Abstract

My paper focuses on three case studies in suburban Cardiff, through interviews with their designers David (Financial Adviser) and Rachel (part-time Slimming World Consultant), Gareth (Surveyor) and Belinda (part-time Secretary, formerly Environmental Scientist), Pete (Tax Inspector) and Sarah (part-time Tesco management). I examine the ideas and values expressed by the home owners, the role of the non professional designer, their reasons for not employing an architect, sources of design inspiration, who actually made the decisions, attitudes to sustainability and satisfaction with the end product. Whilst the sample is small and the studies close knit—they are all within the same block—the study confirms, what many of us know from experience about what is really being built in Britain today and why, as well as serious concerns about the image of the architect in the minds of many people.

How to Cite:

Samuel, F., (2008) “Suburban Self-build”, field: 2(1), 111–124.