Innovating, pushing boundaries and being an ideas champion
The founder of a virtual design studio shares advice on establishing a business, knowing when to leave advice behind, and the importance of finding your champion.
Conferences, competitions & collaborations
Lisbon is buzzing with big tech energy as 70,000 Web Summit attendees descend on the city. Whilst AI, unsurprisingly, dominates the event programme (more on this another time), also highlighted is the crucial role of collaboration in business, creativity and innovation.
Speaking with a hotel developer last week, on the subject of collaboration he said ‘It’s simple, the best idea wins. And it may not be mine’. I loved that.
We have another edition of The Power of Place, featuring architect Sam Mcheileh, Founder of Mcheileh Studio. You may remember Sam’s name from our collaboration on the Dezeen X Bentley Motors future of luxury retail competition with our concept for a futuristic branded residence sales gallery.
Now, to the interview.
Who are you - and how do we know each other?
I'm Sam Mcheileh; Australian, originally from Melbourne and an architect. I've lived In New York City now for 6 years. Time flies! I used to live in London which is where you and I met, through mutual Aussie friends back in 2013. Initially our connection took off because of our shared experiences in the property industry, but we soon became good friends! Bonus.
Recently we collaborated on a global competition run by Dezeen and Bentley Motors to reimagine the future of luxury retail. Although we didn't win, we were shortlisted from over 145 entries from 33 countries around the world! It was super exciting to bring together the world of architecture and the innovation in the automotive sector to rethink how branded resi could be delivered and sold in the future.
AT WORK
What is your job?
I founded my architecture consultancy, Mcheileh Studio, after a long career working for well known architects in Australia, UK and the US. We have a range of interesting projects and have also had success in global competitions where we aim to keep pushing the boundaries of and be leaders in architectural innovation.
In 2021, we were runners up in a RIBA run competition for a mosque in the UK and more recently shortlisted by Bentley Motors and Dezeen.
I also consult for Pininfarina - a leading Italian design house.
Where is work?
We are a virtual design studio, meaning we work mostly remotely however I would say we are hybrid. In-person collaboration is needed at times, such as when we meet new clients and conduct visit sites. I had successfully worked remotely with teams globally for my entire career, so the transition to a virtual studio was very natural and made sense for a smaller, nimble business.
Pininfarina are one of the world’s largest non-hotel brands in branded resi – tell us more about your work with them.
As you mentioned, Pininfarina has built a huge presence in the branded resi market with a growing portfolio of projects in South America and Florida. My experience delivering cutting edge residential and hotel design dove-tailed nicely with the studio’s work and efforts to reimagine residential living.
What is the most interesting project you’ve worked on?
I've been fortunate to have worked on many interesting projects but a standout is the new Disney Headquarters in NYC. We reimagined what the future of office work could be even before the pandemic, and creating a collaborative work environment for such a creative company was an exciting challenge. Add to that the challenges of doing so in a high-rise building and the result was a bold solution that combined the best of large campus style buildings for tech companies with the well known tower format of a dense city like NYC.
Can you name a woman in property you admire and why?
Zaha Hadid. I wanted to work with her because I admired her as an architect first and foremost, but there's no question her impact on architecture occurred at a time when the industry was heavily dominated by men. Today, it's much more common to see women leading successful architecture firms and she played a big part in that.
What advice can you give about setting up your own studio?
It's a rollercoaster ride! My advice would be to focus your attention on the things that yield results. Its easy to get caught up in the minutiae of daily tasks and to forget to work 'on your business' as opposed to in it. That has been the biggest transition for me - to learn to think as a business owner and about strategy, sales and marketing and less on the actual work. Test business ideas, listen for feedback and iterate. Constantly ask yourself - am I offering my clients or audience value? Am I helping them achieve their goals? And how can I do that while enjoying what I do and building a body of work that I can be proud of. That's what business is about.
Tell us something you learned the hard way - OR - the best career advice you ever received?
My number one piece of advice for young people early in their careers is - find a champion. Find someone who believes in you and supports you and have them become your unofficial mentor. No matter how talented or skilled you are, career growth is about building a network of supporters and adding value. Next most important - keep learning and up-skilling. When you're no longer learning you're no longer growing.
Have you had a career coach or mentor and if so, how has it benefited you in your career?
I've had unofficial mentors throughout my career who have all in some way helped me learn and grow. In my experience, it’s rare that one person has all the answers or guidance you need but you can take nuggets from each individual and build a collection of lessons and knowledge to take forward. Learning what advice to take and what to leave behind is also a skill in itself.
I've also worked with paid strategy consultants to help with my own business.
AT HOME
Where is home for you?
New York definitely feels like home and you know it does when you land back in the city after a trip away. But of course, Australia will always feel like home too because I have friends and family there. I consider myself lucky to call two great places home.
Describe the home you live in now and something about it that makes you feel good.
I live in a light filled apartment in downtown New York. I've filled it with plants and it gives me a connection to the natural world that is hard to come by here. It's not easy to find well lit apartments in New York for a reasonable price but for me it’s now a non-negotiable wherever I live.
What is it about your neighbourhood that makes it feel like home?
It’s very green for a New York neighbourhood, has plenty of great restaurants and coffee shops and best of all, it’s close to the water! Even though it’s the Hudson River, when I walk along the park in the summer, the sounds and smells remind me of being at a beach somewhere.
Are you a renter, owner, builder, renovator or investor? Are you into property as an investment?
Both renter and owner! I rent in New York city and own an apartment in Melbourne. I'd like to buy something in NYC one day too and also in other places to both live in and develop as investments. A future goal is to develop my own projects. I think there will always be demand for well designed buildings that are not purely about financial gain. Haste makes waste as they say!
Investing in vibrant cities with solid infrastructure and social spaces is always a good idea.
Money is no object. Would you buy property and if so what, and where?
My dream is to own a collection of properties ranging from city apartments to beach villas to a house in the forest - all in my favourite places. But aside from that, I'd love to build a publicly accessible project that combines accommodation, public space and perhaps a library, museum or other cultural component. I have a passion for creating architecture that can benefit many people all at once. I don't think it’s possible to have too much of this stuff - go to any public building in NYC or any city for that matter and they are usually packed.
AT LARGE
What is your favourite holiday destination and why?
Its really hard for me to pick a favourite anything but my top picks would be the mediterranean (whether coastal cities or smaller towns) - in summer! Nothing translates into holiday mode more than warm weather and being by the water. I'm easy to please like that haha.
What is your favourite hotel, or hotel brand, in the world and why?
Right now I'd say the Edition and 1 Hotels are favourites. They have an understated luxury and good service. I've really enjoyed many other hotel brands for various reasons but I feel these balance the things that I value most - great design, understated luxury and good service. And of course a pool!
No matter where you are, what small thing can make you feel ‘at home’?
Friends and family. When I think about all the places I've lived, the standout memories are always with people. I could be anywhere and if I'm with good friends or family I can make it feel like home.
Shameless plug. What do you want us to tell us, or sell us?
When I founded my business I wanted to do architecture differently. After two decades working and partnering with the world's leading design houses such as Zaha Hadid, SOM and Pininfarina, I felt there was a better way to deliver architecture that was commercially viable without compromising on innovation. My studio is an architectural design consultancy and I deliberately decided not to make it a 'firm' because I do things differently to how most firms operate.
We create iconic yet understated architecture for entrepreneurial property developers. Our clients are commercially savvy but also interested in pushing the boundaries and don't want to work with big firms and the bureaucracy that comes with them. And we offer a range of services to help them at whatever stage they happen to be at in their development journey.
Visit Sam’s website and Instagram or connect with Sam on LinkedIn
Thanks for reading Projects of Place and remember to visit the POP website follow us on Instagram and connect with Caitlin on LinkedIn