Team

BA (Hons) (First Class), Dip Arch, ARB, RIBA

Matthew joined WDA in 1999. He is an innovative designer with extensive experience in traditional and contemporary design. His work has ranged from affordable housing developments to award winning luxury houses.

Matthew is skilled in masterplanning and detail design on large sites including Hanger Farm, a development of circa 350 individually designed dwellings, performing art centre, public park and tennis club. Matthew’s education experience recently includes built projects for Talbot Heath School, Victoria Education Centre and Lytchett Minster School. Matthew also has experience in designing offices, including a number of high profile contemporary renovation projects. 

Matthew is responsible for design and project management on small, medium and large-scale projects with contract values ranging from £200k to £20m.  His contract experience includes JCT- MW, IC, SC and PPC2000 partnering. Matthew has project management skills in the coordination of multi-discipline teams and with his extensive knowledge of building construction is adept at delivering successful projects. Matthew oversees all HR and financial issues within the practice.

Matt is also our expert for planning in the New Forest National Park.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons), Dip Arch (Hons)

Matthew joined Western Design Architects in 1999 and became a Creative Director in 2004.  He has won numerous awards for his designs, with work published in Journals and Books. The majority of Matthew's experience is in the residential sector having designed many of Western Designs outstanding houses including ‘The Moat House’, ‘18 Lakeside’ ‘Harbour View;’ and ‘Vision’.  He has carried out works to Listed Buildings and sensitive sites in conservation areas such as the recent scheme at Treloar and has been project leader for a number of flat developments converting Public Houses into apartments. Matthew has undertaken numerous master planning and concept design works for large housing schemes, including; Hangar Farm, Totton, Cuthbury Meadows, Wimborne and Curtis Fields, Weymouth. Matthew lives in Blandford having converted a small garage into a family home.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons), Dip Arch, ARB, RIBA

Jonathan joined Western Design Architects in 2011 having relocated to Dorset from Ireland where he was a Director of an architectural practice. He was soon made a Director at WDA due to his wealth of design experience, professionalism and active interest in marketing. Jonathan is currently responsible for managing and running a range of master planning schemes across the south coast. Jonathan is also a member of the Bournemouth Borough Council Design Review Panel. As a Christchurch resident Jon has a personal interest in the locality and its developments.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

CA, Dip Arch, PG Dip (conservation Sciences) ARB, RIBA

Phil Easton established the practice in 1986. He has over 50 years experience in the profession and worked full time on site for 5 years, building many of his own designs.  With his love of buildings and problem solving, he has been constructing his own projects ever since. He has hands-on experience in several trades as roofer, plumber, carpenter, electrician and plant driver. An RIBA accredited Conservation Architect, specialising in historic buildings, including listed Grade I, II* and II, structures within Conservation Areas and in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Phil has an in-depth knowledge of the planning system and good relationships with Local Authorities and Planning Officers. He has been a juror on various awards, including Poole Pride of Place & RIBA Regional Awards. Phil is a member of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and is a member of RIBA Wessex and Dorset local branches. Phil helps out at the Architecture Pathway CGI degree courses at both Bournemouth and Southampton Solent Universities.  He mentors students studying Architecture at Arts University Bournemouth.Phil has lived in and around Blandford most of his life, he has excellent knowledge and love of Dorset's countryside, coast, towns and villages.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

MSc Conservation of Historic Buildings, BA (Hons) Interior Design 

Nicola Yeates is an affiliate member of the IHBC (Institute of Historic Building Conservation) and received a Master’s Degree in the Conservation of Historic Buildings from Bath University. 

Nicola is predominately responsible for overseeing, designing and submitting planning applications for the majority of the traditional builds in the office including conversions and extension to existing historical and traditional buildings.  Nicola has considerable experience in works to Listed Buildings, preparing heritage statements and submitting Listed Building Consent applications. 

Nicola has always had a keen interest in architectural history and building conservation.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons) Interior Design

Kathryn has multiple responsibilities at Western Design. She manages all aspects of the IT and office technology. Most importantly she oversees the practice marketing and website working closely with Rianna and the marketing team. She works to raise the profile of the practice by writing material for the practice brochures, updating and production of images for the website, social media and preparing press releases. Kathryn is responsible for awards submissions documentation and organising exhibitions.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons), MArchD, ARB, RIBA

Peter joined Western Design in 2014 and has established himself as a valuable and knowledgeable member of the team. He is very efficient with quick 3D computer modelling skills and excellent presentation abilities. Peter has a particular interest in historical architecture and the integration of contemporary design. 

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons), MArchD, ARB

Rachel, a talented designer, first joined WDA in 2012 during her placement year. Rachel has since graduated as a fully qualified Architect at the University of Bath and completed her RIBA Part II at Oxford Brookes University. She is a skilled member of the team having worked on projects ranging from large scale housing layouts to one off contemporary dwellings, making use of her excellent abilities in design, 3D modelling and graphic visualisation.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons), March, FRSA

Antonia joined WDA in December 2019, becoming a qualified Architect in October 2020 (Kingston University, London), having completed Part I and Part II at the Arts University Bournemouth. Antonia has a cumulative seven years’ experience as a sustainability consultant, architectural designer and associate urban designer for Dorset-based practices. She has a broad skillset with a portfolio including; private house builds, strategic masterplans, neighbourhood plans and new garden villages south of London. Her more recent projects include the extension of a local nursery school, the renovation of a Grade II Listed Building in Winchester and the development of a pioneering Healthy New Town in Whitehill & Bordon.

Antonia enjoys designing and implementing new sustainable garden towns and cities and has great attention to architectural detail. She is a Young Urbanist with The Academy of Urbanism, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the Bournemouth Christchurch Poole Design Panel.

BA (Hons), MArch

Tom first joined WDA in 2017 during his placement year. Since then, he has completed his masters with distinction at the University of Portsmouth, winning the Bradford prize for the most sensitive design within an established historic environment. During his time at university, Tom has developed many graphical skills and has gained experience in using BIM software, whilst maintaining his passion for hand sketching.

Working in a team, he was heavily involved in small community projects run by the University, including constructing a temporary installation near Portsmouth Guildhall for the public to interact with. Inspired by these projects, Tom volunteered to take part in the construction of a community facility in the Fiji islands. Tom has a particular interest in the architectural contrast between old and new, in which the proposed design has a positive visual, social and environmental impact on the existing.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons) Arch (First Class)

Rianna has been a dedicated member of the WDA team since 2015 after graduating her Part 1 degree with a First Class Honours from the Arts University Bournemouth. She has been a part of various projects ranging from bespoke luxury homes through to large masterplanning schemes taking them from sketch scheme through to completion.

Excellent 3D visuals and graphics are just a couple of the ways Rianna presents her designs to make them come to life for our clients. She is also a part of our marketing team and assists in raising the profile of WDA through social media, events organisation and mentoring programmes.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons) Arch

Rebecca joined WDA in 2018 after graduating with her Part 1 from the Arts University Bournemouth. In her final year she won the Nicholas Durbridge Award for collaboration, the Dean's Prize for the faculty of Art Design and Architecture and was nominated for the Turland Award.

Rebecca is currently undertaking her Part 2 qualification with the RIBA studio, facilitated by Oxford Brookes University whilst working full time.

Rebecca has a passion for collaboration and has been involved with a number of projects which include: assisting with the curation of the ‘Zaha Hadid Architects: Evolution’ exhibition at AUB and making replica historic models for the Norman Foster Foundation in Madrid.

Rebecca has excellent CAD and 3D visualisation skills and is experienced in Architectural Photography, Graphic Design and Architectural Model Making. She is also involved in our mentoring programmes and careers events.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons) Arch

Hannah joined WDA in March 2019 after returning to her home town of Poole. This follows 10 years of study and working in architecture. Since completing a 4 year honours degree in Architecture and Planning in Bristol she has worked in Architectural practices in London, Bristol and Oxfordshire. She has been involved in projects which include Heathrow T2, shopping centres, schools, housing developments and private residences. She has also worked as a Planning Consultant and was a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, which gave her valuable experience in this field

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

BA (Hons) Arch

Matteo joined WDA, in 2019. He started his career in Architecture in Genova, Italy, where he completed 1 year of study at the Universita degli Studi di Genova. In 2014 Matteo moved to England and completed a BA (Hons) Architecture degree at the Arts University Bournemouth in 2017. After graduating Matteo worked for a year and half at a Dorset architecture practice whilst also working as a freelance graphic designer.

Matteo has a particular interest in sustainable and productive architecture. Helping communities to live in a cleaner and better world where buildings provide real benefit to the life of the people around them.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

HNC Building Design

Steve has been with Western Design since 1998. His main interest is in producing technical drawings for contemporary builds. Noteworthy projects have included award winning scheme ‘South Point’, sustainable house ‘Moat House’, ‘Box House’ and ‘Cherry Orchard’. Steve has experience with large housing schemes, affordable housing and the conversion of existing buildings such as Motcombe Grange a retirement care home and Shepherds Hut. Steves roles include all aspects of construction and detail drawings as well as preparing tender packages. 

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

Gemma joined Western Design in early 2015. Gemma’s role as practice manager is vital, she gives support to the Directors and Architectural Team and oversees them and the Admin Staff with HR matters, Finance, Office Procedures, Health and Safety and Communication. Gemma helps us to be more efficient and serve our clients more effectively.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

Marina joined Western Design Architects in 2017 and has a background and BSc Hons in Psychotherapy. Marina will be the first point of contact you make with WDA via either email or directly on the phone. She is responsible for all of Principal Architect Phil’s correspondence as well as assisting other members of staff and supporting the day to day running and organisation of the office.

FAVOURITE PROJECTS

Cecily joined us in 2018 and has since become a valued and reliable member of the team. Her role involves methodically and meticulously digitalising past projects currently held as hard copies. Cecily also assists other staff members with their day to day tasks. 

FAVOURITE PROJECTS