Taking a retrospective look at the careers of various architects and designers can provide us with an opportunity to see where each got started and how much of their careers have shifted over time.
In this vein, The Guardian recently connected with six architects and designers to ask them about their first commissioned works. In the article, writer Nell Card collects narratives from each visionary to create a succinct survey of this important early work.
Featured below are select images of the inaugural commissioned works of British architects and designers Norman Foster, Thomas Heatherwick, Kate Macintosh, Asif Khan, Mary Duggan and David Chipperfield.
Norman Foster's Amenity centre and passenger terminal for Norwegian shipping company Fred.Olsen & Co. (1969-1970)
Thomas Heatherwick's window display for Harvey Nichols department store during London Fashion Week (1997)
Kate Macintosh's South London housing project in Dawson's Heights (1972)
Asif Khan was commissioned by Jane Wood and Sophie Murray to design West Beach cafe in Littlehampton (2008)
Mary Duggan's self-commissioned project and former residence, King's Grove, in London (2008)
David Chipperfield designed a residence for fashion photographer Nick Knight in Richmond, London (1990)
When starting out, it's easy to dream big and hope for a big break, and though many envision themselves becoming breakout starchitects overnight, in reality, experience tells us that truly accomplished architects tend learn more from adversity, failure, and risk-taking. This lesson makes looking at the early work of prominent architects even more important.
Interested in learning more about other well-known architects and their initial works? Take a look at Archinect's From the Ground Up series.
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