John Crawford launched his Architectural Services Practice in 1987 in his home town of Montrose because he wanted the responsibility and satisfaction of running his own business. It was the natural progression in a lifetime's involvement in the building industry which started with holiday work in his father's joinery and contracting firm. With an eye for visualising the completed job it gave him the opportunity to develop his own ideas about design.

Supported by a team of three Technical Staff and Practice Secretary, John maintains a very hands-on supervision of everything that happens at the drawing board. His Senior Technician joined the Practice shortly after qualifying and has been with him for 14 years. For what might seem to be a mainly rural practice, the work has encompassed a very inclusive range of commissions. Much of the emphasis is on domestic projects but the Practice experience covers a wide range of commercial, retail and agricultural clients. Recently, one of the largest undertakings has been the refurbishment of Arbroath Football Club's stands, bringing them up to current safety standards. This job was approached with a sensitivity that reflects John's own interest in the game as a Director of Montrose Football Club. Developing the sporting theme, the Practice has been appointed by Alba Pools, a swimming pool construction company, who are relocating to the new Brechin Business Park. They have designed the company's new office, showroom and work area and are employed to assist Alba's clients who need technical support for the preparation and submission of plans.
Throughout his career John has relied on his ability to visualise the completed project. It is his conviction that if you can't visualise, you can't do the job He has never got to the stage of saying "we can't do this". Perhaps his greatest technical challenge has been the renovation and refurbishment of a listed building in New Wynd, Montrose. Conforming to all the listed building requirements and still proving a modern and functional interior layout has stretched John's and his team's imagination and creativity.

Much of John's work comes from Tayside and Aberdeenshire. The Practice has considerable experience of renovation and refurbishment of licensed premises. Retail units and commercial extensions form a solid part of annual turnover. In these situations John's philosophy has always been to provide good design within budget and to completion date, ensuring clients lose no trading time.
John Crawford has an instinctive sympathy with existing buildings and their treatment. His respect for the qualities, particularly of older buildings, might be seen as traditionalist and conservative. But along with his team he is always seeking modern solutions and materials to provide cost effective results for clients. Each job is treated on its own merits. The challenge is often, to work around existing walls, or anticipate how existing supports can assume new functions - and visualise how it will look and perform on completion.
Success of this kind depends upon teamwork and John is quick to commend his own team. But he stresses the importance of working in harmony with clients and their other professional consultants, and with their contractors.
As for the future -John is excited that his son is studying architecture at Aberdeen. If Kevin decides to join him in due course, this family firm will continue to provide the north east of Scotland with a highly competent architectural service based on good design, trust and client satisfaction.