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

Alan is an Associate and architect and leads the strategic direction of the practice’s later living and masterplanning sectors. Since joining the practice, Alan has collaborated with a diverse range of clients, stakeholders, consultants, contractors and communities across various sectors and projects.

Notable achievements include successfully delivering award-winning projects such as the mixed-use Highgate Newtown Community Centre, TNG Youth & Community Centre, as well as the Ryde and Begbroke masterplans.

In addition to his integral role at RCKa, Alan is actively involved in education, teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is a frequent guest critic and lecturer in London and the south east. He has contributed as a consultee for both the HSE building safety regulator and RIBA, providing insights on safety fire compliance and design guardian roles.

Andrea joined RCKa in 2019 after studying at the Manchester School of Architecture and University of Westminster where she received a distinction for her research into the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station.

Andrea’s passion for developing community-led schemes has been a focus of her work, and she has led the Camden Road Hostel and our small site pipeline upon joining RCKa. Andrea actively promotes health and wellbeing within the profession, helping to develop RCKa’s policies to support and empower junior members of staff.

A key focus of this work has been to encourage women to seek careers in the industry supporting individuals on internship programmes and speaking to larger student groups. Andrea is also lead for RCKa’s integration of BIM standards within the practice.

Anna joined RCKa in 2021 after graduating from the Queen’s University Belfast with distinction. Her thesis project proposed a re-imagining of Stormont as a civic space, winning the RSUA Silver Medal. Outside of her studies, Anna supported a collective of practices campaigning for the built future of a Magdalene Laundry site in Dublin, contributing to an engagement piece and travelling archive and exhibition.

Previously Anna worked at practices in both London and Ireland across a range of education, cultural, and civic realm projects, and also as a freelance visualiser during her postgraduate studies.

Since joining RCKa, Anna has worked across several infill residential schemes, and is leading the retrofit of Padnall Hall Youth Centre for Be First. She leads the practice’s education strategy and employee forum group and is currently working on a propositional research piece around rural station settlements.

Chris joined RCKa in 2020, bringing to the practice an extensive experience in the education sector. Having recently 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 mixed-use development for Sutton Council, delivering affordable homes that surpass the norm with a focus on enhancing health and wellbeing.

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. Outside of RCKa, Chris is a published illustrator having collaborated on a book for SEN children and families.

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.

Lucy is a new addition to the RCKa team, joining in December 2023 after graduating from the University of Warwick with a degree in History of Art. Specialising in architectural history, Lucy explored the works of the Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative in her thesis and completed modules in post-war urbanism in the midlands.

Since joining RCKa, Lucy has supported the practice in a number of areas, managing social media, internal communications and event organisation. Helping to lead the Culture Working Group, she has recently delivered the successful IWD event and office research trip to Amsterdam. Lucy also ensures the practice is compliant in ARB CPD requirements and is the office Health and Safety Manager.

Rhiona joined RCKa in 2018, after graduating with her MArch from the University of Bath. Since then, she completed her Part 3 at University of Westminster and has led a number of successful projects within the practice and led the public engagement programme for Nourish Hub.

She is passionate about supporting professional development and wellbeing of staff and colleagues, having led RCKa Employee Forum, providing a platform for supporting and nurturing staff, initiated the Women of RCKa discussion group, and has been a Part 3 Professional Champion at University of Westminster.

More recently, Rhiona has played an integral part in preparing a design code and masterplan for Staples Corner in Brent and is currently leading the retrofit for the Tropicana, the retrofit of an iconic events space in Weston-super-Mare, for North Somerset Council.

Rhiona is a member of the Design West Design Review Panel, and is responsible for RCKa’s Bristol office.

Russell is a founding director of RCKa and leads the practice’s urban projects, policy and research. He sits on design review panels for London Legacy Development Corporation and the London Borough of Newham, and is chair of the London Borough of Barnet’s Quality Review Panel. Russell was previously a Design Advocate for the Mayor of London, providing 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. Russell wrote the Small Site Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for Lewisham Council, and guidance for Ealing Council to assist in the delivery of affordable homes and temporary accommodation. He is an expert in public procurement, lecturing widely on the subject as well as advising public sector clients on intelligent commissioning.

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.