Interview with Architezier’s Architecture Editor, Paul Keskeys

1.What inspired your interest in architecture and pursuing a degree in the field? From a very young age, the idea of designing in three dimensions fascinated me. In graphics class at school, we were taught to draw the interior of a room in two-point perspective, and it was amazing to me that you could illustrate complex spatial qualities on paper. A childhood obsession with video games like Sim City also planted the seed — it was less about designing individual buildings, and more about creating places that would be inhabited and used by people in everyday life. Further down the line, my combined curiosity for both the arts and sciences in high school fueled my interest in studying architecture at university. From there, my appreciation for how the built environment affects every part of life — social, economic, political, environmental — only grew as I studied and eventually qualified to practice. 2. You’ve been Architizer’s Architecture Editor since 2015; how did the opportunity come about? Believe it or not, it all started with a single Facebook message! I had just begun blogging about architecture on my personal page, and Architizer’s editor read one of my reviews. She liked what she read, and asked if I could contribute as a columnist. I continued as a practicing architect in the UK, but after a period of freelance writing in my spare time, I realized my passion for architectural journalism was so strong I needed to explore the sector on a full-time basis. Long story short, I was brought in to be a part of Architizer’s Content Team, and the rest, as they say, is history! I feel incredibly lucky to be combining my two great passions — architectural design and writing — for a career in New York City. 3. What do you think the biggest mistakes new homeowners make design wise? One major error many people make, particularly when undertaking major work to remodel their newly purchased home, is to try to save money by neglecting to hire an architect. People often baulk at the short-term expense of consulting a design professional when it comes to internal renovations or modernization, but it is important to recognize that a good architect can add real value to your home in the long run. When significant changes to the layout are undertaken, involving an architect is hugely beneficial — not only with regards to the design, but also for project management, as a professional’s know-how can reduce the chance of delays that will ultimately increase costs. With an architect’s combined logic and creativity, the finished home will — more often than not — be worth more than one that was modified without their input. This is where the true value of an architect’s expertise lies. Source: Housely.com