An impossible profession
There are some professions that constantly demand everything you’ve got. Only the most ambitious people need apply. Coach of the national football team, mayor, judge. All eyes are on you. You’re working in the eye of the storm, pulled this way and that by conflicting interests. Everyone already knows what they want. But what’s most important? The general interest or the exception? Aesthetics or business results? Attack or defence? Operation or innovation? The letter or the spirit of the law?
In most cases, it’s all important. And it all has to be done yesterday – and cost-efficiently, too. So every opportunity is also a risk. Anyone who refuses to settle for mediocre will always come up against ambitions, dreams and expectations. Unfortunately, they can’t always be realised, at least not to everyone’s satisfaction. The trick is to find the right balance, time and again. Maybe our profession is an impossible one. Sometimes we only get called in at a late stage in the construction process. It might mean that some unusual choices have already been made. We take on challenges of this kind with respect for all the parties involved. Sometimes we act on behalf of an investor, sometimes on behalf of the construction firm or the architect, but always in dialogue.
Taking control
We constantly weigh up all the factors involved. The financial outcome. Functionality. Technical feasibility. The time schedule. The budget. Visual quality. And you know what? We love working on complex puzzles like these. The more impossible the situation is at the start, the better we get. That makes us more than just your average construction managers. We have too great a regard for the added value of artistic talent in the built environment. We also don’t consider ourselves consultants, or project managers, or process managers. We feel too much responsibility for the end result for that. Our clients consider us creative managers, or managing creatives. That’s why we call ourselves construction directors.
What, how and why?
It’s not only about what we do – project management and technical engineering. It’s more about how we do what we do – with transparent processes that introduce a note of calm, overview and precision. Even so, most of our clients choose to work with us for the why: because we make property projects possible – projects that others say are unfeasible. We redouble our efforts when the small dot on the horizon is ground-breaking, high-profile and complex in nature. It doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘large-scale’. Sometimes, small-scale projects can be much more challenging than many a large-scale one.
Competent, inspired and engaged
Our firm is founded on our professional expertise. We started out as techies. Our background is in engineering, and we’re still reaping the benefits of our training. We collaborate actively and overcome stalemates with practical solutions. What’s more, we have a deep love for architectural quality. We have worked with many leading architects. Our experiences have increased our respect for crucial elements such as detailing, materialisation, and finish. To work effectively with creative, talented professionals, you have to speak their language. Know when to talk and when to listen. How do you turn a unique concept into a feasible, affordable set of specifications, without cutting corners?
Create pride
We have been walking the fine line between pragmatism and aesthetics for almost 25 years now. We’ve worked with demanding clients and world-famous architects. We’ve learned the tricks of the trade from some of the best-organised construction firms. That has allowed us to create a place for ourselves: behind the scenes. Let others score the points. We manoeuvre them into the right position to do so. Thanks to our passion for our profession and our thorough knowledge of processes, our clients feel our sense of ownership. Even the biggest ‘control freaks’ among them trust us implicitly. The result is an extraordinary building that everyone can be proud of.