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Led by Helen Needham, our Architectural Design team work closely with our clients across the country as they embark on their oak frame home building journeys.
From on-site meetings and discussions, where home design ideas are transformed into inspiring concept drawings, through to the planning application process, preparing Building Regulations packages and all the important steps in-between; our team is here to ensure your dream oak framed home is brought to life! Click here to read more about our architectural design process and how we can support your future oak frame self-build.
To meet the members of our Architectural Design team and learn about their wealth of experience, please scroll down to view their individual profiles…
Helen has over 20 years of Architectural experience gained in practices across Lincolnshire, Devon, London, Sussex, and Surrey. Having worked on many projects of varying contract sums, and through all RIBA Work Stages, she realised her vocation lies in designing oak-framed homes after working on Listed buildings, residential masterplans and new houses for self-builders and commercial property developers.
Helen qualified as an Architect in 2008 and joined Oakwrights in April 2015 to help build the Architectural Design Team and strengthen Client services. Helen oversees all work stages in the Architectural team, although she specialises in Pre-application and Planning application design.
Originally from Lincolnshire, Helen went to Brighton University gaining a BA (Hons) Degree, and Postgraduate Diplomas in Architecture, Management, Practice, and Law, with RIBA Parts 1 to 3. Later, Helen gained a Management Diploma through Worcester University.
Having gained 12 years of detailed knowledge of oak-framing, Mariyana joined the Oakwrights Architectural Design Team in 2016, where she combines her experience of creating beautiful designs with the technical ability to build forever homes for our Clients.
Mariyana has successfully worked on gaining Planning Permissions and Building Regulations Consents for Oakwrights bespoke house designs, as well as multiple build sites around the country.
Mariyana completed her Master’s degree in English in 2001 as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in the Built Environment Studies in 2017, and became MCIAT qualified in 2018.
Jakki has had a strong interest in property since childhood. Being the daughter of a builder, she was never far from a building site and a pair of wellies, and from an early age she would watch her father detailing buildings at his drawing board, which ignited her passion for the built environment.
Since joining Oakwrights in 2007, Jakki initially advised clients in the early stages of their home building journeys and latterly, working within our Estimating team, she helped to transform their dreams into a reality. Jakki brings a wealth of expertise in oak frame house styles, as well as a passion for home design both inside and out.
Jakki has previously completed a new home build and has vast amounts of hands-on experience. More recently, Jakki has completed a green, eco-renovation on her forever home in Herefordshire.
Jakki gained a BA (Hons) in Art and Design, a multi-disciplinary, mixed media qualification: the Art element enabling a multitude of materials to be used creatively, while Design ensures the key principals of ‘form follows function’ are at fore of every project undertaken.
Dan joined Oakwrights in January 2020. Dan is looking forward to contributing to multiple Oakwrights projects within the studio, as well as expressing himself both architecturally and artistically. He hopes to enhance spaces and design better built environments that will enrich the lives of our clients; alongside further developing his skills towards becoming a qualified Architect.
Dan completed his part I Architectural studies at Birmingham City University.
Simon joined the Oakwrights team having gained several years’ worth of experience working within a commercial Architecture practice in Birmingham as an Architectural Assistant, he was involved in producing, planning, building regulation and construction drawings for a wide variety of projects. Simon joined Oakwrights as a member of the Academy, gaining practical experience to help support his design experience, having spent two years within the machine shop and encapsulation workshops. He then went on to work within the Estimating department, gaining concept design and pricing experience, eventually moving to the Architecture department in September 2022.
Simon completed his part 1 Architectural Degree at Birmingham City University, and he is currently working towards his Master of Architecture part 2 at Birmingham City University.
Harry has recently joined the Oakwrights team having gained his experience working for a relatively small multidisciplinary practice in Gloucester. Working in a multitude of roles ranging from Initial Concept design, managing the Planning and Building Regulations processes, as well as having involvement in on site procurement and deliverability.
Harry’s first project for Oakwrights was working on the infamous Lakes by Yoo development, tasked with developing drawings for a unique to Oakwrights steel frame scheme, to incorporate the Wrightwall system. The scheme is a fantastic opportunity to become more familiar with the Encapsulation systems at Oakwrights and will set him up for a long career with the team.
Education
Harry completed his BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology and Design degree from University of the West of England, Bristol in 2013. After completing his studies Harry has worked on a variety of projects ranging in value, industry and technique.
David has over 25 years of construction design experience in various technical roles covering a wide range of project types under traditionally procured, PFI and design and build contracts. Prior to joining Oakwrights he specialised in large multi-disciplinary projects in various construction sectors including Transportation Infrastructure, MOD, Aerospace, Industrial, Residential, Education and Healthcare.
Several years of his career have been spent abroad working primarily in the Middle East and the Philippines on projects for the MOD and more recently on both Dubai and Doha (Qatar) Metro rail projects specialising in Underground Station Entrance buildings and their associated MEP support facilities.
With significant experience in generating co-ordinated technical/architectural detailed design packages for complex multi-disciplinary construction projects, he enjoys focusing on the technical aspects of projects by developing innovative solutions within set time, financial, quality and subjective design constraints.
Dave has gained both OND and HNC qualifications in Construction and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists. Further training has focussed on software skills development such as 3d Studio Max (with Vray), Revit and Rhino.
Sam has recently joined the Oakwrights team having gained experience working for a smaller Oak Framing company in an architectural technician role in Staffordshire.
Sam’s experience in a multi-disciplined role involved the production of design proposals, estimating, building regulations and working drawings processes. Sam was also involved in liaising with suppliers and contractors alike.
On the ever-growing ‘Oakwright’s Country Buildings (OCB)’ along with Oakwright’s Houses, Sam has been tasked with developing and producing drawings with more bespoke and unique details for a variety of projects. This ranges from bespoke 3 bay habitable garages to full new build homes. Sam is passionate about these technical and design aspects in his work at Oakwrights.
Sam completed his degree in Product Design & Technology BSc (Hons) achieving First Class Honours from Loughborough University in 2018. After his studies, Sam worked in several subsectors of design before his true passion for oak framing, construction and architectural design was realised.
Darren first experienced the world of design as a child, sitting at his father’s desk, watching in awe as he produced conceptual thumbnail sketches of a piece of exquisite jewellery a Client had commissioned for design and creation.
Over the years, Darren became increasingly intrigued in the ways in which these ‘snippets’ became a true reflection of what was created, as if they were drawn as a still life of the finished article. With ‘balance’; proportion and symmetry, and attention to detail as the backbone of his practice, Darren embraces a Clients lifestyle-requirements to deliver a scheme of creativity, value, and environmental sustainability that will support the modern style of living.
Following these fundamental principles, Darren has been designing exclusive homes for over twenty years as a Design Director of Oakland Vale. Joining the Oakwrights Architectural Design Team in 2003 he began specialising in the field of structural green oak framing, offering skills and experience in this area that very few others have attained in the construction industry.
John is a specialist in the design of the inimitable home. With consideration taken for traditional building materials and construction techniques, John’s designs take care to contemplate light, aspect, proportion, scale, texture and context.
As part of the Oakwrights Architectural Design Team for more than ten years, John is fully conversant with the company’s systems and construction methods, ensuring a smooth process throughout your use of oak frame.
John gained his MA Cantab Degree in Architecture from Cambridge University in 1997, working for several years after graduation at an Architectural practice based in the City. In 2003, John moved to Herefordshire to work for a company that specialised in the repair and conservation of historic buildings, where he was involved in projects for both English Heritage and The National Trust. Both these jobs gave him a good grounding in the use and detailing of traditional materials and techniques, including oak framing, lime mortars and renders, as well as period joinery and glazing, and he formed AJMW Design.
Pete has almost 30 years of specialist self-build design knowledge and experience. His background as a bespoke home designer, specialising primarily in timber-framed building solutions, began with a design apprenticeship in 1984. For almost 20 years, Pete honed and refined his skills and learned how to design, specify, and build a wonderful collection of homes.
Since starting his own business in 2003; PJT Design, Pete has been a member of the Oakwrights Architectural Design Team, catering for a wide cross section of our clients who require exceptional service with their self-build projects. Pete undertakes concept studies and feasibilities as well as design and submissions for planning applications.
Derrick has been part of the Oakwrights Architectural design team since 2004, assisting the team at many stages of the Architectural Design process, including formulating the design brief, feasibility, and concept and detail design, as well as Planning and Building Regulation applications.
Derrick possesses an in-depth knowledge of the profession, a perspective honed as a senior member of design teams on projects as varied as retail, commercial, leisure, and restoration/historic Architecture. More recently Derrick has focused on private residential, specialising in oak and timber framing.
Entering Architecture initially at a private practice in 1981, as an Architectural Technician he progressed to the Welsh School of Architecture in 1985 where he completed two Degrees before being elected to the RIBA as a Chartered Architect in 1992, and forming Derrick Whittaker Architects.
Craig joined the Oakwrights Architectural Design Team in 2014, as part of the Oakwrights Scottish division alongside his colleague Andrew. Based in Ayrshire, South of Glasgow, Craig has nearly 40 years of experience in architecture.
Craig leads a team of Architects, Technologists, and Technicians alongside his colleague Andrew. They provide invaluable support in the successful delivery of quality architecture, backed up with detailed technical information.
With a history of award-winning architecture achieved through strength of design, approachable attitude, and willingness to work closely with our clients, Craig and Andrew have always taken the view that the most important part of architecture is to listen to the clients’ wishes and go above and beyond these with their design abilities. With that in mind, they were a natural fit to partnering with Oakwrights.
Andrew joined the Oakwrights Architectural Design Team in 2014, as part of the Oakwrights Scottish division alongside his colleague Craig. Based in Ayrshire, South of Glasgow, Andrew has 19 year experience working in practice.
Andrew and Craig’s team provide invaluable support in the successful delivery of quality Architecture, backed up with detailed technical information. The team includes a mix of knowledgeable Architects, Technologists, and Technicians.
The team have gone from strength to strength, establishing a catalogue of excellent projects in locations throughout Scotland and Ireland. These projects have ranged from small extensions to complex self-builds but have also included housing developments featuring numerous dwellings as well as commercial buildings. Craig and Andrew offer a full service to self-builders in Scotland, taking the clients through the early stages of design to the submission of planning applications. Once planning approval is achieved, the team work closely with the Oakwrights Frame Designers to assist in developing the drawings into technical drawings for the purposes of obtaining a Building Warrant and fabrication of the oak frame itself.
Andrew began his partnership with Craig in 2004 as Thomson Hunter Architects and qualified as an Architect in 2006.
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