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.

Ryan’s passion for architecture began with art, drawing and all things creative. This has since developed into a desire to create spaces that are people-focused, improving their lives and ultimately their wellbeing.

His previous experience at one of the world’s largest design consultancies will assist him in becoming a valued member of the Southgate & Sarabia team, where he hopes to develop his skills further and contribute to the growth of the business and its long-term future.

Ryan’s favourite building is the Neus Museum in Berlin, where the buildings original features have been respected and highlighted through the sensitive application of modern-day restoration, following severe damage during World War II.

Outside of work Ryan can be found entertaining his black Labrador, Farah, playing golf, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Core Skills:

Sketching

Thoughtful Design

BIM (Building Information Modelling)

Dog Whisperer

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 seven 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

Great Design and finding innovative solutions for clients is part of the reason and passion behind Liesl’s career in Interior Design.  All clients and projects are unique, and so are their design solutions and concepts.

Liesl, a qualified Commercial Interior Designer with 20 years of experience and a portfolio that includes over 20+ commercial interior designs projects. She is a responsible and dedicated interior designer with experience in heavy-volume and fast-paced projects. 

Liesl has a long interest in sustainability and the impact of buildings and our built environment has on the world around us.    

Weekends finds Liesl mostly enjoying time cooking and enjoying a glass of wine with her family. 

Core Skills:

• Concept Design
• Detail Design
• Space planning
• Proven artistic ability
• Sense of proportion and visual awareness

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

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.

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

Chris has over 30 years of experience of developing and selling IT solutions for the telecom and IT industry.

Having operated in the IT industry for such a long period, he has gained an incredible amount of knowledge in understanding what challenges companies have and how to resolve them with emerging technologies. One of Chris’s skills is IT security ensuring the correct products to protect business data and staff via Cyber training and Cyber Essentials accreditation.

Chris has set our company IT infrastructure up using a fully secure network, new Microsoft 365 email accounts with added security for all mailboxes, Cloud based data back-up, hosted server in Azure with Symantec anti-virus licence. We achieved our Cyber Essentials through Chris’ support and knowledge.

Chris is married with three grown up kids all put though University. They have a cockerpoo called Baxter. Love a round of golf and a game of squash when his knees allow it. Is a keen big mountain snowboarder and wakeboarder in the summer. Chris and his wife enjoy travelling far and wide to some amazing places.

Core skills

• IT guru
• Business planning
• Cyber Security
• Go getter

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

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

I initially found architecture through my love of art and creative expression. My passion for architecture was later fuelled through discovering a documentary named: Clean Lines, Open Spaces: A View of Mid-Century Modern Architecture; with the works of architects such as Mies Van Der Rohe drawing my attention.

From this initial interest, I studied my BA Hons at Leeds School of Architecture, in addition to currently undertaking my Master of Architecture at Liverpool University. With two years post graduate experience I have developed a strong knowledge of architectural design, 3D modelling and visualisation, which has developed skills specialising in modular construction of schools, accommodation and healthcare buildings. I love to push the boundaries of design to create clean, crisp and beautiful buildings with artistic expression and integrity.

In my personal time, you will find me taking my dog Otis (Chow Chow) for big walks round Wales, enjoying a stroll round my hometown Chester with the family, exploring new restaurants to eat out, or discovering new places to take photographs. 

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