Interview with Keith Griffiths
Below we represent the TB magazine interview with our first guest - Keith Griffiths, the founder of AEDAS, one of the largest architectural firms in the world, who has kindly agreed to answer the questions of our edition.
What are the most important trends in modern architecture from your point of view? How much the concept of a new building should depend on the specifics of national architecture and location characteristics in terms of architecture?
With rapidly urbanising economies and densifying cities, large mixed-use schemes will become significant not just in Asia, but also in Europe, Americas and the Middle East. The world is looking for more efficient, sustainable and vibrant cities. Mixed-use developments along existing roads and railways will become urban hubs that house office, retail, residential or hotel spaces all in one complex, significantly shorten journey time between work, live and play areas. We believe that the public realm will be extended to basement and upper levels of buildings and will connect across and between buildings in a connective tissue of retail, dining and entertainment facilities which will become the community hub of high-density developments.
At Aedas, we believe that great design can only be delivered by people with a deep social and cultural understanding of the communities they are designing for. We have a fascination for and high regard for the social and environmental differences of different cultures and communities. These differences have been cultivated over many years. They are the reason that the world is unique and exciting to experience. This is why we have set up 14 global offices across the world and created a global platform for creative excellence in design to enable some of the world's most talented designers to plug into the latest information and delivery systems they need to produce truly world-class design solutions all over the world. All our clients, no matter they are in Russia, London, Dubai or Beijing, can benefit from our collective expertise.
In which country would you like to build your new building? Which of your conceptual projects would you like to implement?
I am happy to design a new building anywhere. I am just passionate to create unique and timeless architecture which appropriately responds to its location and culture and meets the requirements of change and growth. Like any other architects, I would like to implement all my conceptual projects.