The Team

Jo-anne Cowen | Director

In the years prior to establishing the practice, Jo-anne was an Associate at Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners working on a range of projects including the British Museum, the Leadenhall Building, JP Morgan’s tower at Canary wharf and luxury residential buildings for St. James’s group. Before that she worked for Foster and Partners, as well as Peregrine Bryant Architects and Dannat Johnson where she gained valuable conservation and restoration experience.

Whilst Jo-anne was brought up in South Africa she moved to the UK to study architecture, gaining numerous awards for her graduate architectural qualification with Distinction at Westminster School of Architecture. Jo-anne’s tenacious upbringing in South Africa has enabled her hands-on, client focussed approach to every project. An exuberant but pragmatic architect and property expert, Jo-anne and her team successfully run projects from feasibility through planning, design and construction, consulting to leading estate agents, lenders and developers on London property and site potential.

Chris Wilkinson | Associate Director

Having worked with Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners for over seven years, Chris honed his architectural knowledge through large scale international projects such as The British Museum World Conservations and Exhibitions Centre. Bringing the rigor and enthusiasm of high profile architecture to all scales of projects, Chris thrives on architectural detailing and makes this the true idiom of his work.

Prior to joining Jo Cowen Architects, Chris worked with a multitude of private residential clients to deliver their briefs and aspirations for their homes. Whether working on new or existing buildings he is always searching for new ideas and technologies, whilst ensuring that the main design concept is rigorously upheld. Chris graduated from The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL.

Christin Gegenheimer | Architect

Christin is one of our project architects, having joined us from Foster and Partners in London. Whilst at Fosters Christin worked on a range of projects including the redevelopment of high end flagship stores for APPLE across China. Before that Christin worked for Labor Weltenbau Architecture, VON M Architecture and Wilford Schupp Architekten in Germany, on shops in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the conversion of Martin Luthers Death Museum in Eisenleben and a kindergarden and community centre in Stuttgart.

Christin studied architecture at the University of Stuttgart and the University of Vienna, TU, moving to London in 2012. Christin enjoys photography, furniture design and graffiti (on canvas) in her spare time and speaks English, German and French.

Susi Wellings | Architect Consultant

Susi is a consultant architect with 15 years experience primarily in the Museum Sector. Before Susi joined us, she was an Associate at Rogers, Stirk, Harbour & Partners  where she worked for seven years exclusively on the World Exhibitions and Conservation Centre at the British Museum. Susi also spent three years with multiple Sterling Prize winners Wilkinson Eyre Architects. Susi also spent two years as Country Director and Architect for Architecture for Humanity in Sri Lanka carrying out post-tsunami reconstruction projects. Her work there saw her shortlisted for Aga Khan Awards 2010 session and winner of the Observer Ethical Awards for ‘Innovation of the Year’ – 2006.

Susi studied at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, receiving a double distinction for Diploma and the Sir Andrew Taylor Prize. Alongside her work at Jo Cowen Architects, Susi is involved with the design and implementation of a charity project in Burundi as well as teaching Technology to Master Students at the University of Kent.

Aleksandrina Rizova | Architect

Aleksandrina works with Jo Cowen Architects as a consultant architect at the conceptual phase of projects, bringing her creative vision and fabrication knowledge to the team. Aleksandrina  is an architect whose work is informed by the extensive use of emerging digital fabrication tools. She graduated with Distinction in Architecture at the Bartlett, UCL and was awarded the Komfort Award for best use of Interior space at the RIBA President’s Medals Awards,2008. She also received the Ambrose Poynter Prize for “Distinguished work in the Diploma Thesis” at the Bartlett in 2011.

Aleksandrina worked at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners for 5 years on the design and construction of the Leadenhall Building – a landmark tower in the City of London. Alongside her work at Jo Cowen Architects, Aleksandrina runs her design studio ALEK SA, focussing on the extensive use of both digital and analogue tools. She is also running an Undergraduate Architecture Degree Unit at Oxford Brookes University and teaching a Diploma Architecture Unit at the Bartlett School of Architecture.

Jonathan Schoffield | Architect

Jonathan is an award winning architect working on the practices largest schemes as a consultant. Jonathan graduated from the University of Westminster in 2010 with Distinction where he received the Post-Graduate Diploma portfolio prize for both first and second year. He was subsequently awarded the RIBA Silver medal and the RIBA Serjeant award for architectural drawing.

Jonathan worked at Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners for four years, working on a variety of projects including Geneva Airport in Switzerland, World Trade Centre Tower 3, New York, a transport hub in Helsinki and a large residential development in Battersea, London.

When not in the office, Jonathan can be found teaching architecture students at Oxford Brookes University and the University of Westminster. Jonathan is currently working on the design of a new Caribean Villa in Barbados.

Dhiren Patel | Architectural Assistant Part 2

Dhiren is a Part 2 Architectural Assistant who completed his architectural degree at the world renowned Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, followed by his postgraduate at the University of Westminster, London.

Prior to joining Jo Cowen Architects, Dhiren worked for Willmotte and Associates on the King’s Cross Central Plot for a prolific real estate developer as well as the new UK Head Quarters for JC Decaux. Dhiren also gained extensive design led experience working on a variety of competitions and feasibility studies for high rise commercial buildings and an international secondary school in London.

Dhiren has a passion for photography, travelling and visiting exhibitions and speaks Gujarati and Hindi fluently.

Anton Medyna | Architectural Assistant Part 2

Originally from the Ukraine, Anton is a Part 2 Architectural Assistant who joined us from Benoy Architects working on the Battersea Park retail regeneration scheme. Anton also spent considerable years at Foster and Partners on the design of mixed use residential development in Beirut and Heathrow Terminal East, as well as Populos, where he worked on the Sochi Olympic stadium. Anton was responsible for the design of a multi-purpose arena that was part of large mixed use residential development in St. Petersburg Russia.

Anton studied at the AA Architectural Association for his postgraduate architectural studies and the University of Kingston for his degree. His interests lie in film, photography and collecting antiques. Anton speaks fluent Russian and Ukranian – useful on the building sites of South West London!

Ryan Hinson | Architectural Assistant

 Ryan is a Part 1 Architectural Assistant who joined us after completing his degree at London Metropolitan University. Ryan has worked with Islington Exhibits and Islington Council to design and build a temporary pavilion for an arts exhibition in the summer of 2013 called the Electric Light Station. Ryan has also worked extensively with the Leipzig Academy of Visual Arts to design and build a pavilion and event space to celebrate the schools 250^th anniversary. The project was then exhibited at The Museum of Fine Art in Leipzig. Ryan’s interests encompass travel, photography, sketching and cooking. When not in London, Ryan can be found back in Oxfordshire with his family.

Joshua Potter | Architectural Assistant

Joshua is a Part 2 Architectural Assistant who has joined us from the University of Westminster, London. He has previously studied at the AA Architectural Association and Nottingham Trent University for his RIBA Part 1.

After graduation Joshua worked in Sydney, Australia with Johnson Pilton Walker & Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners on the Barangaroo Headland Park & Barangaroo South developments respectively. Upon his return to London, Joshua spent 12 months with Grimshaw Architects on several of the practices high profile projects, including the Sizewell C Nuclear Power and Oman Botanical Gardens developments. Joshua has a keen interest in both script and novel writing, as well as directing, filming and editing travel documentaries in his spare time.

Emilie Mauran | Project Manager

Emilie is an experienced project manager who specialises in the redevelopment of residential properties in Fulham and Chelsea. Emilie has an exceptional track record of delivering projects on time and on budget. Her dedicated hands on approach and knowledge of the trade has made her an invaluable part of our team.

Emilie speaks French fluently and truly understands the needs of our continental clients. Emilie lives in Fulham with her husband and four children.

Amelia McNeil | Interior Designer

Amelia McNeil trained at KLC School of Design in 2008 where she achieved a Merit. She then went on to work for Matthew Godley at MGID Ltd for four years and was made a director during her final year. Whilst Amelia works alongside Jo Cowen Architects on their projects, she has also established her own business, Amelia McNeil Interior Design, operating both from Parsons Green and her Ladbroke Road studio.

During the last year she has worked on a wide variety of projects including two London town houses, a bar renovation (against a tight budget), a sculpture exhibition (recreating a 1950’s environment of specialist furniture) and currently the conversion of a commercial property into residential apartments in South London.

Suzann Bozorgi | Interior Designer

Suzann studied interior design at Chelsea College of Art after a number of years working in high profile roles within the advertising sector. After completing her interior design training, Suzann began working at Design LSM, a global interior consultancy. As well as working with Jo Cowen Architects, Suzann also runs a sucessfull interior design company, Suzann Bozorgi Interiors. Suzann can work within the overall architectural team or for smaller projects can work directly with our clients. www.bozorgi.co.uk

Becs Johnston | Practice Manager

Becs is our highly organised practice manager responsible for the day to day operations of Jo Cowen Architects. Becs completed her degree in Business at Oxford Brookes University in 2004. Prior to joining Jo Cowen Architects Becs worked for Savills, Knightsbridge in their luxury residential flat sales department. When not at the office, Becs can be found personal training the rich and the famous in South West London.