Building Futures

Creating a fabulous architectural studio workspace for Southgate & Sarabia Architects that is design and innovation led, a fun and collaborative place, is a major focus for Darren. His skills in business leadership and organisation has set him and his business partner on a journey, happier and more focused than at any other time.

Design is at the heart of every decision. Interested in all stylistic periods and the social narrative that informed these identifiable periods, Darren uses these characteristics to creates debate and interest.  Design leadership isn’t about ego fuelled styling from a single author but finding the right solution with the design team that resonates and delivers delight. An intellectual passion not fashion.

Most architectural problems are born out of both strategic resolution but also detailed excellence. ‘God is in the detail’ has never been more important as we look to manufactured quality construction level details, rather than ‘building’, however craft detailing will forever be important as we have existing buildings to maintain, that are loved and reflect our national identity.

With so much experience, it’s easier to highlight project favourites, which include workplace offices, advanced manufacturing and education buildings over the last 30 years.

Core Skills

• Business and Management Leadership
• Design Direction and Leadership
• Detail Design and Innovation
• Industry 4.0, Workplace and Advanced Manufacturing Expertise

Briefing and design are at the heart of Natalie’s passion for architecture. Working closely with clients and our team, she seeks the very best results, through collaboration and hard work, assisting and advancing our narrative as a design led practice with a reputation for service quality.

Interested in Marketing and Business Development also, the very best of Natalie’s personality presents in these situations, delighting our clients with her big ideas and knowledge, many an introductory meeting or interview has been a joyous and fun occasion, often ‘off the wall.’

With three decades of experience, her appetite for work is as fresh as her first day in practice. What the next twenty years will hold is very much thought through with great ambition for ourselves and our staff, with a programme of advancement from day one for all who join us, we believe in developing our consultancy with all in mind not a few. Our practice is a genuine team, not just a word used in vain.

Core Skills

• Marketing and Business Development Leadership
• Briefing and Design
• Detail Design and Innovation
• Residential, Educational and Heritage expertise

Gamal is a founder and director of Southgate & Sarabia Architects Collaborative, an international venture structured to deliver projects in collaboration with global partners and academia with a cross-binding benefit in terms of research and commercial application. He is an expert in applied research, with a Chair in Architecture at the School of Architecture, Design and Built Environment at Nottingham Trent University. Gamal leads the development of the University’s research theme Global Heritage: Science, Management and Development, a research team that aims to engage with and produce strategic research projects with evident global impact on improving heritage conservation and preservation strategies both internationally and cross boundary.

Gamal’s research focuses on the investigation of socio-spatial practice of urban environments, the architecture of the home, special memory, politics of urban space in everyday list, Digital Urban Heritage, Digital Modelling and the Pedagogy of Architectural Studio. He leads several partnerships and consortium teams that include American, British, European and Middle Eastern universities, research organisations and specialist industries.

Gamal advises several governments and international organisations in Ireland, Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on aspects of sustainable heritage, preservation, urban planning and design. He has received the International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (IASTE) Biennale’s Jeffrey Cook Award (2014) for his research on traditional urban environments. He is also an expert for the European Research Council’s Horizon 2020, a peer reviewer for Routledge, Ashgate, Built Environment and TDSR, and sits on several international research committees, board of advisors and professional societies.

Alongside his prestigious resumé, Gamal is a devoted family man, loves travelling and being in his garden when he can.

John started his career in Bristol, achieving his BSc degree in Architectural Technology and Design at UWE. His appreciation of the course was the focus on overcoming technical problems with beautifully designed solutions, training him in both how buildings work and how they look and feel. He then gained experience on healthcare and commercial projects in a leading architectural firm, before his move to West Yorkshire, where he worked on domestic and heritage buildings through planning to construction phases. He is grateful for his varied experience in the industry, and is glad to continue expanding his knowledge as part of the Southgate and Sarabia team.

Outside of work, John enjoys taking photographs on his hikes, playing games with friends, cinema trips, music and helping at Bradford Foodbank with his church.

Core Skills:

• 3D Modelling
• Technical Design
• Problem Solving
• Interpersonal Skills

Helen brings an expertise and energy to design and detailing to Southgate & Sarabia which gives our clients that finesse and focus which differentiates, with the robustness of BIM management.

Having worked as an Architectural Technologist for the last ten years in the UK, South Africa and MENA regions (Middle East and North Africa), Helen’s uniqueness is founded on her ease to problem solving and creative resolutions.

Not only is she an adept problem solver, her experience of sectors (including education, residential, commercial offices, retail, leisure and mixed use developments) gives our clients access to breadth and depth.

Helen’s personal ambition is to have her photograph taken in front of all of her favourite buildings around the world, six down only 127 to go!

Core skills
• Building Information Modelling (BIM)
• Façade design
• High rise design
• Problem solving
• Co-ordination

Connor is an experienced architect with a varied portfolio of completed projects ranging from large scale education and leisure schemes for local authorities, to complex research facilities for universities and the NHS.

Since the outset of his career, Connor benefitted from continuity of involvement in his projects from design inception through to completion. This has made him adept at negotiating the initial client engagement process with the foresight to eliminate potential technical issues during concept development.

An early adapter of BIM, Connor’s embrace of collaboration software compliments his technical mindset and strength in project delivery and design coordination.

Outside of work Connor is happiest enjoying family bike rides and movie nights.

Core Skills

• Client Consultation and design development.
• BIM
• Collaboration and Coordination.
• Modular design

Calum has a wealth of experience in the North West after working for the last 9 years in Central Manchester prior to joining Southgate and Sarabia. Calum is a graduate of Dundee and Huddersfield University and has also worked in Practice in Aberdeen, Sevilla and New York, gaining his Part III qualification in 2017. 

As an Architect he has worked with a number of major clients and in the last few years has been responsible for Government jobs for the MOJ and MOD throughout England and Wales. He also led the design for Radisson Group of the award winning renovation of the Grade II listed North Western Hotel in Liverpool that opened in 2022.  

Outside of work Calum is a passionate advocate of cinema and football whilst he used to enjoy travelling the world before the arrival of his much loved daughter Alice in 2022.

Core Skills

• Client Co-ordination
• BIM + CAD Proficient
• Attention to Detail
• Heritage and Regeneration

Adam’s mastery of landscape and urban design for Southgate & Sarabia gives us a uniqueness for clients that is world class. For 20 years Adam has led small and large scale regeneration projects across the UK, Australia and the Middle East.

Through thoughtful consideration Adam is an expert in creating the feel and mood of an urban space, to complement both the surrounding landscape and buildings both future and present.

With experience across varied sectors (including leisure, mixed use, education, healthcare, large scale residential masterplans, and even the odd golf course), Adam draws his experiences together to consult and advise on concept, detail and delivery.

As a father of two boys, an avid traveler and a real ale connoisseur, Adam brings these human interactions into his work when he is designing and creating outdoor spaces.

Core skills

• Masterplanning and regeneration
• Landscape-led sustainable urban design
• Design process management
• Design detail delivery

Elliot joined Southgate & Sarabia as a Visualiser and designer after graduating with a First Class Honours in Architecture from the University of Lincoln. Elliot is interested in the social and psychological impact that architecture can have on it's users, and how it can be future-proofed and adapted to today's changing needs. 

Having worked in practice, Elliot has experience in various sectors including extra-care, residential, student accommodation and mixed use developments. Elliot uses his skills in 3D modelling and graphic presentation to effectively communicate architectural ideas and concepts. 

Outside of the office you might find Elliot playing his guitar, riding competitively on his bike, or simply surrounding himself with all things creative.

Core Skills:

3D modelling

Graphic communication and presentation

Concept design

Visualisation

Throughout my career as an Architectural Technologist, I have worked on a vast range of sectors on projects at different ends of the scale in terms of size, complexity, and value. All of which have had their own unique challenges, which has allowed me to soak up a diverse level of experience. I have had a large involvement in BIM delivery on nearly all projects, with BIM being one of my great strengths. I have the ability to work solo on projects as well as being part of a larger team. I am SC security cleared and have passed my foundation course for AECB Carbonlite retrofit. I am passionate about sustainability and enjoy the challenges of heritage and conservation projects. Key personal skills are time planning, confident in my abilities, and strong work ethic.

The construction of historic buildings, the way they are used and who has lived and worked in them are the factors that fascinate Rebecca and inspire her love of building pathology and surveying.  Her goal is to ensure the sustainability of our world heritage, looking at innovative uses and technologies as a legacy for the next generation.  The significance of a building is about its architecture, setting and cultural history; researching is another passion, it brings a building to life. 

In her spare time, Rebecca fosters Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.

Jack is the head of our IT support arm and the go-to person for all IT queries. He is the primary contact at Linten Technologies, our dedicated partner. Jack's energy and love for conversation make him a standout team member. He has a background in client relationships within the health and wellbeing sector and has successfully transitioned to the Tech and IT field.

Jack embraces an active lifestyle, with a passion for fitness and a love for food, particularly spicy dishes. His fitness regimen, which includes strength training, keeps him energized and focused. Jack’s enthusiasm and dedication make him an invaluable asset to the team.

Ensuring IT is working and making life simple for everyone at Southgate & Sarabia Architects is a key focus for Jack.

Core Skills

• Client Relationship Management
• IT Support Leadership
• Microsoft Specialist
• Telecommunications and Networking
• Cyber Security and Compliance

Duncan takes a thorough and forensic approach to his work, with detail being the key to the production of his suite of CDM documents that support the client, design team and principal contractor.

Almost 40 years of experience in the workplace, across a diverse range of industries gives Duncan the advantage of being able to provide risk-based solutions for complex issues.

Delivering invaluable advice and technical support at the coal face, Duncan thrives in any challenging environment and has delivered the principal designer role on major projects and schemes across the UK, including new build, refurbishment, highways, bridges, heritage properties, process industry, education and care facilities.

Demolition, construction, civil engineering, fire safety management and environmental competencies are brought to the table when engaged on various value projects.

Core skills

• Diverse skill set across public and private sector appointments
• Investigative and analytical
• Methodical and logical
• Commercially aware

Since 2010 when Ruth qualified in law, she has specialised in Employment Law. She has worked for international law firms, HR consultancies and also represented many businesses as an Employment Tribunal Advocate.

Having enjoyed such a varied career, Ruth understands the many issues faced by businesses first hand. She has also had the benefit of managing people and so knows the issues this can raise.

Ruth is renowned for making a positive impact on any organisation she works with, ranging from practical and effective HR/employment law advice, supplying legally up to date and totally bespoke HR documentation to delivering training.

Ruth has a proven track record of achievement backed by strong legal knowledge. She is a highly driven individual with excellent client service skills, enhanced by the ability to apply the law directly to your situation.

Nigel is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience having trained with Price Waterhouse. He has held a Practising Certificate since 1988, at which point he became a partner with his father in Wilfred Wyatt & Co.

With his father’s retirement at the end of 1996, the practice converted into Wyatt & Co, a company rather than a partnership. With Nigel’s son also now working as a Chartered Accountant in the company they have a particularly good understanding of family run businesses.

Outside of work, besides the usual busyness of family life, Nigel has been married for 30 years with four grown up children. He belongs to and is very involved in the working of his local church where he has undertaken many roles, including, as you might expect, that of the Treasurer.

His love of sport over many years, includes hockey, badminton and Lacrosse. He is a qualified coach in Badminton from his university time.

Core skills

• Accounting
• Business planning
• Financial management
• Coordination & organisation

An inspired young designer and future architect, Ruby has been employed to support our practice in data and graphic inputting, her use of software and social media platforms are highly valued.

Ruby’s interests include art, design and the performing arts. Spontaneous dance in the moment defines her creative spirit! Recently a convert to vegetarianism, the environment and wellbeing are high on her personal agenda influenced by Greta Thunberg, a new age of caring beyond those that are nearest and dearest.

Core Skills

• Social Media platforms
• Art
• Fashion

We are always interested to hear from talented professionals who are looking for their next move. If you like what you see and read about Southgate & Sarabia, and think you are like-minded and up for working in a growing business, then we’d love to hear from you.

Send us a covering email and CV and we promise we will read it and respond.

Contact us at info@southgate-sarabia.co.uk