Fire-Bird was set up by Christopher Harris, who started his working career as a mechanical engineer and then moved over into Historic Building consultancy, with a Masters’ Degree in the subject. He is a member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, a past member of English Heritage committees working on improving conservation policies, and an occasional lecturer on historic roofing and fenestration to Masters’ Degree students.

Due to his background and interests, Chris has dedicated his time to the study of the latest technology in timber window design and to the understanding of historic and vernacular styles. Since the Renaissance and the times of Andrea Palladio it has, once again, been understood that the “Golden Ratio” is the basis of the “Perfect Proportion” in architecture as everything else. This was understood throughout the 16^th to 19^th Centuries, but seems to have been set aside by 20^th & 21^st Century architects and designers who have been influenced by the brutalist architecture of people like Le Corbusier or a determination to put their own mark on a project immaterial of its aesthetic appeal, or just getting the job done.

However well they are made, windows with pane dimensions which are over square or too tall look wrong so, wherever possible, Chris will work with his clients to try to achieve the Golden Ratio in the joinery designs. Most of the windows seen on this website will have pane dimensions to the Golden Ratio, where it has been possible to do so. It is often possible to increase or decrease the dimensions of the horizontal or vertical side rails in order to influence and improve the pane dimensions.

Once the design concept has been agreed, he will design the new joinery, integrating the latest technology but making it as invisible as possible.