Sussex Exclusive talks to the extraordinarily accomplished Sussex architect, Joe Wright and amongst many things, discovers that drawings are just one strand of the service he provides to homeowners.
Tell us about the clients you work with and how you embark on working together
Our clients care deeply about the idea and feeling of home. They know their house isn’t quite working but can’t see how to make it better. Sometimes they approach us wanting an extension when the best solution might be a more imaginative reorganisation of the space they already have. Appointing an architect is a considered step, particularly if you’ve never undertaken building work before. Following an initial conversation, I will visit the house and meet my client. We discuss their aspirations, concerns, budget, and the process ahead. You don’t need a fully developed brief or all the answers before approaching an architect. Helping you work those things out is part of our job.
What misconceptions do homeowners have about using an architect?
That an architect visits once, disappears, and returns with a set of drawings for the builder. Drawings are crucial; the outcome of a much more involved process of understanding, exploring, questioning, and developing ideas together. Another is that you must know exactly what you want before approaching an architect. You don’t! I reassure people it’s fine to have a vague idea, or simply a feeling their house could work better. Finally, you don’t have to know anything about architecture or construction.
Why do clients choose you?
Clients often tell me they appreciate being listened to, having things explained clearly and feeling involved in the design process. That doesn’t mean agreeing with everything they suggest! Sometimes it’s important to challenge an idea, explain why it might not work and offer a better alternative. If a beautiful home doesn’t function properly for the people living in it, the design hasn’t succeeded. Good design should feel wonderful to live in, not simply look wonderful in photographs. So, we think carefully about how people move around their homes, natural light, storage, connections between spaces and the practicalities of everyday life. I don’t have a signature style or architectural feature that I try and introduce into every project. Every house and family is different. The architecture should reflect this. Often the most successful design touches come from understanding something particular about a client’s life, rather than introducing something showy. That said, I do enjoy a bit of exposed steel structure, preferably painted a bright colour!
How involved are you once a client has accepted your plans?
We offer architectural services from forming the brief and initial sketches, to full support during construction, including site visits, responding to queries, and helping manage changes. Building work is complicated, and unexpected questions inevitably arise. Having an architect involved helps clients and builders resolve these in an informed and coordinated way. It’s very much a team effort, with everyone working towards the same outcome. Our construction-stage involvement is agreed with each client.
How do you balance the different needs a couple might present?
I encounter this all the time. One person is excited by the design possibilities, while the other is more concerned about budget, disruption, and practicalities. Even if one person is the main contact, I want to meet both at the outset and understand what matters to each of them. Sometimes people haven’t fully discussed their priorities with each other. I try to ensure everyone feels heard and that potentially conflicting aspirations are explored, not overlooked. Sometimes my role is as much about helping two people reconcile their priorities as it is about designing the space. You can’t always give everyone everything they want, but you can help them arrive at decisions they’re both comfortable with.
How do you address energy conservation, construction costs, and sustainability?
Sustainability starts with fundamental design decisions, not simply adding solar panels or a heat pump. We consider the existing building, daylight, insulation, ventilation, materials, and energy use, both during construction and over the building’s lifetime. Reusing and adapting existing buildings can be sensible environmentally and financially. We always question whether substantial new construction is necessary. The right approach depends on the project and budget, rather than applying the same solution everywhere.
Which projects do you look back on fondly?
A modest ground-floor extension in Worthing changed the existing layout and transformed how the family used their home, bringing in daylight and improving the connection with the garden. When I visited months later, it was obvious how much the family loved living there. Another was a new family home on the site of an old bungalow. We developed an existing consented design around the family’s needs, with living spaces upstairs to enjoy spectacular London views. It has some wonderfully individual features, including an entrance gallery used by the children and a home office with ceiling fittings for aerial acrobatics! It was also technically challenging, with innovative heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. What I love about these two projects is how different they are, yet both are fundamentally about creating homes that suit the people living in them.
About Joe
Joe Wright is an ARB-registered architect and RIBA member with a stunning portfolio of projects and delighted clients. Based in Worthing, Joe works with homeowners across Sussex, London and the wider Southeast. If you’re beginning to think about changing your home, even if your ideas are still at an early stage please email post@joewrightarchitects.co.uk
You can also explore projects and client stories at joewrightarchitects.co.uk
“Working with Joe was a complete pleasure. As we expected from having seen his portfolio of work, he had creative ideas about the structure and layout (and we love the result!). Just as important, though, was the practical support and advice he gave us: we don’t have a lot of spare time and had no previous experience of dealing with a building project of this scale. He gave us guidance early on about budgeting and was always looking to help with suggestions about suppliers, materials etc where he could. He gave us the benefit of his experience (both through other clients and personal projects) but did it with a light touch, so we never felt pushed into something we weren’t comfortable with or argued out of something we really wanted.
The communication was excellent from the start, and he followed up consistently to make sure that we were clear on where we stood on the budget and progress with the works. Building projects are inevitably stressful at times, but it made it all so much easier that we had someone we trusted to help us navigate it. With his oversight as project manager, it was completed to a high standard and on time. We would strongly recommend Joe to anyone undertaking similar work.” MB
