#364 - MARK BULLIVANT, Principal of SAOTA
SUMMARY
This week David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design are joined by Architect Mark Bullivant, Principal of SAOTA to discuss his background; attending architecture school in South Africa; working on projects across continents; the differing roles of contractors in different areas of the work; their collaborative approach; leadership and management of a large office; the various types of projects they work on; and more. Enjoy!
ABOUT SAOTA
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Background.
(10:10) Studying Architecture in South Africa.
(23:19) The difference between working in the US and South Africa.
“For us here to do something custom something versus something that a specific system, the upside is not that extreme. Where in somewhere like the U.S., for example, as soon as you kind of step somewhere outside of that, it kind of really ramps up. It does make things more complex and require more time.” (24:38)
(26:05) How SAOTA started working overseas.
(36:03) Getting into the US market.
“We always work with a locally based architect of record, which is a very important aspect of the business model, a very important relationship to us. And it's not a stand-off relationship, it's a very collaborative and appreciative relationship because it's always about finding the right mix and the right people.” (37:56)
(44:09) The roles of architects and contractors in South Africa.
(54:20) Collaborating with local architects.
(01:02:04) Working with overseas clients.
“In this model of the designer and the architect of record scenarios, it's in everyone's interest to make as many design decisions upfront as possible so that at the point in time that we hand over to the architect of record, they've got what they need to produce a set of drawings, the client's got what he or she needs to understand what the building is and looks like.” (01:03:47)
(01:13:36) Use of technology.
(01:22:48) Office size.
“The way the office functions is more like a collection of studios than a big office. I think the structure of having these teams and 27 people in management who are extremely talented architects and people. There’s a really good infrastructure of leaders throughout the office.” (01:24:01)
(01:36:06) Project types.
(01:42:06) Favourite building.
