Journal

This week we're speaking to Tom Bell, the co-founder of Freehaus, an architecture studio. Freehaus' strapline is that they architect fairly, to shape real lives. This mindset is found everywhere: their work, their team, their approach and it reinforces everything they do. We've loved watching Freehaus' trajectory particularly over the last few years as they moved from an emerging studio to one that is highly respected within the industry. 

What does it take to live a creative life? In this episode, Lindsay and Lorna discuss the importance of embracing playfulness and creativity in life. They highlight the value of engaging in activities without expectations and allowing oneself to be creative for the sake of creativity. They also emphasise that everyone has a form of creativity within them and that it is part of being human. They explore the concept of success and how it is not solely defined by external achievements, but also by personal fulfilment and acceptance.

The term "strategy" has become diluted in its meaning, often confused with mere ideas, and it is ineffective without actionable steps. In creative businesses, strategies often revolve around immediate creative output rather than a broader company vision, leading to a cycle that founders initially sought to escape. So what makes up a successful strategy? What's the best way to think about it?

Linds and Daniel discuss the opportunities for agile approaches in bigger architecture practices and the attractiveness of smaller practices to other studios. They explore the concept of a franchise model for architecture practices and the potential benefits of collaboration among independent agencies. They also discuss the resistance some architects have to joining a bigger organization and the challenges of implementing pre-designed visions.

This week is the last week before we all disappear for the holidays, so just for fun, we turned the tables and my brilliant colleague Kat interviewed me.