It leads to objective analysis of every aspect of a process, every element of resource requirement, energy consumption, knowledge, and cost.

People love them,’ says Abubakar.West Port & Co’s office is on the outside of the building where they have the most London of views: the concrete underside of the Westway, a bus depot filled with bright red, double-decker buses, and the railway tracks that will eventually be home to The Elizabeth Line.

‘It’s actually a really quiet environment,’ Obinna Ihejetoh says, ‘we always forget we’re under the Westway.’.Shaun and Khalifa also live locally in Primrose Hill and Kensal Rise so benefit from short commutes.‘The location is not your typical Farringdon creative space, but for me, that’s a bonus.

It’s a bit more subdued,’ Obinna Ihejetoh says, ’it feels more real, a bit more like London.’ I ask them about their favourite aspect of the building and in addition to the atrium and cafe, it’s actually a detail that’s a real nod from one architect to another…‘I love the view as you walk down the canal and the building is warped into the Westway,’ says Shaun.‘The canal curves one way and the road sweeps dramatically in the other direction.

It’s just so beautiful in an urban way.’.

Khalifa adds, ‘We’re really young in our profession and are forever learning, so it’s great to see how Bryden Wood have dealt with the Retrofit sympathetically.This has definitely helped me develop into a better designer; allowing yourself to be critical and realising this critical mindset is what will make you a better designer.. BW: What's the worse thing about them?.

M: Crits can definitely cause a lot of stress and nervosity, but as you go through your studies you start getting used to the format of presenting your work and understand what is expected of you, which makes the experience much more enjoyable and rewarding.Students sometimes wrongly think of crits as an occasion for your tutors to tell you everything you've done wrong, but should instead be seen as an opportunity to discuss the project and its aims objectively.. BW: What one piece of advice would you give to an architecture student prepping for their crit?.

M: I would probably say it's incredibly important to have a plan on how you will be presenting your work.Don't forget you will be presenting in front of people who may have never seen your work before, so be clear and to the point.