Practice

Joel is passionate about Architecture and the built environment and aims to provide an attentive, enthusiastic, professional and creative service to clients. Following his studies at Birmingham City University he joined D5 in 1996. He’s since completed an extensive portfolio of work across multiple sectors including transportation, education, community, workplace, leisure and residential. He values time with his family & friends, enjoys music, changing of the seasons, cycling to work in the sun and generally getting out and about.

Joe joined D5 as an Architectural Assistant in 2015 following completion of his undergraduate studies (RIBA Pt.1) at Birmingham City University (BCU). While continuing to work at D5, he then completed his MArch Course (RIBA Pt.2) and RIBA Pt.3 to qualify as an Architect. Joe is interested in the emergence of new technologies and how these can be utilised within the architectural discipline. Aside form work and his studies, Joe is a keen traveller and festival goer.

Ian is a founding partner of D5 Architects, which was established in 1989. The practice was formed by a 5-strong group of friends to maintain and progress the design debate they had enjoyed as students at the Birmingham School of Architecture. D5 is now an established independent practice operating internationally and through-out the UK and continues to promote talented designers. Ian has an insatiable passion for Architectural practice in addition to his wife and kids, old cars, fast bikes, intuition and inventiveness.

Savita completed her degree in Architectural Design & Technology in 2015 and since then has gained valuable key experience in BIM, client engagement and producing detailed drawings. Savita is focused on efficient working methods and day-to-day problem solving to meet project and client needs. She believes successful delivery relies upon open communication, collaboration and co-ordination between a design team, which is her aim on every project. She also aims to become MCIAT, travel more and continue to make the most out of every experience.

“Gadgets are great, but for me you still can’t beat a filofax and a good pen.”, were Martin’s words when he joined D5 Architects in 2009.

Whilst still appreciative of a good pen and notebook, Martin is now firmly focused on using technology to work collaboratively in delivering projects to recognised BIM standards. Achieving a paperless office would also be nice, and is something that Martin is attempting to do one gadget at a time.

Phil has many years office management experience and thrives on day-to-day challenges that the modern business world brings. Phil believes in ensuring relationships both within and outside the office are maintained and enhanced to provide both an enjoyable working environment and a mutually rewarding business relationship. Phil believes in promoting a healthy work/ life balance and enjoys life outside of work spending time with his wife, grown up children, sports, music and socialising.

Rachael initially completed an HPD in Interior Design before working as a residential interior designer involved in several major renovation projects in Listed Buildings. This inspired Rachael to complete a BSc in Interior Architecture at Wolverhampton University where she achieved a 1st Class Honours Degree and two CIAT awards. Rachael has since worked on student residential, education and leisure projects. Rachael joined D5 in 2018 after a two-year gap following the arrival of her son. In her free time she can be found pottering around at home or in her happy place….a tourer caravan sited in Brean!

Amanuel is an experienced Technologist working for over 24 years in the industry. He studied Architecture at Addis Ababa University and has worked across Africa before moving to the UK in 2011. He is very knowledgeable in BIM, enabling him to collaborate effectively and improve productivity throughout the design process. His abilities in Revit enables him to produce 3D visualisation work as well as parametric content databases and creation of office and project templates. He also enjoys cooking and loves world cinema.”

Richard joined D5 in 2020, bringing his knowledge and experience of residential and commercial projects to the team. He has built-up a broad range of skills working alongside developers and private clients, delivering high quality design. He enjoys working through all of the work-stages and especially enjoys the technical and practical challenges of delivering projects on-site, on-time and on-budget. Richard is a sports enthusiast and spends most of his weekends on the cricket field or golf course. He has played international cricket for Gibraltar and is a one-time marathon runner.

Richard joined D5 as an Architectural Assistant, following his undergraduate studies (RIBA Pt.1) at Birmingham City University (BCU). He's now completing his Masters (RIBA Pt.2) at BCU on their part time Apprentice course. Richard appreciates the creative development of designing, while considering how architecture can be unique while relating to, and benefitting the local area. Outside of the office, Richard’s loves engaging in new challenges and hobbies, which has led him to attempt rock climbing, surfing, martial arts and even ice hockey.

Meera completed her RIBA Part 1 and 2 at the University of Lincoln following which she completed her RIBA Part 3 at Birmingham City University qualifying as an Architect in 2020. She particularly enjoys working with existing buildings and on heritage led projects where the blend of the old and new can create unique spaces, in addition to bringing a building back to life. Outside of work she enjoys anything she gets to make and craft, from cooking to painting, while enjoying the occasional glass of wine.

Peter joined D5 following completion of his RIBA Part 1 BSc (Hons) Degree in Architecture at Coventry University. He enjoys problem solving and creative solutions with a particular interest in the role that architecture can play in combating climate change. He devoted his dissertation to researching the importance of embodied carbon in Passivhaus design to reduce carbon emissions, through the use of Revit BIM technology. In his spare time Peter enjoys playing sport, particularly hockey and has an interest in electronics including building his own PC.

Jennifer qualified in January 2017 and has worked in the UK and New Zealand on private residential, school and commercial projects. Following completion of a Passive Haus course in 2021, she is interested in continuing to develop her knowledge of healthy and sustainable building construction. Jennifer enjoys collaborative working to create site specific design solutions, to budget, with lasting design quality. She loves playing sport, particularly hockey, and being outdoors exploring the countryside with her partner and dog, on bike or on foot.

Nasir has joined D5 as an Architectural Technologist in 2021. Completed a BSc (Hons) Interior Architecture & Property
Development, with a 1st class honours degree. He is an MCIAT member and has developed a keen interest in BIM and 3D
Modelling software programmes. He's particularly experienced in healthcare, ecclesiastical, residential and transportation projects.

Hayley graduated from Leeds College of Art and Design with a BA (Hons) Interior Design in 2007. She has since worked in practice on projects with particular experience in Education, Government Buildings, Libraries and Workplace, as well as in the Leisure and Hospitality sectors. Hayley enjoys working within creative teams on challenging projects to ensure design work takes account of all constraints and opportunities to provide clients with the best possible outcome for their needs and those of the buildings users. In her free time Hayley enjoys swimming and holidays in the sun!

Marta completed her studies qualifying as an Architect at Granada University in her native Spain. She has experience working on various projects in different sectors including commercial, education, industrial and residential. Marta is an enthusiastic designer that finds inspiration on the beauty of the small details. Marta worked at D5 Architects in Birmingham, full time for 4 years, before returning to Spain, where she now works with us a regular freelance Architect.

Adrian studied Architecture at the University of La Salle, Mexico City, before obtaining a Master's Degree in Digital Design and Built Environments from the University of Sheffield, where he graduated with distinction. He’s interested in understanding how things work, which has led him to explore various algorithm-based design tools for BIM. He also enjoys entering architectural competitions and, in his free time, watching movies and hiking. Using his years of practice experience, he’s currently working on his RIBA Part 3 accreditation so he can register as an Architect.

Gerard has particular experience working in residential, student residential and master planning sectors including a number of large-scale projects across RIBA work stages. He studied at Birmingham City University for his RIBA Part II & III qualifications. Social architecture, sustainability and urban design are his key areas of interest. He has been on trips to cities, across six continents, to experience different cultures and ways of living. Outside of architecture, his main interests are music and football.

Having graduated Lancaster University in 2023 with the award for Most Outstanding Academic Achievement, Katie is excited to experience real-world challenges associated with practicing architecture and achieving sustainable design. Her main driver is sustainable architecture that can grow and adapt to the climate emergency, and she aspires to become a Passivhaus certified designer. In her free time she is an avid rower, having competed and placed well at a national level, most recently finishing second at Henley Women’s Regatta.

Isobel graduated from Liverpool John Moore’s in 2018 with a 1st in Architectural Technology and has been working in practice ever since. In this time she has gained experience across a variety of sectors including residential, commercial, and industrial and I has a particular interest in conservation. She’s now making the transition from Technologist to Architect, and is currently completing her RIBA Part 2, part-time, at Birmingham City University. In her spare time she enjoys reading and music.

Rob gained a 1st in Architectural Design & Technology from the University of Wolverhampton in 2015. While studying he worked part-time developing his Revit skills creating content for the National BIM Library. Rob was also the student representative for the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologist and plans to gain Chartered status in the future. He’s a keen eye for detail, enjoying the process of construction and has led the technical development of several multimillion-pound projects. Outside work Rob enjoys family time, baking and cricket.

Jake has a passion for crafting high-quality contextual solutions, transforming his designs through an engaging narrative. He has experience on projects from private residential and community-led initiatives to large commercial mixed-use masterplans. He studied at UWE Bristol, and University of Bath, achieving firsts for both his degree and master's degree. He was nominated for both the Presidents Medal Bronze Award 2018, and Silver Award 2021, and has won RTPI Urban Planner of the Year 2018 and Norman Fosters Urban Design of the Year 2021.