Archinect
Gwill Symons

Gwill Symons

Vancouver, BC, CA

 

About 

I read Architecture at the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff before qualifying as an Architect at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment at the University of Westminster in London. Prior to being appointed Director at All Done Design, I worked for established and award winning practices Dunthorne Parker Architects and Richard Reid & Associates in London and Kent in the UK while also operating as a sole practitioner on private commissions.

I recently resigned from my position of director to relocate to Canada with my partner who is a Canadian national.

With a keen interest in building technology and sustainability and a passion for architectural design theory, I qualified as an architect in just seven years. I completed my first architectural commission, a £2m commercial/conservation new build and refurbishment project in Bracknell, Berkshire, at the age of 26 and since worked on a variety of projects and building types from commercial to education and conservation, with a specialisation in refurbishment and new build residential.


As an experienced Architect and Director of a small practice in London in the UK I have the skills, experience and motivation to make a significant contribution to the success of any practice or project. I have proven skills in practice management; concept design; planning; detailing; site coordination and contract administration. I build strong personable relationships with clients and have demonstrated the ability to establish excellent working relationships with colleagues and consultant teams. I am a creative, enthusiastic and conscientious worker and have a strong work ethic with an unwavering commitment to quality of service, efficient business management and design excellence.

 

As director I was responsible for providing a complete range of Architectural services including  setting up and running the London based practice, from the marketing and branding of the business, the management and coordination of the business plan, professional development, memberships and affiliations, contract administration and site coordination to being the client agent, lead designer and design coordinator.


I have a passion for place making that focuses on Architecture of a human scale that responds to the environment, its inhabitation, and its user. Fuelled by an ethos of hard work, honesty and creativity I seek to provide a professional design service that solves everyday life problems with dynamic and economical architectural solutions.
 

Elsewhere:

Employment 

All Done Design, Director/Project Architect

As director I was responsible for setting up and running the practice, from organising the marketing and branding of the business, the management and coordination of the business plan, professional development, memberships and affiliations, contract administration and site coordination. In addition I was responsible for managing and carrying out the day to day functions of design projects, being the client agent, lead designer and design coordinator. The practice was part of a larger privately owned construction company, forming a new Design & Build division.

My work at All Done specialised in residential new builds and refurbishments and small commercial refurbishments, carrying out over 30 commissions in 2 years.

Jul 2009 - May 2011
 

Dunthorne Parker Architects, Architect/Project Architect

As a trainee Architectural Assistant and later Architect and Project Architect I worked on a variety of projects and building types producing concept studies, 3D modelling, planning application packages and detailed design drawings and specifications. I performed the role of Project Architect on some key projects, notably a £2m commercial/conservation new build and refurbishment of a 19th century Victorian Manor House providing a contemporary office space and a £2m commercial refurbishment of a listed building in London's West End.

Sep 2006 - Mar 2009
 

Richard Reid & Associates, Architectural Assistant

As Architectural Assistant I worked on a variety of tasks for office based projects including the preparation of planning application packages, general drafting, marketing images, presentations and assistance with developing 3D Models. Notable projects were a number of houses and facilities at Lower Mill Estate in Cirencester, including holiday homes, spa recreation facilities and bespoke Landmark Houses in association with a range of award winning international practices including Will Alsop Architects, Richard Meier and Dixon Jones.

Sep 2004 - Sep 2005
 

Education 

University of Westminster, PG Dip in Professional Practice in Architecture

Professional Case Study: 'Lily Hill House'
Law. Regulations and Economics
Practice Management

Sep 2007 - Sep 2008
 

Cardiff University, BArch, Architectural Studies Part II

Group Architectural Design Urban/Planning Design
Architectural Design Primer Study
Architectural Design Thesis Study: Tectonics
Dissertation: 'The Tree As a Model in Western Architecture'
Building Technology
Architectural Modules: Issues in Contemporary Architecture; Law, Practice Management and Economics

Sep 2004 - Sep 2006
 

Cardiff University, Bachelors, Architectural Studies Part I

Architectural Design
Building Technology
History of Western Architecture
Building Case Studies
Architectural Modules: City Landscape and Urban Morphology; Practice Management and Economics

Sep 2001 - Jun 2004
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills