10 QUESTIONS WITH DEBBIE FLEVOTOMOU, AWARD-WINNING ARCHITECT
1.) Tell us about Debbie Flevotomou Architects – the history, the people and what makes it unique
Following a career at Foster + Partners, which taught me a great deal, I decided to set up DFA in London in 2012. The company started with no financial backing, one non-British employee with no industry connections and zero clients. Two years later, the company employed a team of 20, working on large scale international projects, the biggest of which was a 5km long mixed-use seafront development in Tripoli, Libya.
Debbie Flevotomou
The company started from my flat in Battersea, moving to Westminster and soon after to Mayfair, our home for the past 6 plus years, with satellite offices in the US, Greece, totalling, through our partnerships, 6 offices around the world. DFA has been operating internationally with diverse projects in Europe, the US, Middle East and North Africa. Presently in cooperation with Bowman Riley, the partnership boasts: over 80 staff making it one of the largest UK-based architectural firms, with 80% repeat business, 93% award winning projects and 91% CSI.
Starting from a single-architect company, dealing with small residential projects, we quickly broke through into the large commercial segment, with international business in Middle East and North Africa. One of the things I am most proud of is how we performed in Africa, where, against all odds, we won 5 large scale projects in Libya, establishing our boundary-pushing, bold, authentic designs.
What drives us as a team is our passion for nature-centric architecture and the vision of changing the world stage of architecture. We want to lead the move away from plain concrete featureless modernism design to bolder, nature and people-centric design that brings people close to nature and improves their whole wellbeing. This drove me to start the THINK NATURE movement, which I am an ambassador of, and which is the main topic of my talk when speaking to audiences about architecture. THINK NATURE design is quite distinctive and frequently instantly recognisable as one of our creations.
Our vision has held us together through the very challenging COVID times.
2.) How easy is running a company in London in a male dominated industry?
The biggest challenge in changing the world of architecture is affecting the client’s decision to go for the extraordinary, the authentic, the unique, the novel.
Despite its humble beginnings, the business reached success in a couple of years (a team of 20 worked on 5 large projects in Libya). When political unrest started, a key client was taken hostage and all projects stopped. Shortly afterwards, the company recovered (again with no financial backing), producing healthy profits out of projects in the UK and abroad. However, when the pandemic hit, all projects came to an abrupt halt once again and once again the team remained strong and focused on our mission.
Marina Z. Hallworth:
Always leading from the front and making the most of every adversity, Debbie, not only continued to nurture existing business relationships throughout the pandemic, but also formed alliances and a new partnership with Bowman Riley. The new organisational structure has put DFA at the top 4% largest architectural practices in the UK, allowing it to work on large projects and re-enter foreign territories.
In a male dominated industry, and following on the steps of Zaha Hadid, Debbie has already broken many boundaries and has changed the perception of the old gentleman’s club architecture. Debbie’s designs continue to be celebrated both in the UK (The Tower 42 renovation design continues to be winning awards year on year) and abroad (the Al-Wahah building features on billboards and campaigns around Libya).
The Hoola Apartment designed by Debbie Flevotomou Architects. Image credit: Dariusz Boron
3.) Tell us about what DFA stands for
Debbie Flevotomou Architects (DFA) are the THINK NATURE ambassadors, incorporating THINK NATURE design concepts into place-making and architecture.
The aim of the DFA design is to be authentic and bold, inspiring and dramatic, people and nature-centric with sustainability in its core, creating landmarks of all schemes. We have been honoured with an impressive 58 national and international award in the last 4 years.
DFA is proud to be a female lead architectural firm formed of the coming together of European, Asian, African, American and British architects, currently operating within the top 4% largest UK architectural firms.
4.) Tell us about Debbie Flevotomou, the person – the view of a close associate
Marina Z. Hallworth:
In addition to her role as the lead architect at DFA, Debbie is also the Artistic Director of London Ballet Theatre, Chair of London Berkeley Development and a very active artist. Debbie has been recognised with 58 international awards and her work has featured in The Times, BBC, London Evening Standard, London & New York Build. She has lent her expertise to many projects and has judged an art competition on the BBC.
Debbie is an inspirational public speaker, speaking passionately about architecture with a difference. She has enthralled audiences from New York to Casablanca, communicating her passion for THINK NATURE design and bringing her unique perspective to students and professionals.
With 63 international influential conference appearances, Debbie’s unique style of engaging audiences and achieving everyone’s participation has earned her many repeated speaking invitations, from Cancun to Monte Carlo.
Debbie’s strong vision of changing the world of architecture, undergirded by her determination to succeed, cement the belief in those that know her that she will soon take the international architectural stage as one of the world’s best architects.
5.) Tell us about how the Hoola THINK NATURE Luxury Apartment represents your work
The Hoola THINK NATURE Luxury Apartment represents the spirit of our interior design approach. It combines all biophilic elements, expressing nature in architectural forms via the 3D artistic installation, embodying nature in the form of flowers and mimicking nature's ability to surprise in the form of dramatic effects both throughout the apartment and in London's views.
The artistic installation is purposely designed to spark the imagination of each individual, representing waves, peaks, frequencies, highs and lows, always depending on the interpretation of the viewer. The materials used on and around the artistic installation create different compositions depending on the angle of viewing. The interaction of curves, lines, timber, mirrors, glass and light creates a unique theatrical setting. The careful choice of materials, the precise positioning of each reflective surface, and the careful selection of light colour and intensity, create a dynamic yet balanced atmosphere, that is as relaxing and harmonious as it is energising and dramatic.
Although in small scale, this project embodies our design philosophy and all elements of the THINK NATURE design approach.
6.) Tell us about the paintings in the apartment…
By Marina Z. Hallworth:
The apartment features some of Debbie’s recent art creations.
Alongside her architectural work Debbie expresses her passion for authentic boundary-pushing THINK NATURE design through her paintings.
The paintings in the Hoola apartment are from Debbie's pouring acrylics art collection, depicting "architecture in its abstract form - the beauty in the balancing opposing forces and ideas". Debbie uses pouring acrylics as a means of expressing the many challenges Architecture faces when it deviates from boxy designs to create nature centric parametric buildings, and the beauty and fascination of the finished building, established as a true work of art. Similar challenges to those presented by the randomness of pouring acrylics, governed by natural forces, yet controlled by the artist to form her vision. This latest artwork collection becomes novel and unique when structure is added to a piece of work in the form of gold, silver or copper filaments, symbolising the exoskeleton of an abstract building. This third dimension transforming each painting into a sculpture, depicting an abstract THINK NATURE building.
The Hoola Apartment. Image credit: Dariusz Boron
7.) What advice would you give to some seeking authentic design?
From a home to a large development, every building has a mission. Buildings are like people, each with individual features and characteristics of what forms a “personality”. As every person has a purpose in life so do buildings. Through their design essence they should inspire occupants, visitors and passers-by. Like a living organism each building should be designed to interacts with its environment. Hence every building and every design should be unique, authentic and innovative, embracing the novel, the unusual and the daring, and taking architecture to the next level. And this is what THINK NATURE design aims to do, irrespective of scale, locality and use.
The Hoola Apartment. Image credit: Dariusz Boron
8.) Why is Mayfair the location of your choice.
Mayfair is the centre of London both geographically and culturally. Although Mayfair represents the diverse fabric of London society, it is at the same time a close-knit community where everyone knows and supports everyone. Amongst our most trusted supporters are our biggest clients and associates who are based here.
As a location, Mayfair has always been a beacon of culture, tradition and luxury. Its architecture spans the eras from Georgian to Victorian to Edwardian capturing the essence of opulence in traditional design. It is quintessentially British. In this existing architectural fabric, the carbon neutral agenda is most essential to achieve, and this is the aim of THINK NATURE.
9.) What are your favourite Mayfair spots?
I like Mayfair because it is full of beautiful places frequented by high-calibre individuals finding quality entertainment and fine dining in the many private clubs of the area.
The one that stands out most for me is the Arts Club. All the staff are exceptional, making an effort to know each member’s preferences, and giving a fantastic personal service. As a passionate artist, I love the art displays that change monthly. For me, the Arts Club is a microcosm of the whole area, which is full of galleries displaying inspirational pieces of art.
I also enjoy fine dining at the roof top of Dorchester Hotel whilst enjoying panoramic views of Hyde Park and the London skyline.
10.) What is the best think about working in Mayfair?
Our main office is located in Berkeley Square which has quite a unique and buoyant ambience. The prime and most important ingredient though, is the people of the area. As an architect in Mayfair I am eternally grateful for the support of these people, clients and business associates and their way of appreciating our architecture.
