Olly Bray is the founder of OB Architecture, an award-winning practice with studios in Winchester, London, and Chamonix. On this episode, Olly traces the personal and professional path that shaped his architectural journey, from childhood drawings in his grandfather’s Munich studio to launching a firm now designing homes and multi-unit developments across the UK and the French Alps.

Olly shares how an early familial nudge toward architecture eventually became his calling, and how formative experiences at the University of Bath and TU Delft sparked a lifelong commitment to balancing structure with creativity. We dive into his practice’s evolution, from a solo operation launched out of his living room to a cross-border firm driven by design quality, contextual sensitivity, and clear client communication.

He reflects candidly on the business of architecture, the realities of hiring, scaling, and financial pressure, building a values-led culture, and learning to explain architectural value without architectural jargon. We explore OB’s dual focus on high-end private homes and complex urban residential developments, including their growing role in shaping city housing landscapes through planning-savvy, design-forward solutions.

Now based in Chamonix, Olly discusses the decision to build a mountain-focused arm of the firm called OB Mountain and what it’s like to launch anew, professionally and personally, as a designer, partner, and parent.

This conversation is a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it means to build a practice with integrity, curiosity, and ambition and how reinvention can be both a professional necessity and a personal gift.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast