RCKa is a people-focused practice of architects, designers and policy makers.

Alan Beveridge is an Associate Director at RCKa, with extensive experience in the design and delivery of regeneration, mixed-use and masterplanning projects. He specialises in unlocking the potential of complex and constrained urban sites, balancing creative ambition with robust, deliverable strategy.

Alan has worked closely with a broad range of clients, stakeholders, consultants, contractors and communities across multiple sectors, shaping projects from early vision through to completion. His portfolio includes the successful delivery of award-winning schemes such as the Highgate Newtown Community Centre, TNG Youth & Community Centre, and the Ryde and Begbroke masterplans.

His approach is grounded in a belief that successful places are defined by a deep understanding of people and context, where design quality and practicality go hand in hand. He champions thoughtful, people-centred placemaking, using design to strengthen communities, enhance local character and create lasting social value.

Alongside his role at RCKa, Alan contributes to the wider profession as a member of four quality review panels, and has previously acted as a consultee for the HSE Building Safety Regulator and RIBA, providing insight on fire safety compliance and design guardian roles.

Chris joined RCKa in 2020, bringing to the practice an extensive experience in the education sector. Having led a project to design an exemplar SEND school and therapy centre in Surrey for the Children’s Trust, Chris is currently leading on a new adult learning centre for Sutton Council – a new home for Sutton College in a key location on Sutton High Street.

He previously collaborated with Hawkins\Brown on the Begbroke Innovation Park and housing masterplan for Oxford University Development.

Chris has extensive experience running projects through all stages from brief development with multiple stakeholder groups, to detailed design and overseeing projects to completion on-site.

Cian joined RCKa in 2022 and has recently passed his Part 3 at London Met. Prior to joining the practice, Cian worked in both London and Ireland, most recently gainng experience within the affordable housing sector across a suite of small sites in Hounslow, and within mass timber developments and research at Waugh Thistleton.

Cian is currently supporting the design development of West Malling, a 140-unit later living scheme in Kent. Cian is also working on the retrofit of Tropicana at Weston-super-Mare. He leads the Culture Working Group and organises our social calendars for the year.

Dieter is a founding director of RCKa and leads on our community and social asset projects. He is an expert in project enablement, funding and social impact advice for local authorities, housing associations, and third sector groups.

Dieter’s focus is to make things happen. His strategic advice and exceptional design and stakeholder management skills are proven to unlock opportunities and secure local support. He has delivered numerous complex and national award-winning projects over the years, including TNG Youth & Community Centre for Lewisham Council, which recently celebrated its 10th year with a ‘test-of-time‘ award in recognition of its ongoing impact. He is currently leading the re-imagination of Weston-super-Mare’s iconic beachfront event venue The Tropicana.

He is a Design South-East design review panel Chair, and a Design Council Expert. He also sits on Kingston, Ashford, Haringey and chairs the Sutton Design Review Panels. He is a co-founder of Architects Aware that seeks to tackle homelessness and an external examiner for Central St Martins undergraduate architecture course.

Emily graduated from the MArch programme at the London School of Architecture in 2023 and joined the team soon after. Her thesis explored ways to preserve and promote the growth of backstage culture amidst large-scale regeneration within the city.

Since joining RCKa, Emily has contributed to the design development of the Northern Gateway site for Sutton Council, which involves the creation of a new home for an adult learning college. Emily has contributed excellently to our CPD program, discussing changes to the GLA Housing Design Standards. She has also played a large role in our recent International Women’s Day tour around Dawson’s Heights.

Katie joined RCKa in 2022, after completing the MArch programme at The University of Edinburgh where she was awarded a distinction and shortlisted for The RIAS Architecture and Design Scotland Urban Design Award. It was at The Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture where she embarked upon a two-year integrated studio unit with an in-depth commitment to ‘research through making’.

Katie has a passion for sensitive and socially conscious architecture with thoughtful detailing and purpose. She has worked on the successful planning application submission for the Broadfields Estate infill scheme, Birmingham Smithfield and qualified as an Architect in March 2023.

She is helping to deliver Boughton Heath through the construction phases. Alongside project work, Katie leads the Software and Templates Working Group and has successfully implemented new systems and efficiencies within the practice.

Russell is a founding director of RCKa and leads the practice’s urban projects, policy and research. He is chair of the London Borough of Barnet’s Quality Review Panel and is a Design Advocate for the Mayor of London, providing specialist guidance on commissioning and design quality.

His spatial research work into London’s golf courses, rural station development and suburban intensification has received national media attention, including appearances on television and radio, as well as frequent coverage in the mainstream press. He is currently leading the development of a London-wide small site design code, which will form a key part of the next London Plan, and has developed a geospatial AI tool which received £100,000 grant funding from the Geovation PropTech Innovation Fund.

Sam joined RCKa in 2020, having graduated from Sheffield School of Architecture. Sam’s MArch thesis explored alternative means of architectural production, building upon the school’s ‘Live Projects’ programme through the repurposing of a city centre modernist landmark into an ‘Urban House’—a new civic typology centred around the collaborative production of the local built environment.

Since joining RCKa, Sam has worked on our Boughton Heath and West Malling Integrated Retirement Community projects, with a focus on wellbeing, community and sustainable living.

Alongside this, Sam has developed the practice’s Small Sites and Research projects – leading on several small site proposals including a Community Land Trust with LCLT in Southwark, and most recently developing propositions for RCKa’s Holes to Homes and Rural Stations research projects. Sam has a particular interest in narrative design across both professional and personal pursuits, enjoying the creative potential of illustration, photography and filmmaking as a means of storytelling and communication.

Tahera joined RCKa in 2016 and has led various projects spanning housing, education, and community development. She was the project architect for the award-winning 23a Leyton Road development in Harpenden and the Children’s Trust in Tadworth, Surrey.

She has extensive experience in the education sector, having led numerous projects for schools and higher education institutions. She played a pivotal role in the RIBA award-winning Westborough Primary School zero-carbon remodelling and research initiative, exploring innovative methods for achieving zero-carbon standards in primary school refurbishments.

Currently, Tahera is leading the development of a 140-unit later living scheme in West Malling for the Retirement Living Group, marking one of RCKa’s largest projects aimed at achieving a 3-star Fitwel score. Tahera oversees RCKa’s Working Group programme and co-founded the SaLADS collective, which organizes monthly architectural tours with the ambition to make architecture accessible to all.

Tim is a founding director of RCKa, with experience in delivering large scale regeneration projects and strategic masterplanning. He is responsible for delivering the practice’s residential work with a keen understanding of market-sensitive development and its regeneration potential. He leads projects through early strategic design and urban design stages with an opportunity-led approach to design, focused on community cohesion and social infrastructure.

He has delivered numerous award-winning projects over the years including seven Housing Design Award winning projects including Hortsley, the winner of the 2019 HAPPI Award. He is currently leading the delivery of three large net-zero-carbon later living projects for Retirement Villages Group.

Tim is chair of Hertfordshire’s Design Review Panel.