STUDIO EGRET WEST - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
I am captivated by the transformative impact of spaces on human connections."
Originating from East London, my architectural sensibilities have been shaped by the dynamic interplay of regeneration and gentrification, fostering my interest in social architecture. To me, architecture transcends mere structures and facades; it is a profound exploration of how people interact with spaces and the emotions these spaces evoke. I believe that the essence of good design lies in creating environments that resonate with the human experience.
A commitment to a high quality and thoughtful design can improve people's lives, build stronger communities, and create landscapes that are cherished for years to come."
An important and often overlooked aspect of landscape architecture is the experiential nature of the design. How does it feel to move through a space and what emotion does this project onto the visitor?
All of these questions need to be considered when designing a landscape, and the emotions of the user will be what encourages them to relax, feel comfortable, and spend time in the space. During my studies I researched how experiential artists and sculptors use their artwork to elicit feelings and emotions, and how this can be applied towards landscape design.
For me, planting is a vital element of landscape design and one that, if utilised to its full extent, can completely change the character and feel of an area while introducing new, complex ecosystems of horticulture and wildlife.
The future is clear for the studio and for me - we continue to put creative, collaborative, people-first thought into our work for positive community impact."
On the tailwind of project-oriented commissions in Europe and America seven years ago, Studio Egret West struck a chord with me. At a time when a place-oriented design approach was a rarity and - to some - incompatible with austerity, I shared with the Studio the intent to deliver social value for communities through landscape and architectural urbanism.
Our work has made way for projects to re-focus as place, and for place to take a back seat to people. I have enjoyed seeing first time homeowners unpacking in the commercially anchored Boiler House, and bicycle-makers setting up shop within the affordable industry-infused spaces of Caxton Works. I have revealed ground-breaking school premises to the academy trustees at Erith Quarry, expanded the amenities at London's beloved Regents Canal with a public park and workspaces at Sturt's Yard, and formed a new skyline at Birch House within Kidbrooke Village. On a larger scale, I have led the regeneration of Tottenham's supercharged High Road West, driven the transformative design of a new neighbourhood at Maidenhead's The Landing, and found commonality between local interest groups within the design of Bow Common Gas Works.
Alongside our design teams and in partnership with industry-leading clients, I have been involved in designs covering over 177 acres of land, £5bn in construction value, 2 million square feet of commercial space, and over 8 million square feet of residential accommodation delivering 10,000 homes.
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
Vibrant urban spaces are crafted through the interplay of visionary ideas and the elegance of simplicity."
I am deeply committed to exploring the intricate relationship between architecture and placemaking, drawing upon both my professional experiences and educational background in Architecture and Town Planning.
Having worked extensively between early-stage masterplan concepts through to late-stage technical designs, I am familiar with balancing the visionary aspects of urban planning with the precision and functionality required in the later stages of building construction. My knowledge across these stages enables me to navigate the complexities of a project with a nuanced understanding, contributing towards seeing ideas through from inception to completion.
A noteworthy project with Studio Egret West involves Lewisham's town centre, which adopts a 'place-led' approach with a meadow landscape at its heart. This approach prioritises the local community, encapsulating the character of Lewisham through proposals for new, accessible public spaces - a manifestation of my design ethos for community-centric design.
I love taking care of projects comprehensively and from every angle."
I grew up in Genoa, Northern Italy, where I spent many afternoons exploring the impenetrable fabric of the historical centre and wondering what makes it so special.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Lead
Take a step back, slow your pace, and look outside the industry for inspiration and guidance"
I've been lucky enough to work in Communications and PR within the built-environment industry for 18 years, and the passion and creativity that emanates from my colleagues has always been infectious.
In recent years, I've discovered the joy of strategy - a powerhouse when applied to any business. Leading the Communications and Marketing team here at Studio Egret West, I contribute towards shaping our practice's evolving profile. The brand has a strong story to tell, and I'm pleased to help narrate it alongside an insanely talented cast.
Outside of the studio, I practice Iyengar Yoga. This keeps me grounded, explains my forthright nature, and reminds me that whatever life throws at you - focus and breathe - to ensure you always continue to shine.
I believe in the creative and collaborative design process, recognising that the results are often beyond the sum of their parts."
The design process begins with a curiosity of existing places and how people interact with them, not imagining something brand new, but a careful and creative layering of evolving needs."
An opportunity to interrogate the context, both physical, historic and social, is what excites me most about architecture. The design process begins with a curiosity of existing places and how people interact with them, not imagining something brand new, but a careful and creative layering of evolving needs.
Explorations into cohabiting uses began whilst studying RIBA Part II at London Metropolitan University; speculative projects in both Tottenham and Charlton questioned how a need for new homes could be sustainably addressed alongside thriving existing industry in the city.
Joining Studio Egret West in 2016 has provided opportunity to continue these themes, working sensitively with existing buildings on a range of mixed use projects. At Faraday Works the story of the Siemens Brothers first British factory had been overlooked by many historical accounts. It is now however being celebrated through a new mixed residential and industrial life; with the architectural and programmatic response extending the legacy of innovation.
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
I believe in using architecture as a tool to create spaces that resonate with people and foster community bonds."
From an early age, I found myself drawn to architecture, captivated by its unique intersection between science and art. Even now, I find the mix of technical and artistic aspects in architecture to be a great source of inspiration.
I enjoy the challenge of expanding a brief to combine other uses and features within the project."
My early professional years were focused on restoration and conservation projects, gaining experience working on many listed buildings, including Somerset House, The Royal Courts of Justice and the Brunswick Centre. Observing first hand from site was an invaluable opportunity to study different buildings from both a design and a construction perspective. It was during this time that I learnt the importance of careful observation and gave me an understanding of detailing.
My focus since 2007, however, has been on residential design. I have extensive experience delivering built projects across a variety of housing types and scales for a wide range of clients in the UK and abroad. My particular interest is in developing formative design principles and taking them through to final proposals, ensuring that the project can grow to fulfil the criteria and vision of the initial brief.
I enjoy the challenge of expanding a residential brief to combine other uses and features within the project. Cinemas, sports facilities, day care and a children's crèche have, for instance, offered opportunities to explore how these elements can work within a residential development to create a positive social, economic and physical impact. In each instance a unique and tailored environment for new homes has been enriched through this diversity of uses, enlivening and animating new places.
I particularly cherish the idea of rootedness, an approach that aims to give buildings the sense they have grown out of the specific characteristics of a site."
As a co-founding partner of Studio Egret West, I have the privilege of nurturing and galvanising the pursuit of passion of a large group of talented creatives. That alone would be fulfilment enough.
But I also love discovering the qualities of places and buildings through painting and drawing and sharing this visual communication with colleagues and clients, testing through these the design principles that we establish on every project. This is a skill I learnt and cultivated while working with Will Alsop when I completed, amongst other projects, the Peckham Library, winner of the Stirling Prize in 2000.
When we set up Studio Egret West back in 2004, David West and I had an ambition to reunite urban design and architecture. This has led us to a path that is less concerned with aesthetics for its own sake and more so with the qualities of place, be it as an experience of social cohesion or a memorable space that lifts the spirit. I particularly cherish the idea of rootedness, an approach that aims to give buildings the sense they have grown out of the specific characteristics of a site rather than as formal or intellectual concepts dropped from above. This leads to another preoccupation, which is one of discovery. With no house style, each new building has to be discovered and tailored for each project, rather than being allowed to become a repetition of previous designs.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director / Passivhaus Certified Designer
I believe in people-first places, with a sustainable agenda at their heart."
Imagine this: a concrete superstructure poured in seven parts, across two floors each stepped in five places, with 150 service penetrations per floor and 60 different upstand details, supporting 47 mixed-tenure timber-frame houses with 47 podium gardens and 70 podium parking spaces… When I joined Studio Egret West in 2016, I quickly realised that the Studio's commitment to pushing boundaries in the pursuit of quality placemaking and progressive thought were not empty words.
That first phase of housing at Erith gave me the opportunity, as project lead, to develop and test the construction principles of a unique ‘groundscraper' typology, ensuring a car-free public realm across the Erith Quarry masterplan - itself a brave commitment to the remediation of a steeply sloped infill site and an example of our landscape-led design approach. At the Mayfield Depot in Manchester, our early activation of the previously underused, undervalued, and deteriorating Gatehouse showed how, through close client collaboration, ‘meanwhile' can become ‘worthwhile', and how the Studio's speed of thought and process can be of benefit at the earliest stages of placemaking and regeneration. And at the Plus X innovation hub in Brighton, I had the opportunity to work on a commercial building at the forefront of design, one of the first in the country to achieve the combination of BREEAM ‘Excellent', Wired ‘Platinum', and WELL ‘Platinum'. At SEW we are always learning.
It's this constant drive to know more, and the Studio's emphasis on collaboration, that I enjoy the most. I believe in honest, clear communication as we work together with our clients to maximise opportunity and create people-first places, increasingly with a sustainable agenda at their heart.
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
I'm passionate about designing for local communities and integrating existing multicultural demographics into new gentrification processes."
My first introduction to Studio Egret West was in 2015, when I joined a work experience week at the age of 18. I always knew that I would find a way back to the studio, and re-joined as a Part II Architectural Assistant 8 years later!
In the interim years, I freelanced on architectural projects from small builds to large masterplans. I've also mentored and collaborated with other designers on international competitions such as the Evolo Skyscraper Competition and RIBA's Reimagining Railways.
I studied at the Leicester School of Architecture for my undergraduate degree, and then at the London School of Architecture for my master's, where my industry-relevant skills were strengthened through design think-tanks and situational thesis development.
After studying Urban Design at TU Delft in Holland and the University of Westminster in London, I joined Atkins, working on large-scale masterplans in China, Portugal, Abu Dhabi and Brazil. At Alsop, I established and led the ‘BIG Architecture' team, formulating radical urban strategies that challenged conventional thinking about places. And then, in 2004, I set up Studio Egret West with Christophe Egret. Since then I've delivered a myriad of place-specific strategies through the symbiosis of architecture, urban design and landscape.
I have a passion for creating unique spatial atmospheres."
Standing in an empty theatre hall and looking at a dimly lit stage arrangement that I‘d just built, was when my passion for creating unique spatial atmospheres began.
After years of architectural education and experience with leading industry professionals in London, I found myself in Copenhagen, deepening my understanding of architectural space, perception and detail at Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Alongside my studies I had a chance to work with theatre designs once again, learning further about spatial manipulation and cognition accompanied with newest technological aftereffects.
With hopes for more impactful work, I joined Studio Egret West, where my ideas of spectacular spaces were merged with strong sense of context - all to create unique and memorable places. Here I've worked on both visions for competitions and details of construction projects, each time helping both fellow architects and clients to better visualise and understand projects' potential. Currently working on SEW's first Virtual Reality explorations, I hope to pursue further with progressive designs, driven by thorough spatial understanding… and a dash of drama.
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
Behind each drawing hides a much deeper layer of thought, research, technical understanding and rigour."
I still can't believe that a significant part of my job is to draw pictures. It's what I tell my niece, nephew, and children when they ask. The older they get, the less they believe me: ‘That can't be your real job.' But it's true, sort of.
It was never my plan to become a Landscape Architect. In truth, I had no idea what to do, but at 18, I originally began my further education as a Town Planning undergraduate. In the first week of this course, it dawned on me that this was a bad choice; I needed to be creative. My gut instinct was that I should have chosen Architecture. "I'd make a great Architect," I thought, but teenagers generally make poor choices. In the same week, I noticed a housemate was drawing a lot. I asked him what course he was taking. ‘Landscape Architecture with Planning'; the perfect side step, I thought. Serendipitous?
Since graduating from Sheffield University in 2005 I have worked at practices in the north of England, later moving south to help pioneer a new London base for a well-known landscape studio. This 8-year period was the perfect foundation to gain experience in both design and construction, working as Project Landscape Architect on a wide variety of landscape schemes, including the award-winning Brockhole Jetty in Cumbria.
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
I have a passion for creating places with a strong sense of identity. I believe understanding people and context is fundamental in creating resilient, diverse and vibrant communities.""
Throughout my university years, I was drawn to social, humanitarian, community-led architecture for its capacity to welcome, empower and unite people. From conceptualising a Ministry for Dissidence in Sarajevo, to designing a climate resilient community food hub in East London, to exploring the role of agency in Jordanian refugee camps, my projects gravitated towards addressing the future resilience of cities through celebrating, preserving and nurturing the communities they served. Embedded in historic and local context, these projects explored how architecture can encourage and upscale activism and self-management in their city; elements I believe are fundamental to the city of the future.
Exploring these themes surrounding urban resilience has been integral to the way I continue to think about place, design and community. In practice, I have found myself drawn to projects that seek to reconnect and re-establish communities. Sketching enables me to reveal their stories, test design ideas and visualise their future spaces. At Studio Egret West, I am able to explore these interests within complex projects, striving to create collaborative, inclusive and flexible environments of the future.
I have a passion for creating places with a strong sense of identity. I believe understanding people and context is fundamental in creating resilient, diverse and vibrant communities.
Job Titles:
- Associate & Sustainability Lead / Passivhaus Certified Designer
Sustainable design has the power enrich the story of our buildings, communities, spaces and places."
As the son of an architect, some of my earliest memories growing up in Canada are of exploring architectural sights with my father - and from those early experiences, I was hooked.
At 15, I became a builder's assistant, working on small housing extensions in Toronto. My teenage summers were spent laying bricks, pouring foundations, framing timber walls, and installing windows. I later benefited from an apprenticeship within an architectural practice, where I had my first introduction to CAD, model-making, and drafting. Soon after, I moved to the UK, and my work experiences encouraged me to pursue formal education as an architect.
Throughout my over-20-year career I have been involved in the design and delivery of award-winning schemes throughout the UK and abroad, and my passion for architecture and design has never dwindled. However, a keen interest in sustainable and regenerative design has also developed.
I am always learning from other cultures and consider this a vital part of creating memorable places that can be shared and enjoyed by all."
Sketching gives me the chance to quickly visualise a discussion and test ideas from the get-go."
Sitting down with a strong cup of coffee and discussing new ideas for places and spaces is the best way to start the day. I never want to be stuck on one idea, and it's sketching that gives me the chance to quickly visualise a discussion and test ideas from the get-go.
Early on in my time here at Studio Egret West, this inquisitive sketching approach helped our team save the Mayfield Depot in Manchester from being demolished. This charming old steel beast of a building was ‘in the way' of the site, but today the Mayfield Depot is a popular, year-round destination for the people of Manchester, hosting food markets, Manchester International Festival, Manchester Pride Live and even mountain biking (a long-time hobby of mine). The first sketches showing an elevated park along the disused tracks above the depot should come to fruition over the next couple of years as we continue to unlock this place.
I always try to spot the smaller opportunities within big projects, looking out for moments of joy - especially if they can help animate forgotten spaces from day one. At SEW, I've been able to put this approach into practice on projects like the Horniman Museum in south London, the new Fashion District in Hackney, Digbeth conservation area in Birmingham, infrastructure projects for TfL, and post-industrial docklands in Salford.
I enjoy being able to create or impact small pieces of city. I believe modern life is defined by the city that surrounds it."
I enjoy being able to create or impact small pieces of city. I believe modern life is defined by the city that surrounds it. As the writer Richard Sennett puts it they are, where strangers meet; where new ideas are formed in a public space. A common ground. My perspective of the city has changed over time and during my years at Studio Egret West, from a city of opportunity to a place I now call home.
One of the first projects I worked on was the detail design of Clapham Library, it was an exciting project to be involved in and really challenged the norms of how someone uses a library, it was a public space designed for interaction and learning. As with SEW, I have also grown with experience and age and developed a wider outlook of the city, more interested in the bigger picture and how it connects with the surrounding communities or how small parts of the city can become mini cities within themselves. One of the most recent projects I worked on was Cotton Quay, Salford that combined my interest of defining new pieces of city and exciting architectural proposals alongside a number of new waterfront homes.
Having worked with SEW a number of years I have helped shape a wide range of projects in various scales, working within teams to now leading them. I enjoy designing and managing the complex projects and hope to be able to develop my understanding and appreciation of cities in the coming years.
I bring a wealth of experience in practice as well as strong academic grounding with a PhD in architectural history."
Creating and realising architecture are my roles within the Studio. At Balfron Tower historical layouts were retained and new internal spaces were made within the existing listed shell. New methods of modelling the façade were adopted with the BRE to bring the internal flats to contemporary standards. Working in collaboration with the design and construction team, my leadership, creative, communication, design and sketching skills are used to generate innovative solutions.
I bring a wealth of experience in practice as well as strong academic grounding with a PhD in architectural history and a recently published book Travels with Frank Lloyd Wright.
I enjoy working in a collaborative environment where projects cross-pollinate and enrich each other. This has fuelled my passion for good place-making, to introduce legibility and joy into the spaces where we live and work."
Studio Egret West has many approaches to design, but one key principle for me is to 'think beyond the red line'. To me, this is what makes SEW tick - an ambition to unlock complex sites holistically, a fine balancing act between being responsive and being propositional.
At SEW, I have been involved in a broad range of ambitious mixed-use schemes. I have seen how narrative and considered design can weave together hitherto disjointed places, uses and stakeholders. For our New Bermondsey project, we have reimagined an underused industrial site in London as a vibrant and attractive 3500 homes neighbourhood. Taking cues from the many unique ingredients of the Site, the design vision is anchored by a multi-layered landscape and a rich array of sports, wellbeing and employment spaces that blend seamlessly into the public realm.
The project has stimulated further design discussions within the studio and I enjoy working in a collaborative environment where projects cross-pollinate and enrich each other. This has fuelled my passion for good place-making, to introduce legibility and joy into the spaces where we live and work.
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
Architecture gives us the opportunity to create places that become a host to meaningful encounters and memories being made."
I really enjoy hosting and bringing people together. But growing up in one of the densest cities in the world, Hong Kong, you see a lot of people and make a lot of awkward eye contact but no meaningful encounters. Travelling to different cities fascinated me as I experience the diverse culture embedded, created and celebrated through cities. This led me to architecture, where the opportunity to design at different scales, from the stairs of a building to the masterplan, creates the places that host meaningful encounters and create lasting memories.
Formally trained as an Architect, I understand the creative needs of the Studio; my rational thinking and IT/CAD experience helps me to apply industry standards, and best practice to the ‘creative chaos' of the Studio."
I am responsible for all of SEW's CAD and IT Systems (and sometimes electric pencil sharpeners too!) Overseeing new emerging technologies in the multidisciplinary studio can be challenging but very stimulating. Formally trained as an Architect, I understand the creative needs of the Studio; my rational thinking and IT/CAD experience helps me to apply industry standards, and best practice to the ‘creative chaos' of the Studio.
To keep my own creativity flowing, I like to take photographs and travel with my family.
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
I worked in post-production on feature films, TV idents, and advertisements for 15 years before moving across to Studio Egret West to set up and drive forward their film making capabilities.
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
Job Titles:
- Creative Designer & Photographer
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Landscape Architect
Job Titles:
- Marketing and Bid Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
Job Titles:
- Senior Landscape Architect
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant
Job Titles:
- Chartered Landscape Architect
Job Titles:
- Part II Architectural Assistant