Martin Stockley

Martin Stockley

We can use engineering to improve our relationship with the world around us.

We can use engineering to improve our relationship with the world around us.

“I believe there are ways to apply engineering that can benefit both the built and natural environment.


Sustainability is not simply about managing the origins and carbon cost of resources. We should also focus on being resourceful - learning to take the least and make the most of it.


But we need to be realists. We can’t solve everything. We must learn to adapt and look beyond the limits, or restrictions, of purely business-based thinking.


Design must fit in with the world it designs for. It should exemplify a practical approach to problem-solving.


We don't have all the answers. We should have some kindness, openness and humility in our interactions with the natural world.”

Martin has extensive experience across a wide range of engineering disciplines, working in civil, structural, public realm, transport and infrastructure engineering. He is an independent HS2 design panel member.

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Q&A

Q&A

Which is more important, being creative or being practical?

It’s a common myth that being practical is somehow dull and not innovative. This is a barrier to good design and good making. You can’t achieve anything without a level of creativity either in design, process or making, but it also requires practicality.

Which is more important, being creative or being practical?

It’s a common myth that being practical is somehow dull and not innovative. This is a barrier to good design and good making. You can’t achieve anything without a level of creativity either in design, process or making, but it also requires practicality.

Should we prioritise infrastructure over design?

You can’t make infrastructure without design. You must start with design. If you want to build fast and at low cost, spend more time on design upfront. Minimising design extends programme time, costs more and results in a lower quality product.

Should we prioritise infrastructure over design?

You can’t make infrastructure without design. You must start with design. If you want to build fast and at low cost, spend more time on design upfront. Minimising design extends programme time, costs more and results in a lower quality product.

What's the most effective method for communicating your ideas?

The more different ways that you can find to express something, the more effective the communication. Explore all forms while bearing in mind that people have various receiving skills and abilities. My starting point is to try to put my head in a place where I might understand how to be the person I’m addressing — I’m more likely to find them receptive and to understand what I’m trying to convey. Don’t just tell people what you think they should know.

What's the most effective method for communicating your ideas?

The more different ways that you can find to express something, the more effective the communication. Explore all forms while bearing in mind that people have various receiving skills and abilities. My starting point is to try to put my head in a place where I might understand how to be the person I’m addressing — I’m more likely to find them receptive and to understand what I’m trying to convey. Don’t just tell people what you think they should know.

Is it better to break the rules or follow them?

You make regulations by good practice and precedent, rather like common law. You can’t really ‘break’ the rules because they aren’t laws. We often do things which are outside of regulations and later the regulations are adapted to acknowledge their shortcomings. The key is not to set out to either follow or break the rules but to pursue a route and process of good design.

Is it better to break the rules or follow them?

You make regulations by good practice and precedent, rather like common law. You can’t really ‘break’ the rules because they aren’t laws. We often do things which are outside of regulations and later the regulations are adapted to acknowledge their shortcomings. The key is not to set out to either follow or break the rules but to pursue a route and process of good design.

What’s the most effective way of collaborating?

To collaborate you must start by finding agreement on what it is you are aiming to do. Start by spending as much time as it needs to agree on the aim. Once you agree the aim, you distribute the jobs and make the thing.

What’s the most effective way of collaborating?

To collaborate you must start by finding agreement on what it is you are aiming to do. Start by spending as much time as it needs to agree on the aim. Once you agree the aim, you distribute the jobs and make the thing.

Which is more important to you, transformation or preservation?

Preservation is the domain of museum curators. However, we should aim to retain and reuse anything and everything we can and that usually means some kind of transformation. The way we use things changes and our demands change, so, inevitably, we will require transformation.

Which is more important to you, transformation or preservation?

Preservation is the domain of museum curators. However, we should aim to retain and reuse anything and everything we can and that usually means some kind of transformation. The way we use things changes and our demands change, so, inevitably, we will require transformation.

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