MAGRI WILLIAMS
Founders Joe Magri & Alice Williams
07535 180962
hello@magriwilliams.co.uk
www.magriwilliams.co.uk
@magriwilliams
Experienced architects, Joe Magri and Alice Williams, a husband and wife team from Leyton, joined forces three years ago to form an architecture studio specialising in thoughtful - and beautiful - residential architecture, calm interiors and furniture design. Tackling rear extensions, whole house refurbishments and new build homes, they work with budgets from £200k to £2m across London and the UK.
We’re big fans of their work, so asked them to reveal how they can help make your design dreams a reality…
Who are Magri-Williams?
We both studied in Plymouth and qualified as architects back in 2015, going on to work in private residential firms. It was great experience, but we were always working to someone else’s design. So, three years ago, we decided to team up and set up our own studio, which has allowed us to have much more creative freedom.
What’s it like working with your other half?
We’re very lucky that our visions and design styles align… well, at least most of the time! With each project, while one of us takes the lead, we both work on it together. It means we can have some really interesting conversations, looking at projects from different angles. Communication is key – if one of us isn’t feeling something, we know it’s not personal; there’s no such thing as a bad idea, just different viewpoints.
Are you happy for clients to be involved in a design?
Absolutely, we’re very collaborative. Lots of our clients have an interest in design and come with a vision and great ideas; while we have plenty of experience… and no preconceptions. A client’s input is so important and brings about a rich design – feedback makes a project more interesting, unique… and special.
What inspires you?
When we start a project, we look at the context and site location, the existing property and of course the client themselves, and form ideas from that. Natural light is so important, so we’ll conduct a solar study to see how it moves and flows around the site, and where it creates shadows. We love our designs to have a connection to nature, so we always try to make sure the garden is visible throughout the house. We’re also inspired by materials – after picking a key material such as brick, charred timber or concrete, we’ll then use others, like clay walls or porcelain tiles to soften it. Our style tends to be fairly minimal, but warm, soft and timeless with a controlled, calming palette.
Your designs are beautiful, but are they practical too?
Absolutely. For most people, a building project is a huge investment, so as well as being beautiful, we know our designs need to last and work for everyday life. In fact, one of the things clients get most excited about is storage! We also regularly work on family homes, and having a toddler of our own has opened our eyes to the need for things to be robust and withstand knocks and scratches.
How important is sustainability?
Very. We consider the sustainability of a project from the very first stage. We spend a lot of time researching materials and visiting makers and joiners, trying to find the best local suppliers and craftspeople. We’ll always attempt to reduce the carbon footprint of a build as much as possible, whether that’s in big ways such as using heat pumps instead of boilers, or going for little wins such as adding a few centimetres of extra insulation. We often work with an energy consultant to find potential energy savings too, as futureproofing a house and keeping heating costs low has become a huge priority for clients.
What should people look for when choosing an architect?
Check out the long and shortlists in the Don’t Move, Improve awards - it’s a good way to see who’s out there. Another tip is to trawl Instagram and Pinterest, to find architects whose style you like – perhaps you want someone more technical, or someone who specialises in creating bespoke and unique homes. We think design and personal connection are the most important points. You’re going to spend a lot of time and money working with your architect, so take a look at their past projects, to see if their style resonates with you.
What’s the first step in working together?
After an initial phone call where we hear the client’s brief, we’ll arrange a site visit to see the property, learn more about the project and answer any questions, advising on things such as potential timeframes and anticipated costs. What we do is very personal, and renovations can be a long process, so meeting in person is essential to ensure both sides understand each other. We pride ourselves on good client relations, and making sure we’re the right fit from the start is a key part of that. Following the site visit, we put together a fee proposal – our fees generally range from 10-15% of the total construction cost.
The million-dollar question – will you work to a budget?
We’re always upfront about costs as the brief and the budget need to align in order to avoid disappointment. We have construction rates per square metre from previous projects and often work with a quantity surveyor, which can help give a fairly accurate ballpark figure early on.
