David Marks and Julia Barfield

Never heard of them. Who are they? This British husband-and-wife dream team are the architects behind the British Airways London Eye, which, at 135 metres tall, is the largest observation wheel in the world. Their design practice, founded in 1989, has received more than 25 awards for excellence, including the British Architectural Practice of the Year award, 2001, and they each received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth in 2000. Barfield was also part of Sir Norman Foster's team working on Hong Kong's HSBC building in Central. Tell us more about the London Eye. What was the inspiration behind it? The original idea was a wheel as a symbol of time, with 60 viewing capsules representing the number of minutes in an hour. (The final version, however, has only 32 capsules, each carrying up to 25 people, but it has nevertheless carried more than 10 million passengers since it was unveiled.) The duo wanted to create a celebratory structure for the millennium that had aesthetic appeal but could still be used by locals and tourists. They aspired to revitalise the city and inspire the public. They also wanted to take up as little land as possible so decided to cantilever the structure over the river Thames. What are Marks and Barfield up to these days? Their latest venture is called 'Skyhouse: a future way to live'. A sort of reinvention of the 60s-style residential high-rise, Skyhouse comprises three interconnected towers, up to 60 storeys high, in the shape of a clover leaf. The environmentally friendly blocks are partly clad with solar panels and have an underground reservoir for storing rainwater collected from the roofs to water surrounding gardens and parks. The building is also aerodynamically shaped to reduce the wind at ground level and harness its energy to drive wind turbines and generate electricity. Skyhouse is all about sustainability and maintaining a high quality but affordable lifestyle despite dense city living. The towers are shaped to give every unit a view plus maximum light and space; communal facilities such as gardens, shops, spas and creches will be situated at various levels and a communal pool will take pride of place on the rooftop. Sounds fantastic - when can I buy one? Unfortunately for Hong Kong people, the first Skyhouse looks set to be built in east London in a couple of years. Hong Kong's housing surplus means the concept is not immediately relevant here but Marks and Barfield recently visited our shores to discuss sustainability with various planners and they haven't ruled out Asia. Beijing and Shanghai are two obvious Skyhouse candidates. Has fame gone to their heads? Au contraire. They are pleasant, down-to-earth people. Barfield says she still has to pinch herself to make sure she hasn't dreamed their success, and despite riding the Eye hundreds of times says she never tires of it. Any words of wisdom from the dynamic duo? 'Sustainability is a big issue right now,' says Barfield. 'If the rest of the world uses resources at the rate Britain is doing we'll soon exhaust our planet and need the energy of at least three more. It is a clear indication we need to change our ways.' Where can I get more information? Visit www.marksbarfield.com or contact Joann Soo at Edelman on 2837 4744.