Unashamedly ambitious. Creating better places. Having fun along the way.
IF_DO was founded in 2014 by three good friends, bored by inaction and excited by the possibility of doing things differently.
We believe architecture has the power to improve lives and make communities happier and stronger. We have a knack for building relationships, exceeding expectations and delivering projects with people at their heart.
We won the first competition we entered, The Dulwich Pavilion, and its success led to work across Education, Arts, Community, Workspace and Housing.
We are a close team who hold each other to the highest standards. Our growing reputation is for well loved and thoughtful work.
Al combines the perfect balance of imagination and pragmatism, and he’s fascinated by the path from one to the other, or – in more architectural terms – from initial sketch to finished building. For him, the craft and ‘buildability’ of architecture is crucial, and he led the delivery of the Dulwich Pavilion, the project that has perhaps done the most to show what we are capable of when we bring conceptual thought and technical ability together. But for Al the real success of the project lies in the impact it’s had on everyone who’s visited, and the positive contribution it’s made to the community.
Al is committed to increasing the socio-economic diversity of our profession. He is an RIBA mentor to architecture students and is involved with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and the Social Mobility Foundation, helping create more opportunities for young people from all backgrounds.
Sarah is a firm believer in collaboration – amongst colleagues, with clients, with stakeholders, and with the people who will be enjoying our buildings for years to come. She’s brilliant at finding a way through competing interests to come up with a design that works for everyone, and this kind of determined diplomacy was one of the key ingredients in the transformation of a dilapidated structure near Waterloo Station into a vibrant community hub.
Sarah feels strongly about sharing our knowledge and experience beyond the practice, and she has taught at both the University of Brighton and the London School of Architecture. She is a chapter leader for Urbanistas, a women-led network devoted to supporting and encouraging women working in the built environment, and is passionate about the need to make architecture a more diverse and equal profession.
Thomas is a big-picture thinker and masterplanner by nature. He has a wide-angle view on every element of our work and sees connections that might not be immediately obvious. He’s also a great communicator – both in person and on the page – and his TEDx Talk on ‘Architecture’s Ripple Effect’ is the perfect introduction to how we think and work.
This interest in the wider repercussions of architecture goes hand in hand with an interest in sustainability and creating healthy environments. He’s drawn to working on projects where IF_DO can make a positive and far-reaching impact. He was the driving force in making our work at St Teresa’s School so rewarding, both for us and for the school, by involving the students in reshaping their school for the better, and inspiring them with what architecture can do.
Jamie joined IF_DO in 2020, bringing a decade of experience with architectural studios in Belfast and London. He is a certified Passivhaus Designer, and is leading the delivery of a number of IF_DO's social infrastructure projects, including The Space, a new community centre in Enfield, North London, and The Yard, a new community enterprise hub in Tottenham.
Rosy is passionate about sustainability, circular economy and community involvement in architecture. She joined IF_DO in 2023 after graduating from the Architectural Association with Commendation. Her diploma thesis exploring community-led retrofit, maintenance and care received nomination for honours at the AA and continues to inform her ongoing pursuits.
Gregory is passionate about design and the relationship between program, form and context. He is a Swiss-registered Architect, graduating from the EPFL in 2019. For the last 3 years he gained professional experience in Switzerland and London. He joined IF_DO in 2023 and is working on community-focused projects in Hastings.
Jack joined IF_DO in 2017 and stayed with the practice through his Diploma at the London School of Architecture, where his thesis was nominated for the RIBA Silver Medal. He is passionate about sustainable design and creating spaces that enhance wellbeing. His experience ranges from new-build homes and social infrastructure, to masterplanning.
Samuel’s passion lies in the use of stone as a holistic building material, and endeavours to encourage its use as a sustainable medium for storytelling, space making, and structure. He joined IF_DO in 2024 having graduated from the Royal College of Art, where his thesis was highly commended and shortlisted for the Architects Journal Student Award.
Laura is interested in placemaking, adaptive re-use and the sociology of architecture. She joined IF_DO in 2023 after graduating from the Mackintosh School of Architecture, having also studied in ENSAPB and University of Porto. Her final year thesis project was highly commended university-wide for its approach to sustainable heritage.
Candice is excited by interesting use of materials and buildings that make people smile. She has wide experience in delivering quality cultural and residential projects, meaningfully engagement with local communities and stakeholders. Candice is a mentor for Build by Us, which helps support greater diversity and inclusion within the built environment profession.
Cris' work spans the intersection of arts and architecture, with a diverse background in design-led environments and collaborative practices. He is passionate about exploring, reinterpreting, and experimenting with complex inherited landscapes, creating new histories and narratives through design and form. At IF_DO Cris is working on projects of various scales, with a focus on crafting unique architecture and joyous spaces, and driven by an ongoing dialogue between design, research, and detail.
Abi joined IF_DO in 2022 after graduating from University of Bath. She is passionate about celebrating the sustainability, adaptability and whole-life cycle of local materials and the potential to reframe the craftsmanship of the built environment as an evolutional extension of life in symbiosis with nature.
Signe studied at the University of Westminster, graduating with first-class honours, and at the Royal College of Art for her MA in Architecture. Mainly focusing on analysing the historical and social stories of different contexts, her interests and practice involve multidisciplinary work that is founded on socio-economic research, narrative making and sustainability principles.
Heloise has gained diverse and valuable experience in Paris, Shanghai, and London, delivering new builds and reuse schemes at various scales and across multiple fields. She is passionate about climate-conscious retrofit design and the social value of architecture, viewing it through a users’ perspective by drawing upon the imaginary while investigating the real.
Alongside practice, she co-authored a book on Eco-Responsible Approaches in Chinese Architecture.
Kelly is committed to creating sensitive architecture that responds to the environment, context, and community, believing these elements are essential for meaningful design. She deeply values her Indonesian heritage, particularly LO-TEK indigenous architecture, which uses humble materials to create adaptive buildings. She joined IF_DO in 2024 having graduated her Part 1 from University of Edinburgh.
Keir is a consulting partner who combines traditional architectural expertise with the latest AI innovations. With over 15 years at leading UK practices, including as design leader and Director at Morris+Company, he has delivered award-winning educational facilities and large-scale urban developments. He founded Arka Works to pioneer the integration of Generative Design and AI tools into architectural practice, blending deep industry knowledge with software innovation for a future-ready methodology. At IF_DO, Keir oversees technical review and quality management, ensuring the practice remains agile and adaptive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Sarah is Practice Manager at IF_DO, where she leads operational strategy and human resource management. She brings a people-centered approach to practice management, combining creative problem-solving with strategic thinking to create environments where teams can thrive and deliver exceptional results.
A strategic operations specialist with over 15 years' experience in architecture practice management, her expertise spans HR, operational, and financial management, with particular strength in establishing ISO-compliant quality management systems. She brings a unique combination of creative background and management acumen, enabling her to bridge the gap between design aspirations and practical delivery.
Anita joined IF_DO in 2022 after completing her architectural studies in Canada. She has worked across architecture and interdisciplinary design, spanning a range of scales from housing, experiential installations, exhibitions, and furniture design. She is interested in the connection between architecture and ephemeral urbanism, and the role of civic participation in public spaces.
Since graduating from the Bartlett School of Architecture in 2016, Luke has worked on ambitious projects across multiple scales and sectors; from temporary events spaces to homes, schools and workplaces. Luke is motivated to understand the particular set of narratives that underpin each project; using design as a means of recording, communicating and celebrating the unique circumstances of each building.
Barker Langham, Built Environment Trust, Camden Council, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Effingham Schools Trust, Far East Consortium, Greater London Authority, Hastings Commons Neighbourhood Ventures, Impact Hub, Innovate UK, Joseph Walsh Studio, Landsec U+I, Lendlease, Liverpool City Council, London Borough of Enfield, London Borough of Lambeth, London Borough of Newham, London Borough of Southwark, London County Hall, London Festival of Architecture, Manchester City Council, Meanwhile Space CIC, National Trust, Muse, Natural Building Systems, Ralph Trustees, Related Argent, Rochdale Development Agency, Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Borough of Greenwich, The Methodist Church, Westfield Europe, Wimbledon and Putney Commons, WSP
FX Awards 2024, Outside Space (Brent Cross Town Substation), Winner
Civic Trust Awards 2024 (Brent Cross Town Substation), Winner
AJ Architecture Awards 2023, Transport and Infrastructure (Brent Cross Town Substation), Shortlist
Dezeen Awards 2023, Infrastructure and transport (Brent Cross Town Substation), Longlist
RIBA East Regional Awards 2023 (Thorpeness Beach House), Shortlist
Quality of Place Awards 2022 (Thorpeness Beach House), Winner
The Manser Medal – AJ House of the Year 2022 (Thorpeness Beach House), Finalist
Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards 2022, Best Design in Europe, Middle East and Africa (The Hithe), Winner
Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards 2022, Circular Design (The Hithe), Finalist
BD Young Architect of the Year 2021, Finalist
NLA New London Awards 2021, Unbuilt (The Space), Highly Commended
NLA New London Awards 2021, Unbuilt (The Yard), Finalist
British Homes Awards 2021, Large Home Transformation of the Year (Canonbury House), Finalist
Architects' Journal 40 under 40, 2020
100 Architects of the year 2019, Korean Institute of Architects
Education Estates, School Project of the Year 2019 (St Teresa's Sixth Form Centre), Shortlist
Sunday Times British Homes Award 2019, Home Transformation of the Year (Little Horsecroft Cottage), Shortlist
AJ Small Projects Award 2019 (Dulwich Pavilion), Shortlist
Don't Move, Improve! 2019 (Montague Court), Shortlist
American Institute of Architects UK, Young Architect Award 2018, Winner
The Architecture MasterPrize 2018, Educational Buildings (St Teresa's Sixth Form Centre), Winner
Civic Trust Pro-Tem Award 2018 (Dulwich Pavilion), Winner
FX International Design Awards 2018, Breakthrough Talent of the Year, Winner
AJ Architecture Awards 2018, School Project of the Year (St Teresa's Sixth Form Centre), Shortlist
Architizer A+ Awards 2018, Pavilions (Dulwich Pavilion), Shortlist
Haringey Design Awards 2018, Best House, Shortlist
D&AD Awards 2018, Spatial Design/Installation Design (Dulwich Pavilion), Wood Pencil
American Architecture Prize 2017, Small Architecture (Dulwich Pavilion), Winner
American Architecture Prize 2017, Installations and Structures (Landscape Architecture) (Dulwich Pavilion), Winner
Blueprint Awards 2017, Best Small Project (Dulwich Pavilion), Winner
Wallpaper* Architects Directory 2017: the world's top 20 emerging practices
AJ Architecture Awards 2017, Budget Project of the Year (Dulwich Pavilion), Highly Commended
Architectural Review Emerging Architecture Award 2017, Shortlist
Evening Standard, The Progress 1000: London’s most influential people 2017