Recommended to me by the Irish architect Paul KEOGH, the couple had arrived in London to work. David was particularly keen to work for James STIRLING so I invited them to dinner with Werner KREIS, former STIRLING associate, and Michael RUSSUM, currently employed by ‘Jim’.
Mike had asked me if I might not be interested in joining their team, as STIRLING WILFORD were looking for staff. I had declined, out of misplaced loyalty to AR (almost certainly the single most stupid decision I ever made in professional life) perceiving also the opportunity to let David introduce his bid.
The discussion was so vivid & intense I thought my guests would come to fisticuffs but in due course they became the best of friends, and even ended up neighbours in adjacent East End blocks, continuously sparring on the subject of Architecture.
In the meantime David had landed stable employment with Rick MATHER, and was no longer looking for a job, so forsook the opportunity — a ‘sterling gesture’ indeed — in favour of Felim DUNNE, himself recently arrived in London.
Interventions in association with both** Louise COTTER and / or David NAESSENS*
Bid for St. Chamond master plan. 1990**
Design team leaders : FABRE SPELLER architectes (Paris / Clermont-Ferrand).
It may seem odd to mention such trivia, which ultimately amount to nothing, but constituting associate teams to ‘land’ potential commissions is part and parcel of running most architectural practices. In attempting to thus bridge the Channel (the Irish Sea indeed) I too have put in mileage.
Acropolis Museum Competition, 1989-90**
Bid for AAAI Award, Dublin, 1987*
This, naturally (since his nationality made us eligible) and very fortunately for me (since third-party recognition is always hard to come by) was David’s idea. My contribution was to set up the perspective (in Paris) which he traced (in London).
House survey, Paris, 1986**
As a wedding present, Louise & David offered to survey our recently-acquired house in Paris, before I produced working drawings. The experience taught me one important lesson : a designer should never delegate the responsibility of surveying to third parties. One needs to know what every line represents, and the dimensional tolerances involved.
Participation in RA Summer Exhibition, 1986*
David had suggested we sign our work together OPW (Office of Public Works) with a bow to OMA and a scrape to one of John TOUMEY’s official alter egos. Martin PAWLEY was not convinced by our RA submissions exhibited.
Donnington Holt Bath House, 1985*
DN & CS at Père Lachaise, 1986. Photo : Louise COTTER
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