Here: Tell us what you do and why you do it.

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Joel Marsh: Our passion is bringing great architecture to life through exceptionally crafted structural design. We love helping architects achieve their creative vision in physical form.

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H: What value can a good engineer bring to a project?

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JM: A good engineer can unlock the opportunities in a project. Engineering is often seen as a wholly scientific endeavour, but the truth is it is a highly creative process. A good engineer possesses the creative skillset to devise solutions that celebrate the architecture but optimise material use and simplify the fabrication and construction process. What a privilege! Timing is key here – the earlier we are brought on, the better.

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H: What makes Pocket different?

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JM: We seek to understand the question before we dive into the answer. Einstein said, “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.” This emphasises the importance of problem definition in effective problem solving. We advocate getting together early with the architect to understand the design intent and key constraints. Closely aligned with this philosophy is an intent to listen and a heart to collaborate.

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H: What makes good design – and how does engineering help?

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JM: My experience is that good design directly correlates with the level of thought and care invested. This is true in a structural engineering sense also. Our best designs are always the result of adequate thinking time.

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H: Tell us a bit about Pocket’s process.

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JM: We like to start by meeting up with the architect to understand the key architectural aspirations of the project. Next, we sketch (by hand) because sketching is thinking. This helps us communicate our design with the architect using a common (non-technical) language.

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Next we share a 3D model of the structure with the architect. The primary intent of this phase is to ensure the structure is spatially coordinated with the architecture. This allows us to enter the detailing phase with confidence, knowing the structure is sitting tidily within the architectural envelope. Drawings and deliverables are of paramount importance to us. The cleaner they are, the easier they are to understand and the simpler it is to coordinate.

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H: Engineering and architecture have often been seen in opposition. What’s changed?

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JM: The interplay between structures and architecture is complex and the relationship between engineer and architect can lead to misunderstandings. I’m a fan of Stephen Covey who wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Habit 5 states: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Engineers and architects often have this the other way round, seeking to be understood first. If only we sought to understand each other first. This is something we are actively doing at Pocket, and it has helped to close the gap massively.

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