Background
Based in Brighton & Hove, Sussex, and with roots in Scotland, the studio is conceived by Fraser McQuade ARB RIBA - an architect and artist with substantial experience in both private and public sectors.
Fraser studied at Edinburgh College of Art and the University of Westminster – both schools having a strong focus on creative expression and the meeting of art and architecture – before completing his professional qualifications at the University of Brighton.
Experience has included design and delivery of award-winning modern buildings – both cultural and residential; sensitive restoration of listed buildings; and the role of Senior Urban Design Officer at Brighton & Hove City Council.
He has also achieved a permaculture design qualification and continues to develop himself professionally and artistically with a keen focus on nature and environmental matters.
Through this experience, Fraser has developed a unique and holistic skillset, sensibility and competence level which are carefully and innately channelled into all Cerath Studio projects.
Architecture
The ancient practice of earthly connection – giving form to our contact with the land since prehistory – and informing every aspect of our lived experience as individuals, families, communities, and wider ecosystems.
This ancient practice is the heart of the studio - considering not simply buildings but a deep-rooted and emotional connection to place and space.
With keen sensibilities for intuitive layouts, enriching spaces, and calmly expressive materiality, the studio creates architecture of warmth, care and modest simplicity.
The architecture is always sustainable – informed by a permaculture design qualification, a keen understanding of environmental systems, and a passion for organic, renewable materials.
Experience in planning imbues the architecture with contextual sensitivity in any setting.
Art
Guiding the studio’s creative process is an exploration of abstract artistic expression.
The artistic process offers an in-depth and emotional way to observe and understand a place – its energies and atmospheres, physical forms, shapes, layers and material compositions.
In this way it offers a unique response to an architectural site and brief - imbuing the architecture with artistic sensibilities for evocative and joyful results.
As part of this process, the studio creates ceramic art and homeware – often inspired by the beauty and complexity of elemental, natural landscapes.
Working with clay is fluid, spontaneous, and freeing whilst ceramic pieces are robust, stable and speak of an ancient practice. Such a process encourages similar qualities in the studio’s approach to architecture.
Nature
A keen passion for the natural world and innate connection to landscape are primary inspirations for both art and architecture - informing and grounding designs within their contextual natural landscape at all scales.
The studio is interested in land art and ancient monuments, and the space these hold between landscape and architecture – offering mindful connection to place, nature and time – both ancient and modern in the same moment.
Guided by a permaculture design qualification and passions for nature restoration and regenerative living, the studio harmonises architectural design with landscape, and creates restorative, productive, biodiverse and contextual external spaces to support healthy and sustainable lives.