Southside Stories

"Easy is boring."On this episode architect Tina Tsagkaratou explains why she thrives on complexity, and how an oncology hospital building designed like a five-star hotel taught her what empathy means in design.Tina is design director and senior partner at ASPA-KST, the large Athens practice behind resorts, malls, commercial and hospitality projects. She is also the first woman architect to appear on Southside Stories, where host Matt Whittingham talks with her about the path from her father's Athens office to running her own London studio.Tina trained at Foster and Partners, studied at the Architectural Association DRL, and spent almost three years at Zaha Hadid Architects. In 2020, in the middle of COVID, she opened the London office with five people and five nationalities.Tina shares:Why designing an oncology building in Thessaloniki felt less like a clinic and more like a hotel, with wooden louvers at human height in place of hospital curtains.How constraints help you beat the blank page, and why designing for flexibility and retrofit is at the core of sustainability.What working at Zaha Hadid Architects taught her about holistic design, from master plan to interiors.How building in the UK differs from building in Greece, from prefabrication to concrete shaped by earthquake risk.Her rules for team culture: no weekend work for no reason, no unpaid interns, and "we're not a family."We also cover AI. Where should AI fit in design? Tina's answer: let it handle optimisation, iterations and renderings, but never the initial idea. Her Ferrari clay-model example shows why human intuition and imperfection matter, and what happens if we forget it: "we will just make buildings."Tina also talks about her ambitions for social housing in London and a complete hospital, and why good architecture shouldn't be limited to the privileged. She wants her London office to grow in influence rather than numbers.Essential listening for architects, designers and anyone building a studio or a career across borders.

Southside Stories sits down with award-winning architect Alex Ely of Mae Architects to explore how architecture can do more than look good - it can improve health, reduce carbon, and strengthen communities. The conversation centers on two major projects, Agar Grove and the John Morden Centre, and the principles that connect them.We discuss why Alex's practice starts with purpose before design, and how social housing can uplift lives. We take a closer look at the the Stirling Prize-winning John Morden Centre, which not only provides almshouse housing, but a social infrastructure, encompassing community, healthcare and an arts space.You can discover more about Mae Architects here - https://mae.co.uk/#architecture #stirling prize #maeKey topicsWhy Mae Architects defines its purpose before drawing buildings, with a focus on uplifting the spirit and reducing environmental harm.The scale of the climate challenge in construction, which accounts for about 40% of carbon emissions, and how the practice tries to go beyond baseline sustainability.Why social and affordable housing matter as a public health issue, not just a planning issue, especially for people facing overcrowding, fuel poverty, and isolation.How good housing can improve school performance, reduce stress, and support stronger communities through better public realm and neighbourhood design.The difference between talking about sustainability and actually living it through projects such as passive house homes at Agar Grove, circular economy materials at Sands End, and timber-led construction at John Morden Centre.The tension and balance between innovation and cost, and how long-term value can justify higher upfront investment.How affordable housing is delivered through both planning gain and direct commissioning by local authorities, charities, and housing associations.What went wrong with many post-war estates.How Agar Grove was shaped through resident engagement, ballots, phased regeneration, and a strong commitment to keep residents on site.

Waste Is Only Waste Until You Reimagine ItArchitect Paul Thrush of STAC Architecture joins me to explore how his South African upbringing shaped a design philosophy rooted in reuse, creativity, and sustainability.From turning discarded chopsticks into restaurant interiors to transforming car panels and parts of a decommissioned Boeing 747, Paul shows how waste can become a valuable design resource. He shares stories from award-winning hospitality projects for Nando’s and Virgin Atlantic, and explains why sustainable choices can be difficult when cost and speed dominate the conversation.Paul also discusses the impact of COVID on his business and his vision for modular housing: flexible homes designed to adapt as people’s needs change, while reducing waste along the way.A thoughtful conversation about architecture, hospitality, circular design, and finding opportunity in materials, and ideas, that others overlook.#architecture #london #interiordesign #STAC 

In part two of my conversation with FORMstudio, a leading architecture practice based in Bermondsey in London, I sit down with Paul Lower, who is now stepping into the leadership role following a carefully planned transition from founders Malcolm and Jeremy.What happens when an architect succession stops being a plan on paper and becomes your reality?Paul talks candidly about the pressure and responsibility of taking the reins, the financial and emotional realities of an Employee Ownership Trust, and the challenge of moving from hands-on architect to business leader, while still drawing on the experience of those who built the practice.Discover some of FORMstudio's architecture projects hereWe explore how FORMstudio has protected its culture and design identity through the transition, why its flat and open approach has helped bring the next generation into decision-making, and how the practice is thinking differently about business development and reducing its reliance on referrals and individual clients.Paul also shares some fascinating insights into FORMstudio's approach to design, including how constraints can become opportunities — illustrated through the studio's work on the Alaska apartment and other residential projects.A candid conversation about succession, leadership, culture, growth and the future of a creative business, with lessons for founders, architects and anyone preparing to take the next generation of their business forward.#architecture podcast, #business podcast, #leadership podcast, #succession planning, #business succession, #employee ownership, #leadership transition, #architecture firm, #architecture business

What happens when two founders decide not to sell out, but to hand their 30-year architecture practice to the people who helped build it? Matt Whittingham sits down with Malcolm, co-founder of Form Studios, for a candid look at the employee ownership trust route and why it may be the smartest succession plan many business owners never consider.Malcolm shares how a business he and Jeremy have run since the late 90s evolved into a team-led studio, and why stepping back has felt less like loss and more like a new chapter. From the first spark of interest in EOTs to the real-world process of valuations, HMRC clearance, vendor loans, and legal paperwork, he breaks down what the transition actually looks like for a small professional practice.Why a sale to another firm was never the right fit for a founder who wanted to keep the culture intactHow an employee ownership trust works in practice, including the tax advantages for sellers and staffWhat it takes to fund the deal through vendor loans and quarterly repaymentsHow Form Studios is bringing in new leaders while protecting the collaborative culture that made it successfulWhy giving Paul, their long-time director, a meaningful stake was central to the planMalcolm also opens up about the emotional side of letting go, how leadership changes when founders shift into a lighter mentoring role, and why the business still feels energetic rather than diminished. If you’re a business owner thinking about succession, a partner wondering how to extract value without sacrificing what you’ve built, or an architect curious about the EOT model, this conversation is packed with practical insight.Perfect for founders, architects, and anyone planning the future of a business they care deeply about.

The City of London is not dead - commercial space is at a premium and in short supply. If you need office space in London, this conversation reveals why the smartest companies are racing to secure quality space before the supply crunch hits.Matt Hall, a chartered commercial surveyor working deep in the City market, breaks down the reality behind the headlines: office demand is back, AI firms are arriving in force, and premium buildings are getting snapped up years before completion. The result? A market where the best space is disappearing fast, landlords are retrofitting older stock, and rents are rising sharply.To contact Matt check his LinkedIn profile here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-hall-83a256161/In this episode you’ll discover:Why the “office is dead” narrative misses what’s actually happening in LondonHow AI companies are reshaping demand in the CityWhat “flight to quality” really meansWhy grade A space is set to hit zero availability in the near termHow off-market deals are giving bigger tenants an edgeWhy flexibility and design matter as much as square footageMatt also explains how a boutique tenant-side consultancy helps businesses avoid costly lease mistakes, unlock hidden opportunities, and move before growth stalls. Whether you’re a founder, operator, landlord, or just curious about what’s really happening in London’s commercial property market, this episode gives you a sharp, inside view of where the City is heading next.Essential listening if you want to understand why London’s office market is being transformed by talent, technology, and a shortage of top-tier space.

Most architects try to sound polished.Andy Matthews does something much smarter: he turns his practice’s values into a filter for better clients, better projects, and a business that actually fits how he wants to work. If you care about running a creative business without losing the creative part, this conversation is for you.Matt and Andy Matthews unpack how Andy Matthews Studio built a clear identity around values like "go together," "seek joy," and "do good" - and why putting those ideas front and center has helped the studio attract the right people while confidently saying no to the wrong fit.Andy also explains why he believes meaningful principles should cost you something, and how that clarity shows up in everything from team culture to client selection.You’ll discover:How Andy and his team shaped their values through workshops, post-it notes, and copywriting - not corporate fluffWhy the best business development in architecture still comes from relationships, referrals, and serendipityHow a cricket pavilion, a retail store on Chiltern Street, and a low-carbon Camberwell retrofit helped define the studio’s reputationWhat a genuinely collaborative client relationship looks like when both sides keep pushing ideasHow Andy uses automation, open-source tools, and AI selectively - while refusing formulaic AI-generated writingThis episode also gets into the bigger picture for young people trying to break into architecture, the value of drawing by hand, why LinkedIn is not a magic answer, and how studio culture changes when everyone is expected to own the work. Andy’s take on AI is especially sharp: use it to remove repetitive admin, not to replace thinking, writing, or the human judgment that makes good architecture matter.Essential listening if you run a creative business, work in architecture, or want a more honest take on growth, leadership, and what it takes to build something distinctive without becoming generic.

Architects are being pushed to move faster, prove more, and stay creative under tougher rules than ever.Karl from GTH Architects joins Matt Whittingham to unpack how 30 years of change, from tracing paper and drawing boards to BIM and AI, is reshaping the profession in real time.They explore why AI is already speeding up workflows, how it could transform planning, specifications, and compliance, and why the best practices will still be the ones that pair technology with human judgement, relationships, and taste.Karl also explains why drawing remains a vital skill, even in a digital-first http://studio.You’ll discover:* How architecture moved from one office computer to virtual building models* Why AI is likely to become a game changer for planning, outputs, and fees* The case for "AI for the mechanical, humans for the meaningful"* How stricter fire, safety, and sustainability rules are changing design decisions* Why retrofit is becoming essential, not optional* What "joyful places" and "enduring value" really mean in practice

Most agencies assume growth comes from more clients or bigger campaigns. Sally from The Team reveals a different secret: how a 40-year-old agency with a purpose-driven mindset builds trust, long-term partnerships, and sustainable success, all without chasing superficial expansion. Discover the mindset shifts and strategic moves that keep this London-based agency not just relevant but thriving in one of the most competitive markets.On this episode, we dive into the challenges and opportunities of running a creative agency in 2026, from managing client expectations around AI to embedding purpose through B Corp certification.

Ali Mowahed's architecture WW+P firm won a concept commission for Guangzhou Metro Line 11 last spring. By the time UK planners would still be filing paperwork, construction was finishing. Twelve months. And the quality, Ali says, is genuinely good.That's the conversation that stopped me in my tracks.Ali is CEO of WW+P Architects — a practice that was 35 people in a rundown street near London Bridge when he joined 15 years ago. Ali's practice, WW+P (Weston Williamson + Partners), specialises in city-shaping transport infrastructure — stations, metros, and the urban regeneration that follows. 🎧 This is Southside Stories — real London business conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders.Today it's 275 architects across nine studios on four continents, part of an architecture group of 1,500.