1. How long have you been at Woods Hardwick and what does your position entail?
I joined in September 2010 as an Associate Director. The role has a wide range of responsibilities, including:
a) Undertaking the role of assisting the Director in the design and management of projects so that we are economic and efficient
b) Promoting and marketing our wide range of expertise in residential projects
c) Inspiring and motivating so that we achieve the highest design and construction standards
d) Keeping updated on business, design and technical matters.
2. What or who inspired you to become an architect? What were your influences in early life?
My school art teacher, Brian Page initially. He taught me how to analyse clearly in order to create. He also taught architectural history through design principles, rather than through dates and facts.
After that, my tutors at Manchester School of Architecture, most of whom were practising architects. I was interested in new approaches to residential design in the early work of Architects such as Ralph Erskine, Darbourne and Darke and Phippins Randell and Park (now PRP).
3) What or who are your influences now?
I worked previously at PRP as an Architect for 10 years. They lead the way in new and innovative approaches, and have been a huge influence.
Now I am now more influenced by particular architectural solutions rather than architects, but I admire the the attention to design and detailing of architects such as Proctor Matthews and Fielden Clegge. Quality in new housing is also an ongoing influence, such as the Brooklands development in Milton Keynes.
4. What are the favourite aspects of your job?
a) Designing, to create inspiring spaces and places, within the limitation of the briefs and budgets
b) Working with like-minded people
c) Seeing good housing produced and lived in.
5. Which project has given you the most fulfilment to date? What did it involve?
A scheme for 220 houses, flats and retail units at Broughton Atterbury in Milton Keynes, partnering with Places for People, Willmott Dixon and English Partnerships. It was the first design-coded scheme in Milton Keynes and the first to achieve an Eco-Excellent rating. Following completion, the design team won a LABC ‘Best Partnering’ Award.
6. If you could design anything, anywhere in the world, what would it be?
Designing and developing a low cost housing system that could be transported and erected in any country, Including the UK! There seems to be so many areas of deprivation that the building industry needs to be more active in. We can mass-produce cars, planes and boats but, still not houses.
7. What is your favourite building? Why?
The Guggenheim Museum in New York, audaciously designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1943.
It broke all the rules for planning art galleries, based upon a spiral ramp and continuous curved walls. On visiting it I was struck by the natural, organic feeling of the building and spaces.
It was also ahead of its time in starting the movement towards more exciting public buildings.
8. If you hadn’t become an architect, what would you have been?
A Teacher. I enjoyed a period of lecturing on Design Technologies at the University of Luton Architecture School and working with students on a range of design and technology projects.
9. What would you say to a young person thinking of forging a career as an architect?
To use the well-worn cliché you will ‘reap what you sow.’ A successful and rewarding career in architecture will largely depend upon your ability, passion, dedication and a single-mindedness to reach your goals.
10. Look into your crystal ball -what’s the next big thing in architecture?
Solving a growing housing crisis, the worst since after the Second World War, ranging from affordable housing for young single people and couples, to an aging population with differing degrees of special needs. Solving the problem will require visionaries, who can work together with local authorities, financial institutions and consortiums
to deliver a new programme of housing quickly and economically
11. Classic design is……………
A product that establishes the highest standard in its class and has an enduring and lasting significance, e.g. the Porsche car, Dyson vacuum cleaner, Rolex watch. They all have a simple, refined elegance.
12. Which Woods Hardwick project have you found the most interesting/challenging/fulfilling?
We have recently obtained planning consent for a new residential development on the former site of Colchester Football Club. There is a range of high quality houses surrounding a central green, which will contain a memorial garden and statue commemorating past footballers who played for the club.
13. Are you working on a particularly interesting project at the moment?
Yes, a new mixed-use local centre project at Kings Reach, Biggleswade for Taylor Wimpey and Martin Grant.
This comprises apartments and town houses, community centre, shops and a Care Home that forms a public landscaped public square.


This project is the latest in a successful tack record within the education sector for Woods Hardwick. The framework contractor, in liaison with Peterborough City Council approached them as a result of the soon-to-be-completed Welland School project in Peterborough, where adherence to tight deadlines has been key.
Woods Hardwick have now completed their second commission in China – a 43ha master-planning project based in Yantai, in the north-east of the country.
Woods Hardwick’s previous commission in China was a masterplan and architectural ideas for the new Jilin Province Library and Exhibition Hall in Changchun City, which reached the final of an international competition in China.
Agnieszka Seamans joined the team in June 2011 at Associate level, and has over 9 years’ experience in highway and infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on sustainable developments. In recent years this has extended to undertaking flood risk assessments for residential and commercial developments.
John Freeman is the most recent recruit, who joins the team as an Associate Director. With over 10 years’ experience of working in the public and private sectors, John’s expertise lies in the residential sector. He has an enviable track record of managing multi-disciplinary teams and has successfully delivered schemes from 10 to 1200 homes.

Local architects’ firm Woods Hardwick is celebrating yet another award this year, after scooping the Best New Commercial Construction award at the
Now in its 16th year, the annual RIBA Stirling Prize is the highlight of the architectural award calendar, and is the prize most architects would like to scoop. Aside from the £20,000 prize money, the main jostle is for the instant recognition and kudos of being awarded ‘the best European building that has made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture in the past year’.
Also implemented was Brise Soliel across one side of the building, providing permanent sun shading and reducing solar heat gain, preventing glare and reducing discomfort.