THE CLIENT :Having changed his name to Felgenbremse Bascule, this former police officer of conventionally British nomenclature, is famous for having started his own movement or sub level within the well known still-life portrait painting scene of Berlin.  Felgy had gotten his start painting Band posters for a well known live venue, whereby he also gained notoriety for his radical behaviour, copious substance abuse, prolific marrying of women and unique cartoonish like illustrations and paintings.  In the early years he helped subsidise his lifestyle by deejaying and working as a door-man at local clubs. He continues to pursue these, what critics have called petty distractions, for despite being documented by Sotherbys as one of the most collectable artists of his genre, he clearly has no need for the income generated thereby.

A collector of Scooters, licensed Raptor Handler and Owl breeder, Felgy is a renown party host who has had a standing Friday night soiree at his luxury apartment for nearly a decade, recognized as one the most salubrious events at which to be seen by the fashionista, glitterati, visiting artists and academics. Felgy is a sartorially resplendent extrovert (a feat which is most certainly facilitated by being currently married to his tailor), and known to his neighbours for his wild exploits which have resulted in many a noise complaint and constant disturbing the peace violations, largely due to the constant stream of visiting guests and friends.

Worn out by what he sees as constraints of conventional living and driven by a strong desire to better house his best friend and companion William Henry, a Northern Hawk Owl, whom he had reared and trained from birth, Felgy has decided to commission a new house. Amongst the regular ablutions, beds and kitchen sinks, this client’s dwelling needs to accommodate some interesting foibles. William Henry has a tendency to swoop people wearing hats, which can be a little disconcerting for those on the receiving end. On the occasion of swooping, the rambunctious strigidae must be returned to his aviary, otherwise having the run of the house. So the aviary is an integral part of the dwelling and needs to be both central and provide for ease of access.  Ostensibly William Henry suffers from what can best be described as a form of avian agoraphobia, which is recently placated by the positioning of a mirror somewhere close adjacent his perch. This has the affect of tricking William Henry into believing he has a companion and soothing him through the reciprocal gesticulations of the bird in the mirror, whilst ensuring the shiny companion doesn’t suffer the horrific fate of the former, more fleshy, feathery predecessors. Further to this Felgy feels that as he is a bird, William Henry’s cantankerous demeanor would be inversely proportional to the distance the dwelling is positioned from the ground, and felt in this regard that a tower would be the kind of house that may get the job done.

So the brief is: A normal house most regards, save the need to contain a bespoke owl enclosure central to the daily goings on. A mirror adjacent this space viewable from within the aviary. To either be or house a tower, once again for the good of the bird. A significant garage space to house the collection of scooters, Felgy’s car and a raft of collected sculptures, old works and various disassembled pieces of vintage machinery. Given his profession, there will be a requisite large, bright, open room in which to paint. And finally, his penchant for entertaining means a large room possibly with adjacent ablutions and kitchen facilities is in order.