Meet The Team – Katie

Next up in our ‘meet the team’ series is Katie. Having worked at EDC for 8 years, joining us back in August 2015, she is an indispensable part of the team with her spirit, curiosity, and can-do attitude.

What made you want to join?

I was looking for a new challenge and wanted to learn more about sustainable design – especially Passivhaus which I had spent a lot of my degrees focusing on. My old practice didn’t see this as a priority.

What is the biggest/most important thing you’ve learnt in your time at EDC?

Alan has taught me so much since I started all those years ago, passing on his vast knowledge and passion for Passivhaus design – definitely making it my dream to live in my own Passivhaus on day! He has also recognised my skills, built on them and praised me for them. He has given me the confidence to trust my instincts, but to also understand my limitations and know when to ask for help from (someone else in our amazing team – realising we can’t do it all on our own). Our design process is definitely a collaborative one and I love working as part of it.

What part of design are you particularly passionate about?

I always try to put the clients’ requirements first. Designing a home to fit their style and needs.  I love problem solving, especially when it comes to special design, making the most of the space someone already has. I like trying to cleverly design extensions, to avoid creating any wasted space. A space in a home should either be beautiful or useful (or both!).

Does this follow through to your hobbies outside of work?

I have two young children so I don’t have a lot of time for hobbies, but I do love to bake and get out into my garden – I’m slowly learning how to keep my plants alive and getting them thrive. I love to travel and experience different places, culture, food and architecture, as well as finding beautiful, deserted beaches where I can just unwind (but don’t get to do that as often as I’d like to anymore).

Who inspires you (personally or professionally)?

I don’t have a particular person who inspires me, but I have always admired an old tutor at university who took me under her wing and stopped me from quitting architecture when the course got tough. She helped me discover my passion for the subject and helped me harness my skills and taught me so much. Without her I wouldn’t be working here today.

What type of projects would you like to be working on in 5 year’s time?

I would to be working on more people’s homes. I love working directly with a client and creating a relationship with them. I try to make my clients feel supported through what can be a stressful process. At the end of it I want to be able to help design a beautiful, comfortable home that they love at the end of the process.