The Modern House meets ... Mike Stiff

Mike Stiff, Stiff+Trevillion, The Modern House
Mike Stiff, Stiff+Trevillion, The Modern House
Mike Stiff, Stiff+Trevillion, The Modern House
Mike Stiff, Stiff+Trevillion, The Modern House

Architect Mike Stiff, of Stiff+Trevillion, is in the spotlight for this week’s ‘The Modern House meets …’. He tells us about his interest in intersections between architecture and the visual arts, and shares his favourite British architect of the moment.

What inspired your interest in Modern architecture and design?
I was more interested in modern art than architecture, initially at least. I was fascinated by early-twentieth century Cubism, particularly work by Picasso and Braque, and then later I discovered Mondrian – a key figure in the De Stijl movement – whose work led me towards architectural Modernism.

If we could arrange a house swap for you, is there a house or apartment block in the UK that you’d like to live in?
It’d probably be one of the upper level loft apartments in our recently completed development on Victoria Street.

Tell us about the house you grew up in.
We moved around quite a lot, but as a boy in the 1970s my parents moved to Berkshire and bought a semi-detached new build house – it was the first ‘modern house’ I lived in.

When you’re thinking about buying a house, what’s the one thing you won’t compromise on?
For me, it has to have potential. It’s the details and small interventions that really make a big difference.

Is there a British architect or practice whose work you’re particularly excited by at the moment?
Peter Barber is doing some great work at the moment. He works outside of style and fashion, and produces really human spaces and buildings that could only have been designed by him.

Who are you following on Instagram?
It’s a classic, but Dezeen always has interesting and unusual images. I also love Nicklin Furniture – they make beautiful bespoke pieces and we’ve worked with them on a number of projects, including commissioning various pieces for our own office.

Related stories