Matthew Prasad has spent over 15 years in the urban design industry and is now considered a specialist in his field. We’re delighted to have Matthew join us on the Designing Spaces for All panel at the ArchiPro Commercial Expo in November, so we caught up with him to learn more about what he does at The Urban Advisory.
Hi Matthew, please tell us a little bit about yourself and what your work involves.
I have over 15 years experience working in both highly specialised design teams and within larger multi-disciplinary companies, and am now a sought-out specialist in the field. I am passionate and driven to create ‘Human Environments’ that are innovative, beautiful, exciting, functional, cost-effective and practical. I use my expertise to bridge the divide between the realities of urban development, complex institutional needs, architectural flair, and best practice urban design and community building. Through the many and varied number of projects that I have worked on over my career, I have developed a keen eye that manages development risks and expectations while ensuring outcomes that are attainable and have a positive influence on our ever-changing urban environment.
Can you summarise what you’ll be speaking about at the ArchiPro Commercial Expo in a few sentences?
I am interested in how traditionally commercial environments influence and respond to people's everyday needs, especially in a post-covid world where working from home is now a significant part of our lives. Basically, how commercial spaces and centres provide for more than just office space GFA (Gross Floor Area) to help address sustainable behaviours, rather than just creating empty green buildings.
How do the ArchiPro Commercial Expo themes of Diversity, Environmental Sustainability, and Technology & Automation apply to the work that you do?
At The Urban Advisory (TUA) diversity is critical to how we work. Our team has very diverse professional and personal backgrounds, from engineering and urban design to accounting and logistics. This enables us to approach problems in interesting and sometimes unusual ways that can seem counterintuitive, but get to the heart of the issue, which can often be quite different to the brief given. Our clients are also really diverse and eclectic, just like our projects that span all scales across New Zealand.
What are some key things you think the design and construction industry needs to embrace in order to build a better future for New Zealand?
How to build simply in the complex tapestry of urban environments, and understanding the end users better to achieve true sustainable outcomes that meet and exceed economic performance goals. This requires a move away from siloed thinking, seeing everyone's professional skills as components of the same puzzle and making sure people are collaborating around the table early for the best outcomes.
What aspect of the ArchiPro Commercial Expo are you looking forward to most?
It's always about meeting people and having great conversations.
Come along to the ArchiPro Commercial Expo to hear from Matthew, and other experts, on the importance of designing spaces for all to enjoy. Register here.