Analogue Vs. Digital

Probe the client but also be open to technology-led development in architecture. The two best practices this issue reveal an interesting contrast in approaches.

- Low Shi Ping

“One of the most important best practices I’ve learnt is not to jump into anything straight away. For instance, if a client says she doesn’t like the colour red, instead of offering alternatives, I will ask why and try to understand where that dislike stems from. This helps you understand the client better. This habit is also applied when dealing with other people in my life, like my staff or consultants. I am constantly asking who, what, why, when and how.

After running our practice for 20 years, it is second nature to me to do this. However, when we first set up the business, we nearly made a mistake relating to this. My business partner’s neighbour told him she loved what he had done for his mother’s house. It seemed obvious to propose an identical concept but after getting to know the client, we found that while she loved what we did, and could see our talent, she could not envision herself in such a home. It was her wish to apply our skills to design a home suited to her lifestyle. It really taught us not to assume.