Connections Taking Root
Beoto at Grand Designs Live
London ExCel Centre 2-4 May 2025
5 May 2025
3-4 minute read
Our debut Grand Designs Live had us on our feet for four intense days of relationship-building with potential clients, showcasing our work to a wide and diverse audience, and exploring new connections in a range of industries all linked with our work in some way. We came away invigorated by the many engaging interactions we had with members of the public and a renewed sense of purpose for what architects can and should bring to their clients. As the role of the architect continues evolving as it always has, one thing never changes: it’s never about us; it’s about you.
“Imagine you’re building a house and you take your dream to an architect. It is his or her job to take that loose bag of ingredients, that half-written recipe, whip light and air into it, spoon it into different, enticing shapes and then gently bake it into an exquisite syllabub.”
— Kevin McCloud
As students way back in the day, and all throughout our careers as practicing architects, Grand Designs has been ever-present in our conversations. Over the show’s unprecedented 25-year run (so far…) it has been a source of inspiration, offering insights into solutions that may have once seemed alternative or radical but have since become mainstream, and lifting the lid on the myriad complex, nuanced challenges faced through the development process.
Time and again it has affirmed two indelible truths: a competent, trusted architect is invaluable; and thoughtful, careful, well-executed design, can move us, and create places with enduring legacies.
Naturally, we were absolutely thrilled to have been one of a small number of architects permitted to participate in Grand Designs Live this year.
“An architect will deliver so much more value for money in your design (storage, clever circulation, beauty, imagination) it’s as though their services come entirely for free. What’s it to be then? In my left hand, a lemon and a box of eggs. In my right, a delicious concoction of sweetness to transport the soul. I know which I’d choose.”
— Kevin McCloud
For Beoto’s first trade show we wanted to stand out from the crowd, and reflect the values of our brand through our presentation. Thanks to incredible support from our friends at Benchmark Furniture, who loaned us some beautiful pieces of hand-made timber furniture to dress our space, and some stunningly crafted timber panelling units and signage from our frequent collaborators, Prime Cut Joinery, to our bespoke design, we made the space our own.
Our stand needed to feel like the kind of spaces we envisage and deliver. We used natural timber extensively, and incorporated planting and a naturally-inspired colour theme across our printed media to create a sense of harmony and calm. We dressed our furnishings with domestic items to establish a more informal atmosphere. The key images on display were chosen for their emotional resonance, but each frame could also be opened-up to reveal more detailed and nuanced information, and deeper dives into technical or complicated matters.
We carefully considered proportions, flow and our visibility from various points around the hall to create an intriguing and welcoming space within the busy exhibition. Above all, we hoped that our space would convey the same openness, honesty and transparency our clients value in us, creating an environment where the public could have a conversation with us, without it feeling like a consultation.
This event was an opportunity for us to connect with likeminded brands – conversations we are excited to continue – but more importantly it offered a platform to connect with the public, many of whom were keen to share their ideas and hopes for their renovation, extension and new build projects. We explored everything from potential design concepts and layout ideas for maximising space and light; sustainability and the benefits of Passivhaus; the challenges of the planning system; designing for changing lifestyles and family structures, adaptability, and inclusivity, all without compromising on quality and aesthetics; permitted development rights; and the kitchen sink.
We heard the same sentiment from members of the public time and again: “I want to build my own home – but I’m lost on how to get started.” The good news? They were exactly where they needed to be. The development process and its many steps from getting started to planning through construction and beyond can be frustratingly opaque, technical and complex, full of confusing steps, technical jargon and hidden hurdles. We are here to de-mystify this for our clients and the wider public and make it clear, simple, and doable. Grand Designs was the launchpad for our innovative approach to bringing transparency and simplicity to the potentially daunting task of building or renovating your home.
Hearing how people connect with their spaces – how they live in them, imagine their potential, and interact with them both intentionally and instinctively – was a powerful reminder of how our surroundings shape how we feel, and why that relationship matters. Intentional places can nurture our feelings. The most enduring places, those that foster connection, meaning, and ease, should feel intuitive and effortless, but cannot be built without the utmost care and attention. This is what we hope we can bring to as many people as possible. If we can help bring even a handful of the hopes we heard to life, then our journey will have been worthwhile.
We hope that the connections we made will soon bear fruit, and we have already lined up a host of follow-up meetings with new clients, and others with whom we look forward to working further down the line. Stay tuned for updates in the near future…
And of course, if you missed us at Grand Designs, or are just now coming across us for the first time, and you have a similar question about how to turn your dreams into reality, we’d love to hear from you.