start for free and save 25% on annual plans. You can also follow Programa on Instagram at @programahq.

This episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Oscar Crawford. 

Ross and Emma Perkin are the directors of Emil Eve, an award-winning East London based studio established in 2009.

Emil Eve are known for creating imaginative and inspiring buildings for those who love architecture - from design-focused home owners to creatively-driven developers, charities and commercial clients. Their approach is focused on their deep appreciation for both historic and contemporary architecture and extensive experience of combining the two. They have recently won the Don’t Move Improve Home of the Year award for Aden Grove, and were shortlisted in the RIBA London Awards for Highgate House.

If you’d like to learn more about their practice, you can visit emileve.co.uk or follow them on Instagram at @emilevearchitects.

Office Talk is hosted and produced by Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand strategy practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the UK. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Thank you to Programa for sponsoring today’s episode. Visit programa.design/officetalk to start for free and save 25% on annual plans. You can also follow Programa on Instagram at @programahq.

This episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Oscar Crawford.

Andrew Brown is a director of Brown & Brown Architects, an award-winning studio based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Founded in 2010 with his wife Kate, their practice is known for creating bold yet contextual homes that inspire delight and a sense of belonging. Andrew's work, influenced by the Scottish landscape, balances modern design with historic continuity. Andrew draws inspiration from Scandinavian architecture, Scottish literature, and his passion for photography. The practice has received numerous architectural awards including Scottish Design Awards Residential Award for Tidal House in 2024, and for Architecture Practice of the Year 2022, while Lower Tullochgrue was shortlisted for House of the Year for The Architects’ Journal Manser Medal 2021.

If you’d like to learn more about their practice, you can visit brownandbrown.studio or follow them on Instagram at @brown_and_brown_architects.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Thank you to Programa for sponsoring today’s episode. Visit programa.design/officetalk to start for free and save 25% on annual plans. You can also follow Programa on Instagram at @programahq.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Oscar Crawford.

Alison Brooks is the director of Alison Brooks Architects, a London-based practice known for generous and inclusive city-building supported by uniquely sculptural design.

In this episode, Alison and Dave discussed:

• The challenges of participating in design competitions, and how the need to produce so much more and satisfy stringent criteria compared to the early days, creates barriers for emerging practices.
• The important role competitions play in their business, and how they think strategically about selecting the right competitions to invest time and resources in.
• The challenges she faced establishing her practice as a Canadian in the UK, and how she was able to develop new client relationships without relying on an existing network.
• Why Alison believes higher education projects offer some of the best opportunities for architects, because the clients are highly motivated to be at the forefront of design, technology and sustainability.
• The value of developing an ability to write as a way to articulate your ideas as an architect, and why Alison often finds herself spending more time writing than designing.

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit alisonbrooksarchitects.com or follow them on Instagram at @alisonbrooksarchitects.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

Oliver Leech is the director of Oliver Leech Architects, a London-based practice known for crafting homes that celebrate life, light, and materials.

In this episode, Oliver and Dave discussed:

• How he attracted new clients in the first few years of the practice when there was limited imagery to post to social media, and why building his professional network played such a big role.
• Why less can be more when it comes to posting social media, and why they chose to avoid posting process imagery in favour of final project photography.
• How he curated the practice’s portfolio to attract a broader range of residential projects to avoid being pigeonholed to one type of house or area of London.
• Why starting a practice in his twenties was a challenge, and the advantages and disadvantages of putting his portrait and profile out there as a young architect.
• Their approach to final project photography and styling, and the difficulty of finding the balance between a pared back architectural image, or a lifestyle shoot focused on the client.

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit oliverleech.com or follow them on Instagram at @oliverleecharchitects.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

William Burges and Stephen Davies are the directors of 31/44, a practice with offices in London and France known for making architecture that sits comfortably in the fabric of the city, introduced with care and consideration.

In this episode, Will, Steve and Dave discussed:

• How teaching in both undergraduate and masters programs have changed the way they communicate their work, and how they view their projects as being part of a research agenda.
• The approach they took to their website design in the early days of the practice when they didn’t have much built work to show, and why they began sharing their readings, research and travels alongside their built work.
• The importance of producing renders in-house to maintain a level of control and consistency, and how sometimes it’s more important to show a vignette with detail versus a full-view of the space or building.
• Why physical models, produced at varying scales, have been a vital part of their design process, but also as an essential presentation tool.
• How they shift the tone of their communication to address the specific needs of the different audiences architects encounter, whether it’s with a client, students, planning authorities or the local community.

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit 3144architects.com or follow them on Instagram at @31_44.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

Hugh McEwen and Catrina Stewart are the directors of Office S&M, a London-based practice known for their inventive and experimental approach to materials and colour.

In this episode, Hugh, Catrina and Dave discussed:

• Their commitment to have a 50/50 split between private and public work, and how this declaration helps them differentiate themselves from other similarly sized practices.
• How having a diverse range of non-architectural collaborators on your team when pitching for public projects, such as a chef or photographer from the local community, can help to demonstrate that you understand the client, the brief and the local context.
• How playfulness and use of colour isn’t just a stylistic aesthetic in their work, but something deeply embedded in the early stages of their design process as a way to increase client and community engagement. 

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit officesandm.com or follow them on Instagram at @officesandm.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.