From his diverse role, to where he gets his inspiration from, we sat down with design director Yousef Mousavi to discuss all things Altin Homes…
Can you describe your role at Altin Homes?
My official role at Altin is design director, which involves all aspects of design. I’m also in charge of liaising with all parties involved to ensure that the design is delivered to the specification we want. However, this doesn’t mean that this is all I do. Because Altin Homes is a medium-sized company, I do take on a variety of roles.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Every day is different, with a variety of challenges and jobs to do each day. A large proportion of my time is spent arranging and attending meetings with other design staff, architects, structural engineers and interior designers that we work with on our projects. We spend time reviewing designs and discussing any necessary changes/what we like best about these. We present these designs to the construction team and also talk to suppliers and contractors. We do this to go through things like the design specification, costs and deals. Programming and scheduling the work that needs to be done takes up the remainder of my day.
Can you provide an overview of your career so far?
I have three Masters Degrees: structural engineering, structural design and project management. When I started with Altin Homes in 2004 as a residential property developer, we started out building single houses and there wasn’t a design role as such, so I started as a site manager. I was doing everything from buying the land, to specification, design and building it with subcontractors.
As the company grew, I came to like the design side of things more and more. I enjoyed working with different designers and it eventually lead me to take on the role of designer on these projects. I learnt from the architects and interior designers that we worked with, as well as clients and their requirements.
Apart from design, what other responsibilities do you have at Altin Homes and how do these sit alongside each other?
Because of the size of the company, we work across a number of roles. One I’m particularly involved in is project management. It’s not good enough to design something and then not be able to deliver it. You have to know if something is buildable and what you need to build it, how to schedule it and how to cost it out.
These are all vital steps in delivering a successful project on time and in line with initial designs. Being involved in all of these steps makes the job more efficient, as I understand all the functioning parts of the project.
That’s a lot to take care of! How do you stay organised?
I try my best, but sometimes I’m really not! I’ve got an internal system that keeps me organised and on top of my priorities most of the time. It’s important to stay on the ball and be open to any last-minute changes that you can react quickly to, so I’ve learnt to keep on top of my priorities.
With the projects we work on, they come with built-in schedules and deadlines, as well as expected handover dates from customers, so all of that certainly provides motivation for staying organised.
What do you consider most important – functionality or aesthetics of a project?
Good question. I think both are equally important. In the past, I have been more focussed on the aesthetic of a design and thought about the functionality as a secondary focus.
Finding the right balance can be difficult, as our designs are minimal with lots of simple elements. For example, with things like access panels you need them for functionality, but they aren’t the prettiest of features. You have to learn how to disguise and conceal them, and then this has knock-on effects for project cost. As a designer, it’s our job to know how to make these necessary elements look sleek and fit in with the high-end design.
From experience, you learn which functional elements of a property are essential and which you can work around – I wish I’d known these earlier on!
What is your design process from start to finish?
It starts from choosing the location and finding the right plot to buy. Location is key.
The external design of the property is considered from this point, as you need to think about how the property will look in its setting. After purchase, the planning process and restrictions have a say in what we can and can’t design. For example, what we can build will differ between town and countryside locations.
We have our own look at Altin Homes, but all of these differing factors mean that each project looks different and is in keeping with the surroundings. There will be some places where minimal designs are preferred, but others where modern designs are off-limits.
We work with the architect to come up with a design based on all these factors before we submit the planning application and continue to work with them throughout the project. As we move towards the end of the project, we work closely with the end customer regarding the interior design elements.
Where do you get your inspiration from when designing houses?
It comes from everywhere – but mainly the internet, nature and working with other good designers.
I spend time spotting people to work with whose work I admire. Having a good working relationship is great for creative inspiration, where you can collaborate on ideas that you both like.
We try to change and evolve our projects. This is more expensive than replicating designs over and over again, but keeps each design unique and gives us an edge over similar developers. The cost does mean there are business implications that we have to be aware of.
Are there any other property developers that you admire?
No specific names come to mind, but I like those that try to be different and think outside the box. Those that don’t repeat the same tried and tested designs are the ones that I look up to, as it shows an additional level of creativity.
Over the course of all projects, what are some of the biggest lessons learnt?
Oh, lots! I’m still amazed that people’s expectations about quality isn’t where it should be. I always compare houses to cars. If you imagine how cars have evolved over the past 25 years, have houses done the same? Not really. The same features are there – narrow halls, smaller rooms etc.
What I’ve learnt is that we need to try hard to change these expectations, despite the risk involved with not selling homes if customers don’t like newer, more modern features. For instance, open plan living with larger kitchens, dining rooms and living areas is very common now, but it took awhile for that trend to catch on. This way of living brings the family together around a hub and improves their lifestyle together – something I’m always working towards. If you try hard, you can change people’s tastes for the better.
If anything has ever gone wrong on a project, how did you deal with it?
Because of how long and evolving the design process is, there has never been a big issue, as there are plenty of opportunities to flag problems and resolve them. Sometimes, the client may feel that the process is taking too long, due to slower decision making or wanting to bring in different suppliers, and moving forward here is all about compromise and working together to bring about the best finished product.
When do you know that the design process is complete?
The design is never really complete, but that’s how it should be as a home is ever-evolving. Whether it’s changing the colour of paint in a room or the style of a kitchen, once we have completed a home it is natural that such elements change as the tastes of the customer do as well.
What advice do you have for aspiring designers?
Yes, I do have a University education and came through that route, but I felt like I really began learning when I started working on the job.
If you can find a job in a reputable, professional business that gives you the opportunity to be creative and forward-thinking with your ideas, this will help you develop and grow as a designer. I’d say that my varied background in project management and finance has helped me, so I’d take any opportunity to expand your skills and knowledge base to make sure your design is deliverable.
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