Who Are Atelier16?
From to left to right: Suzane Khambata, Elisa Mihaylova, Rachel Mathewson, Ben Godfrey
Positioning Statement
Atelier16 looks for commissions from local authorities to work with communities, involving them in the design process through regular consultation workshops throughout projects.
We feel that community involvement in architecture is the key to urban regeneration; therefore the neighbourhoods that we design will ultimately be organised, well planned, and have a sense of personalisation to it. This will lead to social cohesion, which is expressed through the creation of safer and healthier places for people to reside in.
We are able to offer personalised services in local developments, town planning and landscaping. Each member has worked on a variety of projects, including community and work and social housing projects. We can therefore provide over 20 years combined experience on leading community projects nationwide, including the North West Cambridge Site, located in Cambridge University, and the Field Study Centre in Kew Gardens.
Our Ethos
We research and listen and work collaboratively with the client, stakeholders and end users to create buildings with a warm, welcoming, safe environment. We employ a collaborative design process which can inform and can be fun, embracing workshop participation. As architects we listen!
We specialise in providing a successful participatory design service to community led organisations both through local authorities and the private sector. We aim to achieve optimum Client satisfaction by forming a close working relationship with each organisation from the preparation of the project brief, interactive design proposals and detailing, to the successful completion of the project on site including a commitment to low maintenance and life cycle costing.
This includes liaising with all key stakeholders including presentations to Neighbourhood Steering Groups, attending open days, organising design workshops and planning weekends and communicating with all levels of the community. The challenge is to achieve a point that through a process of public consultation the local community and all other stakeholders embrace a common vision for the proposed project or regeneration.
http://www.dunwoodiearchitects.co.uk/design-ethos/4582664728
People
Suzane Khambata
Marketing Director
In 2016, Suzane graduated from Nottingham Trent University with an Upper Second Class Degree. Following graduation, she completed her Part 1 Placement at Leonard Design Architects, a Nottingham based architectural practice who complete master-planning and retail projects worldwide.
In 2019, she started working for Danish Architect Bjarke Ingels as part of her studies for Part 2 and went back to Nottingham Trent University to complete her Masters Education, and has since become an expert in master planning and urban regeneration within towns and cities.
Elisa Mihaylova
Finance Director
Grew up in France, came to England to study her A-Level. She then went to Nottingham Trent University to study architecture and graduated in 2016. Elisa did her part one placement in Rotterdam at OMA. Came back to England to do her part two at the University of Nottingham and her part two placement at Benoy. She qualified has an architect in 2021. She as been part of the Nottingham and Derby society of Architects, since doing her part one.
Rachel Mathewson
Technological Director
Raised in Durham, Rachel graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2016. She then undertook her Part 1 placement at Halsall Lloyd Partnership's Nottingham Office. She studied for her Part 2 at Oxford Brookes University before coming back to Nottingham and HLP, splitting her time between the Nottingham and Newcastle offices, before qualifying as an architect in 2021. A keen rower and cox, Rachel has competed nationally and internationally; whilst completing her Part 1 placement, she coxed the M8+ at the U23 World Championships in Bulgaria; she currently coxes and rows for Nottingham Rowing Club.
Ben Godfrey
Image Director
Born and raised in Leicester, Ben gained his love of architecture from football and in particular the atmospheres in the stadiums. As a massive supporter of Leicester City and an active cricket player for Loughborough Town CC, he always applies this love and passion into the buildings he designs.
Graduating Nottingham Trent University in 2016, with a 2:1 degree, he took his year out with Rion Willard at The Thinking Hand Studio, London. He took his Part 2 at the Bartlett School of Architecture to follow in Rion's footsteps. Ben then returned to TTHS where he took his final placement; his qualification is accredited by Cambridge University.