{"id":8145,"date":"2025-10-22T01:55:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T01:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/?p=8145"},"modified":"2025-10-22T02:10:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T02:10:18","slug":"kossy-nnachetta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/articles\/kossy-nnachetta\/","title":{"rendered":"Kossy Nnachetta: &#8220;Most architects I meet want to leave a sustainable mark&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kossy Nnachetta is a partner at FeildenCleggBradley Studios where she recently led the development of the mass timber Thornton Building for Bioinformatics on the Wellcome Genome Campus south of Cambridge and is currently leading the redevelopment of the International Slavery and Maritime Museums in Liverpool. She mentors widely both inside and outside the practice and is committed to bringing \u2018fresh voices to the design table.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><a style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 18px 44px; border-radius: 15px; background: #97d422; color: #111; text-decoration: none; font-weight: 800; line-height: 1; box-shadow: 0 10px 24px rgba(0,0,0,0.18);\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/sustainability-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"Download the report\">Download the report<\/a><\/h5>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The State of Sustainability in Architecture and Design - Hattie Hartman\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aak2-X45hTE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><b>Where did you train as an architect? To what extent did \u2018sustainable design\u2019 figure into your architectural education?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: I studied at Nottingham University (Part I) and Cardiff University (Parts II &amp; III).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My education focused on creativity and pushing boundaries.\u00a0 Sustainable design was rarely the primary consideration.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Was there a light bulb moment when you became engaged with the impact of architecture on climate change?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: It was more like osmosis &#8211; gradually awakening to the issues of climate change, and becoming aware that as architects, we are in a duty-ladened position to make good choices on behalf of society.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>It was more than a decade ago, but can you comment on what attracted you to join FCBStudios?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: Beautifully crafted, human-scale design. I saw in FCBS work that not only looks good, but does good, for the environment and the community it\u2019s in.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Our research revealed that <\/b><b>87%<\/b><b> of architects\/designers feel they have to compromise their sustainability values at work. Does this surprise you? Have you ever had to do this? If, so how did you manage that?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8005\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/14.-THE-AWAKENING-5-100.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/14.-THE-AWAKENING-5-100.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/14.-THE-AWAKENING-5-100-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/14.-THE-AWAKENING-5-100-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/14.-THE-AWAKENING-5-100-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/14.-THE-AWAKENING-5-100-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: Every project has commercial or programme pressures which can dominate over sustainability values. But to those who feel dejected by this, I\u2019d say, \u2018Keep pushing; there\u2019s always hope.\u2019 I remember years ago (before FCBS), being laughed out of project meetings at the suggestion that there would be more value in retaining the existing buildings on a site. Now existing buildings are being recognised as an irreplaceable resource.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Only 11% of architects and designers feel their firm\u2019s public sustainability messaging completely aligns with its actual practices. What\u2019s your take on these numbers and your own experience?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7973\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/12.-THE-AWAKENING-3-100.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/12.-THE-AWAKENING-3-100.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/12.-THE-AWAKENING-3-100-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/12.-THE-AWAKENING-3-100-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/12.-THE-AWAKENING-3-100-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/12.-THE-AWAKENING-3-100-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: It\u2019s disappointing that the number is so low. I\u2019m fortunate that at FCBS, sustainable design has been in our DNA for over 45 years. We\u2019ve been reducing carbon since before it was cool.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h5><b>You\u2019re currently leading the transformation of the<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/fcbstudios.com\/projects\/international-slavery-museum-and-maritime-museum\/\"> <b>International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum<\/b><\/a><b> (due 2028) on the Liverpool waterfront, a fascinating project that includes both retrofit and newbuild and attempts to unravel complex issues related to slavery, racism and social justice. What do you hope to achieve with this project?\u00a0<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: Both museums are in Grade I-listed buildings so we get to have a conversation about historic buildings and what they say about our society. That includes the importance of conservation and restoration of built fabric, as well as restorative justice. We must challenge the \u2018architectural amnesia\u2019 that exists on this historic site and tell a story too long sidelined.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>In our survey, <\/b><b>95%<\/b><b> of professionals state that sustainable design is a factor when considering job opportunities. <\/b><b>73%<\/b><b> say it\u2019s \u2018very important or a deal breaker\u2019. To what extent would you say that FCBStudio\u2019s reputation in sustainable design has made finding great talent easier?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7972\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8.-THE-CALLING-2-100.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1900\" height=\"1068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8.-THE-CALLING-2-100.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8.-THE-CALLING-2-100-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8.-THE-CALLING-2-100-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8.-THE-CALLING-2-100-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-eu-v2i.applyflow.com\/bespoke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/8.-THE-CALLING-2-100-1536x863.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: Most architects I meet want to leave a sustainable mark on the built environment. Our interest in reducing both embodied energy and whole lifecycle energy consumption, and our commitment to the wider social aspects of sustainability, still mark us out as leaders in environmental design. FCBS\u2019 reputation for sustainability attracts and retains very talented people.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What sort of sustainability upskilling takes place within the practice?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: We offer support for our team to receive Passivhaus training and Conservation Architect accreditation and provide countless sustainability CPDs throughout the year. \u00a0 Every project undergoes a rigorous Design Review process which holds sustainability as a priority.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><strong>What do you anticipate as the most important \u2018sustainable design skills\u2019 by 2030?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Retrofit and reuse expertise<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m hopeful of a time when reuse and retrofit of existing buildings will become the new normal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We must do this expertly, without causing further problems in a building. People who can patiently do this are in demand.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Client advocacy and championing<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many clients start projects with aspirations to build a \u2018sustainable building\u2019, but often, they may not fully understand what that means and how to make it happen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The design process encompasses conflicting demands which can interfere with even the strongest sustainability agenda. Diplomatically advocating on behalf of clients, and challenging the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018it can\u2019t be done\u2019<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018it\u2019s not worth it\u2019<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> attitudes, which are entrenched in certain corners of the industry, is a valuable skill.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>\n<h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Whole life carbon modelling<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The industry needs more professionals who have a mature understanding of the trade-off between upfront and whole life emissions that impact key design decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>How important are sustainability skills and experience in hiring? Or are design attitudes and mindsets more important?\u00a0 Please comment.<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: We look for people whose priorities align with FCBS. Sustainability is very important to us, and this is ultimately driven by each individual in the practice. We can train people up in using modelling tools and writing good specifications, but caring about sustainability comes from a deeper place.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>What does a perfect candidate look like from a sustainability lens?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: Passionate about sustainability; undertaken self-initiated research into the field; eager to share their knowledge with others and work as a team to push new initiatives.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Most firms say they care about sustainability. What\u2019s one actionable step that could be implemented tomorrow to embed sustainable design into the hiring process?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: There is no silver bullet or magic wand. There must be nuance in the hiring process, balancing personalities and skills and passions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>You do a lot of mentoring of young people to encourage careers in the built environment. What sort of appetite for addressing climate emergency do you encounter in the young people you meet?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: Young people are a lot more clued in on issues around climate change than I was when I was that age. Sustainability increasingly drives design concepts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><b>Given what you know about the next generation of designers coming through \u2013 how optimistic are you about the future?<\/b><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KN: Very. There\u2019s always hope.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kossy Nnachetta on retrofit and reuse, client advocacy, and the next generation setting the pace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[21,68,69,67,119],"tags":[],"location":[],"class_list":["post-8145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-employers","category-jobseekers","category-students-and-graduates","category-sustainability-report"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8145"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8154,"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8145\/revisions\/8154"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/8151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8145"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bespokecareers.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/location?post=8145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}