DONALD INSALL ASSOCIATES - Key Persons
Alfie is an architect with experience in conservation as well as new build, across a range of commercial and domestic projects. He studied at The Bartlett School of Architecture, where he carried out research into adaptive and democratic approaches to housing. Alfie is driven by a pursuit of an honest architecture which is in conversation with its setting, which is poetic and underpinned by a clear logic, working intuitively and quickly to speculate on possible and practical solutions.
Ayaka joined Donald Insall Associates in 2011. She is an accredited Specialist Conservation Architect (SCA) and an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC), specialising in the repair and conservation of historic and listed buildings. She understands the intricacy of working in historic buildings and has experience of managing the logistics and expectations of end users and stakeholders, from project initiation to post-completion. Ayaka is passionate about traditional building techniques and craftsmanship; she particularly enjoys collaboration with skilled specialists in building projects. She has worked on a number of Grade I and Grade II* buildings, with expertise in delivering high-end residential refurbishment projects in Conservation Areas. Ayaka is a committee member of the Traditional Paint Forum, ICON Historic Interiors Group and has a keen interest in historic interiors and stone conservation. She currently sits on the RIBA Conservation Register Assessment Panel as an assessor.
Job Titles:
- Office Manager, Birmingham
Job Titles:
- Architectural Assistant ( PPII )
- Part 2 Architectural Assistant
Cameron Smith is a Part 2 Architectural assistant based in our Chester office. He first joined as a part 1 Architectural Assistant in 2019 and returned in 2022 after graduating from March architecture at Manchester School of Architecture, where he focused on learnings from vernacular infrastructure and cultural activities to inform creative bottom-up solutions to challenges posed by the climate and biodiversity emergency. He's now working towards part 3.
Caroline joined the practice in 2001 and specialises in new-build and modern interventions in historic fabric. She is an RIBA-accredited Specialist Conservation Architect, and consistently delivers projects on time and within budget. Caroline is particularly skilled in the design and delivery of modern contextual buildings and at managing complex, fast-tracked construction projects. Clients enjoy Caroline's effective leadership approach, which enthuses project teams so as to achieve their objectives.
Job Titles:
- Practice Director
- Member of the IHBC
Cordula joined the practice in 2008. She is now Practice Director and leads our Heritage Consultancy in London. She has twenty years of experience as a heritage and design advisor, and has led heritage and townscape strategy, design development and planning negotiations for many complex sites in London and nationally. Among her clients are London's Great Estates, including The Crown Estate and Grosvenor, private developers, and charitable and cultural organisations. Cordula is a Chair of the London Borough of Islington's Design Review Panel, and she sits on the Design Review Panel for the London Borough of Lambeth. She was educated at the Bartlett School, the Sorbonne in Paris and Berlin's Humboldt University. Cordula has a special interest in the architecture of the twentieth century.
Cordula has been a member of the IHBC for most of her career. She was previously a project director for Publica, a conservation officer at Islington Council and an advisor for the Twentieth Century Society. Cordula has written on new architecture and on building conservation for a range of British and European magazines and publications.
Joining Donald Insall Associates in 2022, Daniel is an accredited conservation architect who has primarily worked on the repair and regeneration of historic buildings, including the revitalisation of Wentworth Woodhouse. His interest and expertise lies in the care of historic churches; he is approved to work in seven Diocese across the Midlands and North of England. He is appointed to a range of ecclesiastical buildings, from small rural chapels to Major Parish Churches and Minsters, and sits on the Executive Committee of the Church Repair Society.
Daniel graduated from the University of Lincoln and the University of Nottingham with Distinction. As a student, he was nominated for the RIBA Silver Medal before teaching at the University of Sheffield and Cambridge.
Daniel is an experienced Associate, who has delivered a number of projects across a wide range of sectors. Having worked on new build developments earlier in his career, Daniel has a keen understanding of both modern and traditional methods of construction and design. His passion lies with the preservation of our heritage through appropriate conservation, restoration and sensitive adaptions that add value and contemporise cultural expression. This has only intensified following his involvement in several significant projects ranging from Wentworth Woodhouse, Chester Cathedral and The Abbey School for Exceptional Children in Chester.
During his career, he has developed a particular expertise in the use of new technologies within architecture, and with a decade of experience delivering projects using Revit, he is now deeply in the implementation of our BIM strategy across the practice.
Job Titles:
- Senior Architect / Dean Jones
Dorian is a talented Architect who joined the practice in 2011. He has worked on a wide range of historic buildings, including running projects on a Grade I listed structure and scheduled monuments. Dorian has a sound knowledge of both modern construction methods and conservation techniques for historic buildings. Moreover, he has practical, onsite experience gained through working for specialist conservation contractors. Dorian is particularly skilled in the use of 3D modelling software such as SketchUp, and has developed expertise in a range of other tools that enhance the efficiency of the design and construction process.
Educated at the Welsh School of Architecture and Bath University, Edward joined Donald Insall Associates' Conwy branch in 2012, moving to the London office in 2014. In Wales his work included the castles of Edward I, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Conwy and Caernarfon, and Bodnant Garden. In London he has worked continuously at the Palace of Westminster, and with institutional and commercial clients on a range of restoration and adaptive reuse schemes.
Edward's wide-ranging experience within the heritage sector includes time spent in the antiques trade, restoring historic furniture, and at Ty-Mawr Lime. This has developed his technical expertise with traditional materials, alongside a hands-on understanding of historic building repairs and construction processes.
Job Titles:
- Architectural Assistant ( PPI )
Elgan has excelled throughout his Architectural studies, graduating with a Commendation in Architecture and achieving an overall Distinction grade for his RIBA Part III professional examinations. In 2014, Elgan was awarded the prestigious Lethaby Scholarship from the SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) to further his technical understanding and philosophical approach, not only to the repair of historic structures, but also to sensitive new design within the historic context. In 2018, Elgan was awarded the RIBA RSAW Project Architect of the Year 2018.
Job Titles:
- Senior Historic Buildings Advisor
Job Titles:
- Architectural Assistant ( PPII )
Job Titles:
- Office Administrator / Team Secretary, Chester
Job Titles:
- Senior Historic Buildings Advisor
Job Titles:
- Senior Historic Building Advisor
Job Titles:
- Architectural Assistant ( PPII )
Job Titles:
- Senior Architect / Dean Jones
Job Titles:
- Historic Buildings Advisor