About me - Fife Architect - House extensions, Loft conversions, new build, design - Kirkcaldy. Joanna Lockhart Chartered Architect RIAS

I set up practice on my own, working from my home office, at the start of 2005 and haven't looked back since!

Before this I spent 9 years in private practice in Edinburgh, working on a wide variety of project types.

After graduating from university I worked at Michael Laird Architects for 3 years, and was involved in very large scale commercial projects such as office buildings, industrial buildings and urban master planning.

I then moved to Campbell and Arnott Architects where I worked as project architect and designer on several very interesting and rewarding projects. These included a development of 80 luxury flats, several large medical centres and a day centre for disabled people as well as housing and leisure projects. I worked for Campbell and Arnott for 6 years before deciding that the person I really wanted to work for was me!

Now that I am a sole practitioner, my projects are a mixture of domestic and commercial, all necessarily on a smaller scale than when I was working in larger practices. I enjoy the challenges presented by working on smaller projects, often with existing buildings.

I approach each project as an individual entity, with no preconceived solutions. I always work with the client to formulate a clear brief and work within this to try to produce something that is right for the site or building and its users.

Each project differs widely, as it should. Designs always respond to the site and environment. Light and space are of prime importance and it is my job to manipulate these to create a comfortable and attractive environment. Even the most basic, low budget extension does not have to be dull!

I try to make all my projects a little bit different, or a little bit better. I enjoy thinking of solutions that aren't initially obvious, but that improve a building's appearance or layout or internal environment.

I have worked a lot with developers in the past, which has had the benefit of making me a realist where cost is concerned. Therefore, my design aspirations are imaginative but realistic.