High designs for a peak practice

Alan Dunbar is an architect with a practice in Hill Street,Glasgow What do you do?

I am a partner at Gordon Murray & Alan Dunlop Architects. I seemy job as a kind of editorial role, guiding projects and managingthe firm, although myself and my partner Gordon are very hands on.This is a long established practice, now 25-strong.

How did you get that job?

I stumbled into architecture - I went to St Martin's College inLondon, but my wife and I wanted to come back to Glasgow. I wasgoing to go to Glasgow School of Art, but then I got a job as anarchitectural technician at the MacIntosh School of Architecture.

What was your first job?

As a site labourer in my grandpa's contractors firm - really hardwork!

What is your greatest difficulty at work?

Trying to keep away from being too involved in every project.

What has been your greatest working disaster?

The greatest disaster was when we came second in the competitionto design the Scottish parliament building. To come second reallydid knock us a wee bit. And once an architecture pundit describedour Spectrum House design in Glasgow as "a turkey wrapped in Bacofoil" which wasn't very nice!

How do you stay motivated?

I am very interested in architecture and in the consequences thatbuildings have on people's lives - a lot of our projects have acivic value to them.

Are you a workaholic?

No! I don't work at weekends or in the evenings unless we have areally tight deadline, and even then I don't think it's a good move.Everyone in the practice works really hard during the day and nobodyis encouraged to stay late or take work home.

Do you perform well under pressure?

I am at my best under pressure. I'm motivated by tight deadlines,in that they keep me going.

What do you do to relax?

When I go home at night I unwind with my family - my wife andkids, Anna, four, and Michael, 12. I also read and draw.

Do you use e-mail or surf the internet?

In a period of a year I think that e-mail has become the mostimportant form of communication for the practice. Everyone in theoffice uses it. One thing I would say is that there is a danger ofsending a message to someone who is only down the corridor. It's farbetter to go and talk to them face to face than use messages.

What do you look forward to in your job?

I love my job and I like the prospects of new projects and newchallenges. Young architects have great ideas and I'm very keen tosee them and be involved in them.

Would you give it all up if you won the lottery?

I've never even bought a lottery ticket - the truth is I have twohealthy children, a beautiful and talented wife and a job that suitsme down to the ground. Winning the lottery would just be a hassle.

Interview by Jenifer Johnston www.murraydunloparchitects. com