Build Architecture Awards

Build Architecture Awards 2015 7 Today, although Anthony is not as deeply involved in the day-to-day running of his design company, he still keeps up to speed with education and the latest trends in school design- and isn’t completely happy with what he sees. “It must be pointed out,” says Anthony, “that these failings are not due solely to the architects working on these projects. They are able to work to only to the briefs and specifica- tions that they are given, which is why these early planning stages are vital to ensure that these plans aren’t misjudged or poorly thought out. “Buildings should be designed from the inside out and function must come before appearance. There’s no point in designing something that looks pretty but doesn’t work. “The furniture used is a strong case in point. With so much time and money being spent on the look and design of many modern school buildings, it’s not uncom- mon for contractors to run out of money by the time the school is finished. Needless to say, when it then comes time to select the furniture, they’re forced to buy the cheap- est, which is also often the worst.” The thing that Anthony, that strikes him as being particularly sad is the enormous ap- preciation of the importance of good pos- ture and good school design around the world – particularly from the Scandinavians – with people realising that good classroom design and comfortable furniture play a very big part in children achieving good grades. However, this is one particular area in which the UK, according to Anthony, lags far behind. “Again, I go back to the philosophy that has served me so well throughout my career,” he says. “When approaching a new design project, whether it’s a knitting needle or a motor car, there are certain questions that must always be asked. What’s it for; who’s going to use it; how big are they; what funds are available for its acquisition; and how important is its appearance? Quite often, these issues are addressed in the wrong order. People often start with beautiful sketches of what they’d like to see rather than thinking about whether it will actually work.”