In Part 1 of this two-part series you will hear from thought-provoking John Kellett ⁠, an ARB-registered, RIBA Chartered Architect, and founder of KR.eativ: Architects Ltd. Based in Northamptonshire, John has built his career designing sustainable, functional, and beautiful spaces across healthcare, heritage, residential, and hospitality sectors.

His work combines modern construction methods with advanced BIM tools, underpinned by a passion for solving complex design challenges.

John opens up about his journey through architecture, his neurodivergent perspective, and his bold views on how the profession and the regulation around it must evolve to meet today’s challenges.

From his childhood fascination with buildings to his insights on the failures of design-and-build contracts, building safety legislation, and the undervaluing of architects, this conversation pulls no punches.

In This Episode:

✅ John's early influences: how childhood trips to Portmeirion sparked his architectural eye
✅ The difference between Autism and Asperger’s in the workplace and how neurodiversity can strengthen architecture
✅ The case for 'slow architecture' and how attention to detail is being sidelined in today’s property world
✅ How an unconventional school project tracking Soviet satellites helped John gain entry to Bath University
✅ Why architectural education still suffers from stylistic and software biases
✅ The hidden dangers of novated design-and-build contracts
✅ A scathing critique of councils outsourcing architecture—and how it leads to poor public buildings

Key Quote:
🗨️ "Style is just fashion. Architecture needs objective beauty, proportion, space, and light."

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at info@hahnplastics.co.uk.

In this episode I talk with Architect Dr Rebecca Jane McConnell and Architect Cathal Crumley from The Future Blueprint.

They are breaking down the barriers in the architecture profession and are calling out the toxic issues that exist in the profession. Both were born in Northern Ireland and attended Queens Belfast University.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

- The Mindset of the Architect

- Confidence in Architecture

- Do we choose architecture or does architecture choose me?

- Woman and abuse in architecture

- Student debt!

- The point of architecture school.

- Why architecture grades don't matter!

Socials:

Insta: @thefutureblueprint

YouTube: @futureblueprint

Tik Tok: @the_future_blueprint

Personal Insta's: @blueprint_beck & @cathal_crumley

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at info@hahnplastics.co.uk.

In this episode of The Broke Architect, we speak with Catherine Hunt of Niche Design Architects, a small but thriving architectural practice based in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. It’s a brutally honest, no-holds-barred look at what it really takes to survive and ultimately thrive as a small studio in today’s architecture landscape.

We explore:

• The harsh realities of setting up a practice from scratch

• Navigating client expectations, pricing pressures, and self-doubt

• How learning the business side of architecture changed everything

• The mindset shift from creative struggle to entrepreneurial resilience

• The power of community, local context, and doing meaningful work

  
  

This is a must-listen for any architect who’s feeling stuck, burnt out, or unsure of how to make a living doing what they love, especially those running or considering starting their own practice.

• Small practices can thrive — but not by doing business as usual

• Financial literacy is critical in architecture

• Knowing your worth isn’t arrogance — it’s survival

• Success in architecture isn’t always about awards or scale

• The business of design deserves as much respect as the design itself

  
  

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Small practices can thrive — but not by doing business as usual

• Financial literacy is critical in architecture

• Knowing your worth isn’t arrogance — it’s survival

• Success in architecture isn’t always about awards or scale

• The business of design deserves as much respect as the design itself

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hahn Plastics⁠⁠⁠⁠, makers of Hanit – the innovative material reshaping the future of construction and design.

Manufactured from 100% recycled consumer plastic waste and with unmatched durability, Hanit is the sustainable solution for tomorrow's projects.

Want to discover how Hanit can transform your designs while reducing environmental impact? Book a CPD presentation today and let’s shape a greener future together at info@hahnplastics.co.uk.