Our Interior Architect & Designer: Andrew Martin
We're thrilled to welcome Andrew Martin to the Studio Miaki team as our talented Interior Architect & Designer.
With a diverse background and a passion for renovation, Andrew brings a fresh perspective to our projects.
In this exclusive interview, learn more about Andrew's design journey, his favourite projects, and his vision for the future of interior design. Get ready to be inspired!
Can you tell us about your background and what initially sparked your interest in interior design/architecture?
My background has varied greatly from the beginning of my career. I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in design, however, my approach was somewhat obtuse. Exploring opportunities from Project Management, Technical Design, Architectural Designer to an Interior Architect & Designer.
From being a young boy with his head forever looking everywhere apart from where he was walking, I was immersed in design; fascinated by how buildings could just appear from the ground; who designed it, and what was it being used for?
However, that same thought was more so prominent for the lonely, abandoned buildings, sitting desolate in the fields, or sinking away into the background of bustling high streets.
I’ve forever had a love for renovation. A passion to give a breath of new life into a building, to give the walls a chance to house again, opposing to an alternative of demolition and redevelopment.
Which are the most important factors when designing a room?
Form, flow, and natural lighting are the first areas I assess when designing a space. One space will always connect with another, so how you enter or exit and interact with the space can determine these factors. Ensuring these elements are tackled correctly then allows you to add layers to the space, in the forms of connections, thresholds, hard finishes, to the finer details of bespoke joinery & FF&E.
Which is your favourite project (finished or ongoing) and why?
Throughout my career, I’ve worked on exhibitions, private members clubs, spas and hotels across the world, and high-end retail spaces. However, my passion has always been led by residential projects, with no two ever being the same.
In 2018 I completed a multi-unit development in Belgravia, transforming an abandoned Grade II listed building into seventeen luxury Studios, one, two & three-bedroom apartments, duplexes, and triplexes with an additional glazed Penthouse to the rooftop. Listed properties naturally present restrictions, yet the challenges that often occur result in some of the most unique and singular designs.
How would you prioritize tasks for a renovation project?
Having a strong understanding of the history of the building I feel is imperative to any renovation project. The Interior and Architectural details of our existing buildings have historical beauty which is owed to be reserved and restored where possible.
Initially, to develop any area of design floorplans are needed. This gives you the allowance to develop further elements of the design, fixed elements such as; kitchens, bathrooms, and bespoke joinery with the opportunity to consider working with the exterior elements and landscaping of the project. It’s a natural process within design development that many components to a project change and new opportunities arise so being organised with each drawing package is imperative to a project running as smoothly as possible.
Would you ever prioritize aesthetics over function when designing a room?
The function of a project is for the home to work for the client without compromise. Whilst the function of a project is being developed, it’s natural to consider the aesthetical characters that we see completing the design. Whilst we always ensure the client's needs are met, it’s our job to deliver possibilities that the client may not have previously considered and enhance the way in which they live and immerse themselves within their home.
How do you stay updated with the latest trends and innovations in interior design/architecture?
Architectural Digest | AD, Vogue Living, InteriorDesigners.net, and of course Pinterest and Instagram are platforms I use to gain and log inspiration. Having the opportunity to network, visit suppliers, and show in person to understand where industry professionals are leading designs or how they are predicting future trends is invaluable.
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in design. How do you incorporate sustainable practices into your designs?
Designing with today's environmental and ongoing ecological threats in mind is paramount, leading us to explore an array of different materials. New products that resemble a likeness to its competitor or present us with a completely new option, but also, to gain a further understanding of where and how a product has been produced. What impact it has had on the environment, and how the producer and supplier of each product can ensure to its consumers there is minimal or zero emission and that their sustainability credentials can be credited?
Which are your top 3 favourite home brands?
Eternity Modern is a brand I found whilst working on projects in New York and California, delivering a Greenguard certification and some of the most beautifully designed modular living furniture. West Elm & Soho Home are brands that continuously provide high standards and quality. One final brand, friend, and mentor that I have to give a special mention to is lo.studio, a sustainable home fragrance brand, embodied in awakening memories through incredible scents.
Which is your current favourite interior design inspiration photo?
The Conversation Pit: Architect Bruce Goff, is credited as the design mind behind the very first conversation pit in 1927 for a house he designed in Oklahoma.
Whilst this design inspiration image isn’t that of Bruce Goff’s or Craig Ellwood’s, the Case Study-esque Coward House is situated in my hometown of Nottinghamshire and was designed by David Shelley in 1970. Compromised by ‘zoning’ this design encapsulated my design inspiration through its Brutalist and Mid-Century design.
Where is your favourite place to be, when you want to get inspired?
For me, I can gain so much inspiration from being by the sea, watching waves roll in and out, and the natural way in which the environment is formed by and into them. And on the other hand; the hustle and bustle of New York City - Chelsea loft apartments and the High-Line, slicing its way through the West Side. Inspiration comes in various forms.
What is your dream home style?
Craig Ellwood’s & John Entenza Case Study project is one of Architectural brilliance and one that drew me into the design world. A refreshed form of Architecture, with an attempt to tackle issues within design, building, and costs. A project commissioned by Arts + Architecture magazine, these designs from the young Architects would go on to define California Modernism. #16, is the last of the Case Studies standing today, situated in the Bel Air neighborhood, nestled into the crest of Stone Canyon, and one I was fortunate to see on a visit to California.
There are elements I find captivating in a Mid-Century Modern home. Floor-to-ceiling glazed panels, and exposed steel frames mixed with the mid-century interior architecture: the warmth of softwoods, and calming tones, mixed with my own personal eclectic design style. This would perfectly encapsulate the characteristics of my dream home.
Where in the world have you stayed where interior design & architecture have really stood out, and why?
It’s inevitable you’ll find several architectural and interior design styles in New York. From the most classical styles of Colonial, Neo-Colonial, Neoclassical, and Gothic to modern styles such as Art Nouveau, and Art Deco to Post-Modern architecture and futuristic elements.
The Art Deco-era of Manhattan saw the landscape change with the construction of the Rockefeller Center. What can be construed as the beginning of the ‘concrete jungle’, I have a personal admiration for. The history, beauty, intricate detailing to every finish you touch and walk upon, and overall glamour of the architecture, interiors, surrounding buildings, and Channel Gardens to the Centre is an area you can fully immerse yourself within.
Home is …
exploring an array of living opportunities through life. Various styles of living, in different home types and locations, whether it be UK, Europe, or Internationally. But overall, home is where you can settle, relax and escape.