Developer Gus Zogolovitch reflects on the benefits of, and the many challenges involved in, delivering projects that give people agency in the design and build of their own home.
Being the son of an architect, I was taught from a young age that buildings have a lasting legacy and we have a responsibility to the future to build the best we can, and that’s what I’ve strived to do ever since.
In 2004, I was lucky enough to find a gap site in NW London where I built my own home. Since I was going to be living at the house, I was incentivised to think long term and I put design and build quality and environmental sustainability at the heart of every decision I made. I have benefitted from those decisions every day.
In contrast, developers building speculatively have only to make a home look good during the half hour viewing. So, they are incentivised to cut corners where they can and opt for the lowest cost choice whenever possible. That’s not only bad for the occupiers, it’s bad for society.
Ever since my own self-build I have hypothesised that if we give people agency in the design and construction of their own home we will get better housing.
I am photographed here in my latest project at Blenheim Grove in Peckham, South London. It is an experimental terrace of new build shells and has been a long and arduous journey. I built the insulated and air, wind and watertight structure and left the rest to the owners.
Every terrace looks the same on the outside, but within the space they are very different. Each owner has set out the layout, the specification and the character differently. The huge variety has validated my belief that shells should still be considered self-build and hopefully we will see more of them being offered in cities across the UK.
Building a shell sounds simple enough, and this is standard in many countries throughout the world, but every step of the journey has been challenging. Our industry is not used to, or welcoming of, innovation: from raising development finance for me and mortgage finance for my customers; to dealing with building control and working with contractors who are used to hiding shoddy work.
I look reflective and rather pensive because it’s been a bruising experience. However, if you look closely, you may also see a glimmer of hope and relief in my eyes, revealing that this journey is almost over and it’s only a matter of time before I start it all again.
Gus Zogolovitch
London SE15
Source: Architecture Today
