David Blaikie
Architect featured in Building Dream Homes
As architects, we are the author of the stories but the narrative is drawn from history, location, light, materials, the users and the makers.
I trained at the Edinburgh College of Art under the remarkable Professor Ivor Smith. I learnt from him that each and every building tells a story. As architects, we are the author of the stories but the narrative is drawn from history, location, light, materials, the users and the makers. This is still my approach to designing buildings today.
I set up my practice at the age of 28 and 22 years later I still find I learn something new every day. My practice is not constrained by a 鈥榟ouse style鈥�. This allows us to respond to the unique opportunities each project has to offer without restriction. Following this course, and factoring in innovative materials and modern methods of construction, buildings become specific to their place and time.
We continue to develop an understanding of how to collect and manipulate natural daylight and sunlight which becomes a primary driver for the physical form of all of our architecture. Filling homes with the warm hues of evening light, bright splashes of midday sun or the diffuse calmness of morning light produces rich and nourishing places to live.
Sustainability is core to our decision making processes 鈥� as it should now be for everyone. As a result of our research and development into optimised structural uses of Scottish timber, innovation in off-site construction and new ideas for low-cost social housing, I currently sit on the Scottish Government鈥檚 Construction Summit, the Scottish Forestry and Timber Technologies Industry Leadership Group Summit, the Brettstapel Research Committee and the Scottish Timber Innovation Network Committee. We have participated in both of the first two Scottish Housing Expos 鈥� the only practice to do so.
Away from the office, I enjoy walking in the Scottish countryside, skiing and curling during the winter months. Being creative in the kitchen is a year round escape.
I am Chairman of the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, the oldest animal welfare organisation in Scotland. Giving my time to the Home is enormously rewarding.
