architect

What's Next Podcast Episode 44 by James Whitaker

James Whitaker Portrait

James Whitaker

Being interviewed for Therese-Marie Hinrichs’s podcast, What’s Next - Rethinking Architecture was a delight and a privilege.

Therese was a wonderfully enjoyable host to chat with and it was great to explore what I’m passionate about. I hope it’s as enjoyable for you to listen to as it was for us to record!

On a planet of finite resource, if you’re going to make something you’ve got to make sure that thing is great.
— James Whitaker

Notes

The piece of furniture in Edinburgh that I was thinking about is the Bed Box project by Oli Chapman.

The space standards set out by the Greater London Authority (GLA) that I mention are here on page 49.

The Banshees of Inisherin, which has rekindled my enthusiasm for Guiness, is terrific and well worth a watch.

What's Next Podcast

What’s Next Podcast by Therese-Marie Hinrichs

Low-cost Desert Living by James Whitaker

Model of Casa Milagro by Whitaker Studio, a low-cost house for the Californian desert. To keep costs low the internal space is as compact as possible, but supplemented by covered outdoor space at each end of the house. The long south side of the house has large eaves to shade the house reducing its need for mechanical cooling.

12 months ago a lady got in touch saying that she would like to retire to the desert, to a plot of land that she bought with her late husband. The only catch is that her budget is very tight.

To begin with I dismissed it, thinking the task impossible, the budget too low, but the emails kept coming.

Now I’ve got the bit between my teeth. I want to see if there is anyway we can make something work. And not just anything, but something that is low-cost, low-energy, low-carbon and accessible, all packaged up inside a considered piece of architecture that enhances day to day life.

The task might yet prove impossible, but I think there might just be a way to achieving something here. And if we can, somehow, make it work then we will create a design that can be reproduced for other desert dwellers in need of a low-cost home.

If you know anyone who might be interested in this project do spread the word.

Model of Casa Milagro by Whitaker Studio, a low-cost house for the Californian desert. This image shows the covered terrace at the west end of the house

Model of Casa Milagro by Whitaker Studio, a low-cost house for the Californian desert.

The Anywhere House on Business Insider by James Whitaker

This home made out of tiny units can be built in any configuration and proves prefab architecture doesn't have to be boring

It's terrific to have an article in Business Insider about The Anywhere House. There have been a couple of articles about the Anywhere House in major publications in the last few weeks and we are now in conversation with people from Israel, Egypt, Sweden, Italy, USA, Panama… the list goes on and on. A giant thank you to Mary Meisenzahl for shining a light on a project that I am very proud of, it’s really appreciated.

Business Insider reports on the Starburst House by James Whitaker

Whitaker Studio's Starburst House in Joshua Tree

Business Insider have featured our Starburst House this week. If you visit our instagram feed you’ll see a special little animation that we made for the article that shows the house in a new way!