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Key Personnel
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Chris Dyson
Principal Partner -
Yashin Kemal
Associate Director -
Maria Louise Long
Consultant Architect -
Alice Theodorou
Consultant Architect -
Tara Meehan
Architectural Assistant Part 2 -
Harry Whittaker
Heritage Consultant -
Victoria Yakovets
Architectural Assistant Part 2 -
Olusola Adebakin
Architectural Assistant Part I -
Oliver Dunn
Architectural Assistant Part 1 -
Jac Leckenby
Accounts - Portrack House
Chris Dyson has worked for 25 years in the arena of both public and private buildings. Chris read Architecture at Oxford Brookes University and the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the University of Glasgow where, following a number of awards and nominations, he was offered his Masters in Architecture. He then moved to London to work for James Stirling Michael Wilford and Associates (JSMWA), initially working on competition projects such as Le Grande Bibliotheca National in Paris, and the Tokyo and Kyoto Forum projects. These and many other projects have been widely and internationally published.
Chris became an Associate at Michael Wilford and Partners (as the practice became known after the death of Sir James Stirling in 1992), having been involved in a number of projects including Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore, the Singapore Arts Centre, The Tate Liverpool, Abando Transport Interchange development in Bilbao, B Braun & Sto production facilities in Europe and the House of History, and Music School, in Stuttgart.
Chris went on to become a Design Director at Sir Terry Farrell’s London studio, working on projects in Swiss Cottage, Greenwich Peninsula and a number of successful competition submissions in mainland China, subsequently realised for CITIC, the state owned petroleum company, and the Finance Tower, Shenzhen—at 441.8m tall it is one of the world’s tallest buildings. The understanding which this experience gave him enables him to conceive and design connected public spaces which can be engaged with intuitively, without resorting to grand or affected gestures.
In 2003 Chris established Chris Dyson Architects, initially in collaboration with Michael Wilford with whom he prepared designs for a New Museum of Africa, outside Cape Town in South Africa. Since incorporating the practice Chris has established a significant track record working on a variety of complex and interesting projects including the Earl’s Court Masterplan for Capital & Counties Properties PLC, the RAF Museum at Hendon and a distinctive collection of one-off designs for private clients. Based in Spitalfields, London, where Chris has lived for 20 years, the practice undertook many of its early projects in this particular Conservation Area. Through this experience Chris and his team have honed their skills in intelligent conservation and sensitive building design.
Chris Dyson Architects LLP is a Chartered RIBA practice and is widely published, which has received many awards and is frequently a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy Summer Show. Today this thriving practice has many experienced personnel and new and exciting commissions—including works for the Royal Parks in London’s Hyde Park, and Central London.
Chris has a reputation for working on challenging projects of all scales including many historic listed buildings and he is a design advisor to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The practice prides itself on a high degree of attention to detail and a flair for innovative and modern design, and frequently collaborates with artists. Chris is supported by partners Mathew Witts, formerly of Flacq. Together they represent a family of talented and committed people.
Yashin joined CDA in August 2021 after developing his career at architecture studios Apt, OMA, Stanton Williams and YRM. He has experience running and delivering commercial, residential, retail and refurbishment projects.
Yashin has a passion for architecture that is born out of a rigorous and thoughtful design process. He has a keen eye for detail and likes to problem solve and develop ideas through sketching. In 2010 he was named ‘Emerging Architect of the Year’ at the International Design Awards in Los Angeles.
Outside of the studio, Yashin is a visiting architectural critic and tutor at the University of Westminster. He also enjoys spending time carefully renovating and restoring his Grade II listed, modernist home in Hertfordshire.
One of the most gratifying parts of working in this profession is to stand with a happy client at the end of the process and share in their satisfaction of what we have achieved whether a new build, transformation of a space or the reinstatement of an element lost to history.
I love that I can be part of a process that provides people with something which is so personal to them.
Tara graduated with first class honours from the University of Limerick in 2022. During her studies she worked on several private residential projects with Hassett Ducatez Architects based in Dublin City.
Following her studies, she spent 2 months volunteering with the Icelandic Forestry Service. The main objectives being; the implementation of nature conservation techniques, maintenance of hiking trails and construction of sustainable shelters using locally sourced material.
Prior to joining CDA, she worked for over 1 year with Axo Architects, based in County Mayo in the West of Ireland. Here she was involved in a wide range of projects but specialising mostly in cultural, heritage and public realm projects.
Harry is an AABC accredited Conservation Architect. He brings over 30 years of conservation experience. He has assisted us on all of our most complicated conservation schemes, including the conversion of 28 listed houses in Whitechapel back into residential use.
Harry gained AABC accreditation in 2015 and became Associate Member of the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association in 2016. He has extensive experience in historic building conservation work and has a deep commitment to the repair and restoration of the historic environment.
Victoria joined Chris Dyson Architects in May 2022. She graduated with a Master’s Degree from Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture in 2014. She has over six years of experience in residential interior design and architecture.
For the last year, Victoria has taught architecture to children aged 9-11. Teaching made it possible to share her knowledge, with the hope to inspire new minds into architecture and design. This also helped her to learn spontaneity from the children and to see the world without limits. She finds these to be key ingredients for creative thinking, which relates to her everyday life in architecture.
Olusola joined Chris Dyson Architects in March 2021. Having graduated from University of Westminster, he is now working as Part 1 Architectural Assistant.
He has gained experience working for ZAP Architects where he worked predominantly on projects in the residential sector. His experience in BIM modelling and visualization is of benefit to CDA.
Olusola enjoys the approach that Chris Dyson Architects have with reinventing spaces with modern ideas and materiality while preserving the site context. He is excited to work through the design process on challenging projects with CDA, which marry subtle modernization and conservation.
Oliver joined CDA in March 2022 – He originally grew up in Durham in the north-east of England and moved to Glasgow to undertake his undergraduate degree at the University of Strathclyde in 2018.
His main interest in architecture lies in heritage buildings and adaptive re-usage, which is what drew him to CDA and their approach. During his time in our office, he has worked on a variety of projects including our most recent proposal for the expansion of the Truman Brewery boiler house.
Outside this he has also helped project manage an exhibition at the Guildhall Gallery, London for ‘Wren:300’ celebrating the life and work of Christopher Wren. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, walking, and supporting his beloved Newcastle United.