Christopher Dinnis
Architect featured in Building Dream Homes
An Architect strives to be the ultimate communicator - this ability takes time to achieve which is why the training is one of the longest for any profession, on par with becoming a neurosurgeon.
I moved to Edinburgh from Chichester in 1953 where I attended the Edinburgh Academy, then worked as an apprentice before studying Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art from 1960 to 1965.
In July 1966, I immigrated to Montreal in the Provence of Quebec in Canada. During that time I enjoyed working in a variety of disciplines from Traditional Quebec Provencal Architecture to planning work for new urban developments as well as latterly becoming the Company Architect for the exciting World Trade Centre Project, Place Bonaventure, in the centre of Montreal.
I then returned to Scotland in 1971 and worked remotely for a London-based Architect who specialised in Hotels and Industrial work. As a result of these experiences I decided to form my own practice in 1974, specialising in industrial projects and hotel developments.
In the early 1980s, the Government introduced a grant aided scheme which helped owners of Victorian or Georgian properties in Edinburgh restore and upgrade their buildings to modern standards. This enabled my practice to specialise in Conservation Architecture as well as bespoke Architecture in general. My practice has enjoyed over three decades of designing residential accommodation for Housing Associations, both new build and the restoration of historic premises in Edinburgh and Fife. We have also designed schemes for large commercial house builders. Our current area of expertise is designing bespoke domestic dwellings.
My career has spanned over four decades of self - employed practice. This has allowed my skills to be to used to the client's full advantage by helping to translate their ideas into a design that is efficient, pleasing to the eye, works to a budget and can be built within a specified time scale.
