For today’s Meet the Maker we’re featuring a small but dedicated team of architects from Sydney, buck&simple. This creative team of architects is steadfast to creating custom outcomes with their keen process which focuses on the craft; harnessing opportunities of the site, brief and the client by delivering uniquely tailored, environmentally sustainable solutions of a timeless nature. From concept to construction, buck&simple have the resources, knowledge, experience, and passion to deliver your next own bit of awesome. We took twelve with their co-founders and directors, Kurt Crisp and Peter Ahern to get to know the team better. Check out what they have to say..
George Takes Twelve
1. When I was growing up, I wanted to be…
Kurt: Astronaut Firefighter… who else is going to put out space fires?
Pete: A fire truck. Yeah, apparently I wanted to be the actual truck.
2. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your company?
We are a design based company focused on solutions that effect emotion. Our designs celebrate the uniqueness of the client and the site.
We understand the level of craftsmanship that is possible with the right builders and fabricators. We appreciate other designers and are constantly reviewing what intrinsically makes a successful result and how we can adopt unique solutions for our own work.
We are collaborative, having a team approach to all projects. Lifestyle is really important to us and is as much a consideration of the work we do for clients as it is for ourselves.
How we spend our days is ultimately how we live our lives, so get togethers, holidays, surfing or testing the new local bars and restaurants are all an integral part of our team approach.
There are a few core ideas that resurface in all of our projects. The celebration of the outdoors, the drama of activity, integration of landscape and how light, acoustics and air quality can benefit from passive environmental solutions.
3. How is your studio structured?
There are 6 of us at buckandsimple: 2 Directors, 2 Senior Architects and 2 juniors. We like to operate with a tightknit, agile team that huddles together for ideas and then works autonomously for execution.
With various stages of the design and construction process, we try and keep a few projects at each stage to pace the workload and keep the process fluid.
It is a great way to work that you can be sketching a concept with a soft pencil, then pick up the phone to provide solutions to on-site details. It keeps your skills honed and reminds you to always consider the end result of everything you’re doing.
In saying that, if a new client walks through the door and it is something we know we can make an impact on, something inspirational, we will find a way to schedule in the project. It’s part of the nature of design, some things are just too enticing to pass up on.
4. What exciting projects (present or past) are you proud as punch about?
Probably not so much a single given project, more the individual elements of each. Often it’s the little detail here or concept there.
We’re currently working on a gorgeous family home by the beach with a client that has similar ideas on the use of quality materials and craftsmanship.
We’re resolving details with rammed earth and steel in a consistent language throughout the house, so it’s quite an exciting project.
5. What’s the most treasured belonging/item in your own home?
Kurt: My speakers, I love the immediate influence of music, especially when you turn it up to 11 and dance around like a madman.
Pete: Some old coins and trinkets collected while travelling
6. What’s the most impressive party trick you can muster?
Kurt: Tall stories of days gone by that get tweaked ever so slightly each time I tell them.
Pete: Turning up… with newborn baby in a harness strapped to my chest.
7. Are there any architectural trends you are excited about?
Kurt :There seems to be a re-emergence of expression of sculptural form and materiality
Pete: Yes, we’re really excited to see a return to craft and people appreciating the processes involved.
8. Tell us about a project that excited you but you never finished.
There are a couple ones that got away, great projects that didn’t proceed for one reason or another
We’ve created a beautifully refined scheme for a swimming pool and recreation park that ties in a lot of our core ideals and had some really novel design elements that would of been exciting to implement
We always file those ideas and sketches away and see how we can maybe integrate them on any upcoming works.
9. What’s your go-to routine to shake off a busy week?
Kurt: The week isn’t finished until there’s Saturday morning pancakes.
Pete: Pens down and a long Friday Lunch over a couple beers
10. You’ve got a week off, where are you going?
Kurt :There are unique opportunities in every direction, my last trip was the mid-north coast of NSW, so I guess we’re probably due for a family trip to the mountains, with food, wine and walking on the agenda.
Pete: Probably on a plane to somewhere new I haven’t been with the family.
11. Tell us about your best strategy for those dreaded uninspired moments. What gets you out of slumpville and back climbing the creative pinnacle?
Kurt: Just walk away, leave it a while, embrace the discomfort and come back.
Pete: Sketching & breaking it down to the bare essential outcome you’re trying to achieve. Oh, and talk about it, usually if you can’t find an answer it’s because you haven’t been able to articulate the question.
12. Favourite architectural style from a bygone era?
Kurt: Today it would be Mid-century Modern / palm springs, but that is subject to change at any point.
Pete: Modernism with a focus on materiality and craftsmanship – bygone era? It’d probably be Prairie school
Meet the Architect Radio
“Eclectic”
“We find a bit of Dope lemon is a good pick me up vibe to get Monday started for the team;
Miike snow paddling out is usually our rallying call for pens down and Friday lunch and
Rufus, innerbloom will always get played late on a Friday afternoon right around beer o’clock”
Top Picks
Where to find them
Name: Kurt Crisp & Peter Ahern
Business Name: buck&simple
Job Title: Architects / Directors
Website: buckandsimple.com
Instagram: @buckandsimple
Facebook: buckandsimple
Pinterest: buck&simple
