Do Clients really need something bold? My experience is ‘yes’

Bold, crafted, unexpected architecture and interiors is the way to do your home right.

2nd September 2025

Polysmiths propose bold, crafted, unexpected architecture and interior for good home problem solved.

Bold, Crafted, Unexpected?

A friend who read my previous post asked: "Do all your clients REALLY want bold?"

I get that. Because when people hear bold, they think risky, expensive, unpredictable.

But here's what bold actually means to us: recognising the core of a problem, and acting decisively with clear, simple solutions that create real value.

Before starting Polysmiths, I worked at large practices, on high-profile projects: public realm for the 2012 London Olympics, a floating island in New York, high-end residential in Singapore.

When I started Polysmiths, and working with private clients, I realised I'd never quite understood how they think: their uncertainties, financial pressures, stretched between managing a build, full-time jobs, and family commitments.

So in 2020, I decided to buy a plot of land in East London and build my own house. I wanted to re-learn how to be an architect - not just concepts and planning, but managing development finances, picking cheaper screws, sourcing glazing with shorter lead times. I challenged myself: stay on budget, on time. How hard could that be?

Then COVID hit.

Materials became scarce. Prices skyrocketed. We had to pivot: plasterboard and render were unavailable, so we used expanded cork boards for both internal and external cladding. More sustainable, more affordable, and it gave the building its character.

Then the contractor walked off site.

Halfway through construction, material and labour costs were rising so fast that our contractor asked to re-price the entire job. I refused. The next day I arrived on site: tools gone, materials we'd purchased stolen, site empty.

But we finished, and the project was nominated for an RIBA award, among others, and gave us a chance to start our practice.

I now apply that principle to every project we do. There's no cost-cutting, just bold problem-solving. Good projects are the ones that make bold decisions under pressure and still deliver something exceptional.

If you want someone who'll find bold solutions when things go sideways, let's talk. Because bold doesn't mean reckless. It means clear, decisive, and practical.

What's your take: when a project hits obstacles, do you want your architect to protect the plan, or solve problems?