A Positive Magazine. For Positive People. By Positive People.
The Orator.Press Magazine Business & Leadership Interview: Michael Squire ~ September 2020
Launch Edition
With
Michael Squire
A Real Local Squire.
Ever Higher. Ever Inspired.
Still As Keen As Mustard!
The Dome Room At ‘Upstairs’ At The Department Store, Brixton’s Private Members ClubThe Dome Room At ‘Upstairs’ At The Department Store, Brixton’s Private Members ClubMichael Squire Founder of The Department Store Private Members Club & Community Hub, SW9And Name Sake of Squire Architects, Both Based In Brixton, In The Same Building (See Upstairs Downstairs, Below).
Michael Squire Has Reached Dizzy Heights In His Career As An Architect, Yet He Chooses To Keep His Feet Firmly On The Ground. From His Headquarters In Brixton SW9, He’s Still As Keen As Mustard To Keep Going. Still Interesting, Engaging, Inspiring. TheOrator.Press Interviewed Him By Telephone Conference Back In June 2020 Just Before Lockdown Was Lifted, For This First Edition of TheOrator.Press (Sept 2020).
Coleman’s Est.d 1814. Owned By Unilever Since 1995. Squire Remains As Keen As Mustard To Keep On Goin’ Doin’ What He Does Best. Creatin’ Great Spaces For Livin’ Workin’ And Enjoyin’ Life. He’s Still Hot Stuff.
Renaissance of A Brixton Building
The Department Store Is The New Collaborative Hub Buzzing With Edge, Style & Innovation In Brixton, South West London.
It’s A Bold, Brave Redesign of A Large Former Retail Building Built In 1906. Over The Following Hundred Years or So It Was The Property of Various Different Owners, & Withstood Various Different Uses, Finally Being Used For Squatting After Becoming Derelict. That Was Until Architect Firm Squire & Partners Spotted Its Potential In 2015 & Eventually Took Occupancy In 2017.
Divine Designs
Squire & Partners, Is A High End, High Profile, High Stakes Building Design Company, Once Based In Central London & Now Relocated To Great Effect In Brixton. Michael Squire The Firm’s Namesake Has A Great Eye For Potential, A Very Long History Of Creating Great, Innovative Structures & No Intention of Going Anywhere, Anytime Soon.
Squire Is The Third Generation In A Long Line Of Gentlemen With Architectural Inclinations In Their Blood. He Is Father To George & Henry Who Are Heading Up The Fourth Generation & Also Work Within The Firm. There Is Also His Daughter Who Is Into Graphic Design & Two More Sons Who Are Into Property Development. It Seems To Be A Dynasty Involved In Divine Design One Way or Another.
Squire & Partners Have Left Their Mark With Beautiful Buildings Around The World, In Towns, East, West, North & South, National, International, Official, Commercial & Residential. These Include But Are Not Limited To:-
The Hanger Lane Student Accomodation W5
The Kensington Primary Academy W14
The Zubabox Throughout Africa
Albany Marina, In The Bahamas
The Brighton Marina, Brighton
The British Counsel In Kenya
The Chelsea Barracks SW1
The Tom Ford Offices SW1
One South Bank Place SE1
One Tower Brigde SE1
One The Elephant SE1
Unison HQ NW1
Island Point E14
Reiss W1
My Work & My Family, I Love Them Both.
Michael Squire, Husband, Father, Architect, Club Owner & Brixton Community Member. Talkin’ By Telephone To TheOrator.Press Online Magazine June 2020
The Pursuit of Happiness
Despite Having Already Designed All These Mind-blowing Buildings, At 74 He Tells Me That He Still Gets A Buzz From His Work. I Ask Him The Secret To His Joie De Vivre. His Answer Is Simple Yet Powerful.
“My Work & My Family, I Love Them Both.”
He Then Adds, “If You Can, Try To Develop A Thinking of Being Happy With Your Life & Live With What You’ve Got, Rather Than Thinking Negative & About What You Have Not Got”.
He Also Says He Loves Dancing, Fiestas & Carnivals. “It’s Good Having Days In Your Life of Just Letting Go. Do Your Own Thing In Your Own Time”.
Upstairs Downstairs
I Witnessed A Micro Moment of This Philosophy In Action, Pre-lockdown, In February Earlier This Year.
The Department Store Is Literally An Upstairs, Downstairs’ Enterprise. Whilst Downstairs Is A New, Bright & Open Work Space, Upstairs Is An Open Plan Privte Members’ Club With A Restaurant, Bar, & Seating Areas, A Roof Terrace, & Two Additional Function Rooms. There Are Regular Membership Events.
Valentine’s Night 2020 Saw A Great Night of Dancing To Soul Classics & Michael Was In The House & On The Dance Floor Doing His Thing. He Looked Like He Was Having Great Fun, Full of Energy & Indeed “Letting Go.”
It’s A Family Affair & A Case of Socializing Upstairs & Working Downstairs At The Department Store S.W.9
Watching, Learning & Loving In Lockdown
I Ask Michael How He Coped With Lockdown, Being Such A Clearly Sociable Being...
“Absolutely Fine. Luckily I Have A Garden & I Was With My Wife & Daughter. We Did Our Daily Walking & Went Walking Through London Which Was Very Quiet For A Change. We Watched A Lot Less Television Than Ever, Played Card Games & Got To Know Each Other Better. The Best Thing About Lockdown For Me Was Spending Time With My Wife & Daughter. Also I Developed A Greater Appreciation For My Home & Garden. I Had Never Experienced Them In The Same Way Before. Coincidentally The Garden Was Coming Into Bloom & I Watched It Blossom & Grow.”
I Reply That Is Great & Indeed It Was Reported That More People Tended To Their Home & Gardens During Lockdown. Thankfully Michael Did Not Have Any Problems But At One Stage It Was Reported That The Medical Profession Asked Us All To Desist From Such Activity As We Might Injure Ourselves & Thus Require Medical Attention, Putting Greater Strain On The Pandemic Stretched NHS.
Helplines
Michael Is Fortunate & We Are Naturally Happy For Him. Sadly Some People With Less Loving Families Reportedly Suffered Increased Neglect & Abuse During Lockdown, According To Various Charities Who Deal With Domestic Abuse & Child Abuse Cases. If Required For Support or Guidance:-
The NSPCC – (National Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Children) Can Be Contacted on 0800 1111 By Children – or – 0808 800 5000 By Adults on Behalf of Children;
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