Richard qualified as an architect in 1979 at Canterbury School of Art and then worked on telecommunications buildings, crown courts and defence accommodation within a government department. His subsequent work designing community housing and educational buildings with Anthony Cooper overlapped with the early part of his 13 year appointment as deputy secretary of the Royal Fine Art Commission (the precursor to CABE).

He retired from the RFAC in 1996 and set up the Richard Coleman Consultancy, now Richard Coleman Citydesigner. His work at the RFAC gave him in-depth insights into high quality design, and making changes to the historic environment and established skylines to accommodate development in an evolutionary way. He believes strongly that high quality authentic design of any era can make a major contribution to the health of individuals, societies and nations.

 

 

 

Alexandra graduated as an architect and urban designer from FH Muenchen, Germany, and completed an MSc in Advanced Architectural Studies at UCL, London. During and after her studies she gained experience as production and stage designer for film and opera, and as an urban designer in Munich. She was subsequently employed at the Munich authorities for several years, where she took on various roles that saw her involved in urban design, town planning and policy development processes, and planning application approvals. Alexandra joined Richard Coleman Citydesigner in 2005 as a scheme manager. Since then she has worked on projects relating to heritage and townscape assessments such as: the first tall building that has been approved within the Elephant and Castle regeneration area; the Victoria Interchange Programme in Westminster; and a range of sensitive schemes for new developments and retention schemes, related to PPG15 policy in the London boroughs of Islington and Tower Hamlets and the City of Westminster. 

 

Chiara had five years professional experience as an architectural researcher working with the architect Anthony Blee before joining Citydesigner as our principal researcher. She has a BA in Fine Art and has worked for various practices in the architectural and conservation field. Her research work at Citydesigner involves gathering and collating detailed material, interpreting and presenting findings on the history of a site through the analysis of historic publications, maps, architectural drawings and photographic surveys. In 2006 Chiara also became a scheme manager working on heritage based projects including: advising on the listability of historic buildings in Mayfair and Uxbridge; sensitive schemes for new developments in Kensington, Marylebone and Mayfair; a modern extension to a listed grade I building in Bath; and preparation of evidence for a planning inquiry for a scheme in Lambeth. Her scheme manager work also involves assessing the character and appearance of conservation areas; producing townscape, heritage and visual impact assessments; and advising on PPG15 policy. 

 

Sanchita has a Bachelors degree in Architecture from Madras University, India and an MSc in Project Management from Sheffield Hallam University, UK. She has documented historic buildings for the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and has worked for two architectural practices in India with an interest in architecture and planning. She undertook a masterplan for the Brodsworth Estate in Doncaster involving surveys on archaeology and the conservation merits of buildings and streets within the Estate.

Sanchita has been with Citydesigner since March 2006 and has contributed towards research and production of Townscape Reports for various heritage based and high rise developments with the Consultancy such as East India Dock Road, Brighton Marina, Commercial Road, and Cheapside.

 

 

 

Lakshmi trained as an architect in India and has an MA in Urban Design from the University of Westminster. She is also a member of the South East Regional Design Panel.
Lakshmi has been with the consultancy since 2002 and has worked on prominent urban design and conservation projects including: development proposals at Brighton Marina, Potter's Fields in Southwark, and sensitive infill schemes in Camden, Westminster and the City of London. She has conducted research on various historic buildings in London to advise on their listability and has assisted in the preparation of evidence for planning inquiries. As a consultant she advises on the potential for new development in historic urban contexts and has experience in the preparation of townscape, heritage and visual impact assessments for Environmental Statements.

 

 

Please contact Lisa for all operational queries.