7 Mai

Running an Architecture Practice Isn’t What You Think

Running an architecture practice is not just about design. It is fees, hiring, risk, clients, culture, profit and learning how to keep the studio moving without losing the work you care about.

Stephen Drew speaks with Tim, co-founder of nimtim architects, a design-led practice in South London, about starting a studio, building a team and dealing with the commercial reality behind architecture.

The conversation covers:

What it is really like to start an architecture practice
How nimtim grew from the kitchen table into a recognised design studio
Fees, profitability and the pressure of running a small practice
Hiring, culture and building a team without losing the studio's identity
What students and early-career designers should understand about practice life

nimtim architects: nimtim.co.uk

nimtim on Instagram: @nimtimarchitects

Read the episode notes: Running an Architecture Practice Isn't What You Think

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Chapters

00:00 Arriving at nimtim and setting the scene
05:01 Early practice formation and finding direction
10:21 First projects, public attention and momentum
15:07 Moving from larger practice to running whole projects
20:12 Working with a partner and separating work from life
25:04 Culture, office life and hiring
30:13 Education, students and practice pressures
35:18 Apprenticeships, training and the cost of qualification
40:12 Skills, challenge and what practices need
45:11 Starting a business, risk and reality
50:25 Team routines and running the studio
55:15 Honesty, pressure and the personal realities of practice
60:13 AI, industrialisation and the profession's reaction
65:17 Changing tools and fear of being left behind
70:18 Clients, sales and keeping the practice going

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