up close + personal with
ian scott DIRECTOR/REGISTERED BUILDER – VANGUARD CONSTRUCTION // interviewed by merelyn demarte
When and how did you start in the building industry? My father was an architect in Jersey in the Channel Islands so I was always around plans and buildings when I was young. I used to spend time in his office each day after school and saw sketches and drawings turn into shops, zoos and museums; many now iconic architectural buildings of the island. This developed my keen interest in building form and how buildings are constructed. After leaving school at 16, I was very fortunate to get an advanced five-year apprenticeship with probably the most prestigious builder in Jersey; working in both the joinery shop and on high-end homes and large restoration projects like manor houses. When and how did you start Vanguard Construction, and what encouraged you to do so? I started Vanguard Construction with my partner Sharon in 2010 upon obtaining my Diploma of Builder’s Registration, after over a decade of providing a range of quality services to Margaret River and the South West region. I had previously been a director of a building company before emigrating in 2000 so was anxious to again run
my own building business. Working in Europe we had access to all manner of new and innovative energy efficient materials and methods and I wanted to introduce and deliver this knowledge to Australia. Initially many people saw energy efficiency, particularly in regard to insulation, as an unnecessary complication rather than something desirable. However we still maintained sound energy efficient principles was the future of building in this country and now we have more and more clients wanting better quality homes where they will save in the long term on heating, cooling and energy bills. Spend the money on clever solar passive design and insulation instead of air-conditioning! These costs are only going to get bigger; you don’t need to be ‘‘eco’’ to have an energy efficient home, you just need to be smart.
What if any has been your most challenging build in recent times? The project we are currently working on would have to be right up there. A sizeable home over five different levels on a very steep sloping sand dune down at the beach. With very limited access for
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