Allan Corfield

Watch Allan speak at the Home Building & Renovation Show

Allan trained as an architect at The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture in Aberdeen, and after obtaining his Masters in 2005, Allan was quickly snapped up by Watson Burnett Architects of Edinburgh.

Until 2009 Allan was enjoying working on a variety of key projects including one off homes and large Military Facilities (for the MOD). However in that summer life changed for Allan (and a lot of others) when he was made redundant during the recession.

This was a turning point in Allan’s career. For the next 2 years, Allan worked tirelessly to network and learn how to run a business in such a difficult financial time, setting up his own architectural practice – Allan Corfield Architects Ltd (ACA). Starting off locally, Allan worked on small domestic extensions and conversions.

“Allan stepped away from his Architect mindset put himself in his customer’s shoes. He practised the ‘you ask, we answer’ philosophy and started answering his customers questions. Something that other Architect businesses had never done. Allan quickly moved from being a content marketing rookie to become a leader in the Architecture community.”

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During 2012, ACA secured a number of one-off home commissions and commercial projects, which allowed ACA to move into new offices. Over the coming years, Allan oversaw the growth of ACA to 12 staff working on high-end projects throughout the UK. Allan oversees all design work at Allan Corfield Architects, and leads a number of key projects through all stages of the build. In the last 5 years with a team of 20, Allan has led the way in the architectural side of the Self Build sector, delivering seminars throughout the UK, and giving key note talks at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows.

Allan has recently become an expert contributor to Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine, with a regular blog spot on the magazine’s website. With interest in Self Building on the rise, it’s important that there are appropriate procedures and regulations in place – so that prospective self-builders are given the best opportunity to achieve their dream home. Allan is a member of the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA), and this organisation helps to promote Self and Custom Build – which can be a viable solution to the current housing crisis.

SELF BUILD AND ECO HOMES EXPERTISE

As the government seeks to find solutions for climate change and address the need for housing, Allan has become an expert in the design of high-performing, energy efficient homes. Becoming one of the top experts in utilising Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) projects in the UK, Allan has worked on a large number of exciting Self Builds.

It was always very important for Allan to help those who want to build their own dream homes. This is why in 2015, he created a Self Build blog to share his wisdom and lead the self builder through every stage of the Self Build process. In the years that followed, the blog has grown to one of the biggest Self Build blogs in the UK.

Allan’s goal is to become the Wikipedia of the architecture industry by teaching, listening and using the ‘we ask, you answer’ philosophy. Allan’s plans remain ambitious and he is currently planning the opening of his expert video blog about Self Building, providing Self Build Tips and tutorials and personally answering viewers’ questions.

SPEAKING DATES 2022


HBR Show – Farnborough	15-1 January 2022
HBR Show – Birmingham	24-27 March 2022
HBR Show – Surrey	25-26 June 2022
HBR Show – London	30-02 October 2022
HBR Show – Harrogate	4-6 November 2022
HBR Show – Somerset	19-20 November 2022

PUBLIC SPEAKING

After receiving recognition within the self build industry, Allan was invited to work as an expert contributor to the Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine, with a regular blog spot on the magazine’s website and features in the printed version. His contribution and expertise was further appreciated by an invitation to the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows in which Allan regularly delivers talks throughout the UK.

Allan has given a variety of talks at Homebuilding exhibitions – including Designing an Energy Efficient Home, Permitted Development Projects, and Top Self Building Tips. Keep an eye out for him at the next Homebuilding & Renovating Show in 2022/23!

DO YOU WANT TO BOOK ALLAN FOR YOUR EVENT?

“Allan is rapidly delivering engaging content to the self build community through a series of talks at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows. He is lively, engaging and most importantly able to pitch his content at the right level for his audience. Self Build can be a difficult topic to translate, but he is confident and brings his audience on the journey with him. We’re delighted to be associated with him as he develops this side of his career. Allan is an experienced and deeply talented designer of brilliant homes. Better than that, he has a genuine engagement with people building their own homes, taking architecture beyond design and delivering a full-scale mentoring and project guidance service. He understands and engages with the needs of people building their own home in a way that many architects do not. He has an expert-level understanding of the build and construction processes.”