626: From Architect to Developer: A Dangerous Move or a Bold New Model? with David Cross of Skyhouse

2025-04-07

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Most architects dream of building their own projects—but when it comes time to raise money, navigate risk, and manage construction, many find themselves stuck. Without the right systems, support, or business model, those dreams quickly fade under the weight of complexity and cost. David Cross joins Rion Willard to tell the story of how he left a traditional practice to tackle one of the biggest problems in UK housing. In this episode, David shares the bold move that started it all—and the surprising childhood experience that planted the see...

David Cross joins Rion Willard to tell the story of how he left a traditional practice to tackle one of the biggest problems in UK housing. In this episode, David shares the bold move that started it all—and the surprising childhood experience that planted the seed. He opens up about the risks, the wins, and what it really takes to build a housing company from scratch.

They explore what’s missing in today’s housing system and how David’s team found a fresh way to solve it. He also talks about the turning point that made him sell his practice and start over. If you’ve ever wondered how an architect becomes a developer—and why you might want to—you’ll want to listen to this.

Discover the planning hack that helped David get early buy-in before he even had land
The little-known reason most architects fail at building their own projects
How a scooter crash inspired a key design test
What to ask before choosing your next funding partner

To learn more about David, visit his:

Website: https://sky-house.co/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyHouseCo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skyhouseco

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyhouseco/

► Transcription: https://otter.ai/u/w4wRWmNItI8U-MvJt5bayqMBsD8?utm_source=copy_url

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