I want to develop the art and techniques of making inspiring, joyful & memorable places, helping people from differing cultures to live a fulfilling life. The job is to communicate hope in a physical form. Architecture matters.After graduating I worked as project architect for Ralph Erskine on the internationally reknown Byker Redevelopment in Newcastle upon Tyne (now a protected area) before emigrating to Finland in 1980.I established an office with Hennu Kjisik in 1985. Harris and Kjisik, Architects, have developed a reputation as one of the more influential architectural practices in Finland. Commissions have involved sites of historical and cultural significance, addressing problems of inserting new uses into established contexts. Most significant of our new-build work has been the Jyväskylä Transport Interchange, schools and a maintenance depot on the historic Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Office work has been exhibited and published widely, most recently at the Venice Biennale and in the Dutch magazine "De Architect". Recent work ranges from plans for Finland‘s first ecocity, Marja-Vantaa to a new Health and Welfare Park in Kotka. Just commencing are projects involving housing for people with Autism Syndrome disorder, the redevelopment of Helsinki‘s University Hospital Campus (inc. a new childrens‘ hospital and a combined Trauma-Cancer Centre) in Meilahti and Finland‘s largest psychiatric hospital in Pitkäniemi.As well as regular guest lectures, media appearances and contributions to magazines, I have served as judge in many national and international competitions. In 1999 I was appointed Professor of Town Planning and Urban Design at Helsinki University of Technology (now operating as Aalto University). Combining teaching, research and practice has worked as a great stimulant.I have worked professionally in Finland, Sweden, the UK, Belgium, Crete, France, Estonia, Latvia, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Romania, Sri Lanka and QatarSpecialties: Design of public buildings, housing environments, health-care facilities, city centres, commercial hybrid buildings, Urban Design and Town Planning