OUR PHILOSOPHY - ‘VALUE’
When contemplating the concept of ‘value’ one might consider value in terms of an axiom or equation where value could be seen as a ratio of quality over cost (value= quality/cost). Our firm, Peter Braithwaite Studio, undertakes both the architecture design and the construction in our project ventures which demands that we remain very sensitive to the impact of this simple ratio and how its careful balance ultimately defines the ‘value’ we provide to our clients.
Our practice is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where proposed projects tend to lack large budgets or extraordinary resources. As a result our team must design and craft our work while pursuing unique and novel ways to add quality or ‘value’ without the requirement for expensive materials or complicated, time consuming, assemblies.
This ambition usually manifests itself in creative uses of regular and humble materials, in a manner that creates engaging sensory experiences and spacial qualities from otherwise ordinary assemblies, and by investing in timeless aesthetics to prevent the rapid aging of projects that tends to occur when colours, materials, or detailing follow the fleeting trends of popular culture.
Our practice is committed to low impact and sustainable work which is why we feel true ‘value’ lies in the creation of things that stand the test of time and do not require early replacement. Accomplishing this requires ensuring the complete satisfaction of the users requirements and delivering projects that contain a lasting, timeless nature. As the old idiom states, ‘we are too poor to afford cheap.’
What we dO: Design + Construction
We are dedicated to design excellence and the highest level of craftsmanship. Our passionate and highly skilled team of architects, designers, and carpenters are an important asset to the successful completion of any architectural project. We believe that our dedication to the craft of making enables us to produce buildings that are both environmentally and culturally sustainable. This in turn enriches the environments and communities in which our buildings reside.
Peter Braithwaite Studio represents the collaboration of a number of ambitious and dedicated individuals that share the common interest of exploring and implementing the benefits found in the intersection of design and construction. Rather than approaching design and construction as two separate entities, our team recognizes that building is the medium through which design ideas can be expressed.
By approaching each new project as an exercise in both design and construction, we are able to streamline the process of creation and eliminate the adversarial relationship that can arise between designer and builder. This simplified approach to project delivery not only benefits the timeline of each project, but also helps to decrease administrative costs and maintain project budgets.
After spending many years working in both the architecture and construction industries, Peter Braithwaite established Peter Braithwaite Studio Ltd. in 2014 out of a desire to create a company that encompassed both design and construction. Since its establishment the company has completed many interesting residential and commercial projects, and has excelled in cabinetry and furniture design. Our dedication to design excellence, and the highest standards of craftsmanship, is evident in the execution of all our projects to date.
