$1.5BN OF THE WORLD’S BEST HOMES
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INTERVIEW | KEITH HOBBS<br />
Yes. The high end clients we work with often own<br />
several homes around the world and have very high<br />
expectations that require a high attention to detail.<br />
As I mentioned earlier we always carry out extensive<br />
research before we begin designing in order<br />
to provide our clients with a design that is relevant<br />
to their home, city or country. Every detail is thoroughly<br />
considered in order to create a design that<br />
is truly unique.<br />
It can be a fickle game though and you soon learn<br />
to expect the unexpected. For instance, we recently<br />
designed a £50 million pound penthouse and the client<br />
decided to buy the two £25 million apartments<br />
below so they will have to be redesig ned from<br />
scratch.<br />
When working for high end developers, they always<br />
require you to design a scheme in order to give<br />
insight into what will be produced. It is not unusual<br />
however for a client to spend £25 million on a property<br />
only to completely redesign it no matter how beautifully<br />
it has been designed in the first place. Clients<br />
who can afford to buy £25 million penthouses can<br />
easily afford to spend £10 million refurbishing them.<br />
It is important that they are immaculately designed<br />
in order to sell, but it is not unusual for them to be<br />
redone once sold.<br />
Paraiso Bay Miami<br />
To what extent does the integration of new technologies<br />
now play a part in designing properties<br />
It waxes and wanes. Some clients want everything at<br />
the touch of a button whilst others such as my good<br />
friend Urs E. Schwarzenbach (owner of the Dolder<br />
Grand hotel, Zurich) prefer simplicity and practicality.<br />
I sometimes wonder if technology has become<br />
over complicated to the point where some ultra prime<br />
homes require an engineering degree simply to make<br />
sure everything is running smoothly!<br />
How much of your business is done internationally How<br />
much has this changed for you in the last ten years<br />
Approximately 60-70 percent is international work.<br />
This has increased steadily over the past 10 years and<br />
we are currently working extensively in the US, Middle<br />
East and Asia.<br />
Where, geographically, do you see opportunities for<br />
your company over the next ten years<br />
Brazil is a growing market for us, as is New York and Miami.<br />
32 Feb 2015
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