10 years in 10 questions: Cian Scanlon
We’re kicking the new year off by celebrating another recent employee milestone; 10 years of commitment and creative input from our Associate, Cian Scanlon.
Cian is passionate about how good design can add value through active engagement with real world constraints, turning them into opportunities. This is supported by studies in both architecture and property finance with a successful track record of delivering projects from concept to completion. Cian brings a wealth of knowledge to the practice, and with experience of reusing existing building stock, he firmly believes it is possible to creatively adapt and repurpose spaces and places to make them relevant for future use for decades to come. We want to say a big thank you to Cian for continuing to be an integral part of our PDP family; happy work anniversary!
Cian is one of the most creative, analytical and insightful architects I know. Throughout the design and construction process he demonstrates clear vision and achieves results through excellent communication and collaboration. He listens carefully to clients and knows how to spend their money wisely!
Andrew Davidson, Partner
We interviewed Cian to find out more about his journey of professional peaks, favourite projects and memorable moments over the past decade, as well as asking him to look forward to the next.
How did your journey with PDP London start?
In 2012 I was working for a small design practice in Dublin in what was a challenging economic environment. Having previously worked with VMX Architects in Amsterdam and studied at the Chinese University of Hong Kong I knew I wanted to gain some more international experience. I decided to move to London and that same year PDP London was awarded the AJ100 Practice of the Year and Sustainable Practice of the Year. I thought “this sounds like a good place to work”!
How has your job/role changed over the years?
I started as an architectural assistant and I worked my way up to architect, project architect, senior architect and then associate so my role has changed quite considerably over the years. The reason why I do the job - to create great places for people to live, work and play - is still the same.
I'm also fortunate now to be in a position to mentor other members of the team, whether informally, as a Part III Employment Mentor, or as part of our in-house ‘Shape’ mentoring programme.
What is your favourite part of your job? What excites you the most?
Architectural design is too complex to be solved by one person. My favourite part of the job is tackling design problems with other talented designers (like we have in the practice!). There's a quote from the artist Max Ernst that comes to mind where he says, "before he goes into the water, a diver cannot know what he will bring back". Design is a non-linear process. It often evolves and develops in unexpected ways and sometimes the best ideas are a result of something being misinterpreted or only partially understood. You can't predict it.
What do you see as your proudest moment or biggest achievement in your time here?
It’s hard to look past the completion of One Queen Anne's Gate. It was my first high-profile project in London, and I felt privileged to design something on this elegant 250-year-old street. We had an incredibly talented team and I remember it as a period of constant learning. I worked on the project from feasibility through to completion, progressing from assistant architect to project lead during the 5+ years it took to design and build. My efforts were also recognised by the RIBA Journal who shortlisted me as a ‘Rising Star’ in 2018, which was a nice acknowledgment.
One Queen Anne’s Gate, a townscape led, private residential development comprising of 27 apartments, a penthouse and 12 affordable housing units
What are the biggest challenges of your role and how do you overcome them/what are the fundamental skills or personal qualities needed to deal with those challenges?
Architectural projects are typically measured in years not months. One of the biggest challenges is maintaining the quality of the design and integrity of the Client's vision over the lifecycle of a project and balancing these long-term goals with short-term adaptiveness and flexibility so that you can react to changes in the market and capitalise on opportunities. You need to be a rational optimist.
What has been the biggest lesson you've learned over the last 10 years?
Listen hard and challenge your assumptions.
Which has been your favourite project to work on and why?
I’m currently working on proposals to refurbish and extend the landmark Art Deco style building at 318 Oxford Street (the old House of Fraser building). As an office led mixed-use development, the project needs to adapt to suit changing occupier demands post pandemic. The team is always looking for opportunities to innovate and to maximise the potential of the existing building. There’s never a dull moment.
318 Oxford Street - the iconic former D.H Evans (House of Fraser) department store on Oxford Street will be reimagined as a vibrant, mixed-use development
What's your favourite memory from the last 10 years at PDP London?
We are a very social office, and we organise trips away from time to time. One of my favourite memories is a trip to Snowdonia to attempt the ‘Welsh 3000 challenge’, which involves hiking to the top of all 15 of the mountains over 3000 ft in Wales in 24 hours. Tough going but a lot of fun.
Something personal now - what do you do when you're not in the office? What do you like to do for fun?
It’s a cliché but being a dad. Yes, it’s a lot of responsibility but you also get to rediscover your inner child and the joy of playing. I’d love to design an adult playground. I'm also partial to an architectural pilgrimage. Luckily my wife is too, and we celebrated our wedding this year at John Pawson's and Claudio Silvestrin’s minimalist masterpiece the ‘Villa Neuendorf’ in Mallorca.
Finally, where do you see yourself in another 10 years?
PDP London now has offices in London, Bath, Madrid and Hong Kong. I’m not sure where I see myself, but it’s good to have options!
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