FBM Studio Culture
How We Work
FBM Architects believe that fantastic architecture makes a positive difference to people’s lives. This is the inspiration that drives all that we do. We aim to create opportunities to reflect on and learn from our work, to share ideas and expertise. We do this in a number of ways:
Design Charettes
We schedule design charrettes to generate ideas for new projects. Charrettes may involve the whole office or selected members of staff. The idea is to produce a number of different responses to a brief in a short space of time and to present these through a limited number of sketches to the rest of the office. Recent charrettes have helped us to generate design ideas for the redevelopment of four sites in Southwark, to provide new homes for the local council.
Friday Forums
Our Friday Forums take place at least once a month towards the end of the working day. The Forums follow different patterns but the aim is the same – for us to gather and hear from one another about some aspect of our work. The focus of Friday Forums is to give an opportunity for members of staff who aren’t leading projects to present their work to the rest of the office. Recent Friday Forums have included “Project Lucky Dip” which involve us each drawing a question out of a hat and responding to it with reference to one of our current projects. “Show and Tell” involves members of staff working individually or as part of a pair to present some aspect of their current project, often referring to images and drawings. “PechaKucha” are used to present twenty slides in quick succession, with only twenty seconds on each slide.
Learning Lunches
Friday lunchtime sessions are organised periodically to offer more structured continual professional development. Usually delivered by a consultant or supplier the sessions focus on a particular product or area of interest of relevant to current projects. Lunch is provided. These sessions are supplemented by talks by members of staff, sharing knowledge and expertise on a relevant topic or aspect of software/processes.
Office Study Tours
Periodically we make a study trip to a European city to explore buildings and exhibitions. Recent visits have included a trip to the Venice Architecture Biennale, visits to Basel, Hamburg, Paris, Berlin, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Krakow and Istanbul. The cost of accommodation and travel expenses and one group meal is covered by the practice. When we return to the office, we use Pecha Kucha to share our favourite sights and discern how we can apply what we have learnt to our own projects.
Social Events
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Work Experience
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