Q&A: Five minutes with Richard Dudzicki, director of RDA Architects

How did you join the property industry?

I started my practice over 30 years ago with a £2,000 grant from the Prince’s Trust, specialising in low-energy architecture before sustainability was fashionable. Since then, RDA Architects has grown into a medium-sized practice with a strong reputation for retrofit and Passivhaus projects.

My role today involves balancing creative design with business leadership, managing the studio, guiding clients, supporting staff, visiting sites and working with contractors.

What do you like most about the industry?

Since childhood, I have loved making things – Meccano, Lego, model aircraft – so architecture was a natural progression. I have always enjoyed the process of creation: shaping something useful, beautiful and enduring.

I also love the resourcefulness of our profession; my father’s garage was full of jam jars of parts he’d never throw away. Architecture is similar; it is about reusing, rethinking and repairing.

And what do you dislike most about it?

The decline in construction skills. Finding tradespeople who truly understand craftsmanship and quality is a constant challenge. My other pet hate is greenwashing – marketing gimmicks masquerading as sustainability. Too many people reach for
wind turbines and solar panels without addressing fundamental building performance or embodied carbon. True sustainability requires honesty and skill, not spin.

What are your favourite buildings?

Visiting Carlo Scarpa’s Brion Cemetery [in Italy] recently was extraordinary. Its detail, material honesty and spiritual calm left a real impression. In London, my favourites are the BT Tower, the Royal Festival Hall and Millbank Tower – all post-war symbols of optimism. They represent a time when rebuilding was about hope, civic pride and improving lives.

Who in property has inspired you?

My early mentors Katherine Schonfield and Paul Davis taught me to see differently, to think about architecture through the lens of film and narrative. Later, figures such as Sir Terry Farrell, Thomas Heatherwick and Piers Gough (who mentored me in my Clerkenwell days) showed how bold ideas can still be humane and playful.

If you had not gone into property, what would you be doing instead?

I’d probably be a mechanic. I have always loved tinkering with old cars, motorbikes and bicycles – taking things apart and putting them back together. That same curiosity drives my architecture: understanding how things work, repairing and improving.

What would you change about the industry?

I’d like to see greater commitment to urban mining, reusing the materials, spaces and energy already embedded in our cities. The circular economy shouldn’t be optional; it should be standard practice.

What are you most proud of in your career?

Our long-term commitment to sustainable design. We were advocating for low-energy construction in the early 2000s, long before it was mainstream. I am proud of our consistent effort to make better, smarter and more ethical buildings.

What do you value in people?

Integrity, curiosity and humour. The best collaborators are those who care, listen and laugh because this industry can be intense and perspective matters.

What advice would you give someone starting a career in property?

Stick to your values and make sure your moral compass stays intact. Be determined, find your niche and surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you. If you stay authentic, the right opportunities will follow.