OUR ARCHITECTS
Stephen Bickford Sawkings
Architect, Director, Principal
Studying at Brighton and qualifying in 1985, Stephen established the foundations of the current practice in 1988, having gained experience in two London based major architect practices and the largest UK construction company at that time, based in Hammersmith. Projects undertaken include, Military works, Petro-Chemical installations, Office and Retail, Masterplanning, Laboratories, Hi-Tech, Commercial and Hi-Bay Warehousing, Education, Large scale Residential and High Quality individual homes.
He is committed to getting the best out of himself and his team and is keen to share the extensive knowledge gained over the last 37 years in the profession. When not immersed in concept, design and detail works, he enjoys the role of mentor within the practice.
To relax Stephen enjoys cooking, vinyl music, cycling, clay pigeon shooting and a love of cars old and new. He is currently having fun safeguarding a 1968 Rover P5B, adding yet another layer to its story.
BA (Hons), PgDip ARB RIBA
Guy Minshull-Fowler
Lead Architect
Guy qualified as an Architect in 2015, gaining his bachelors and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Portsmouth and a post graduate diploma from Kingston University.
With extensive experience of all RIBA stages, including Domestic, Private & Public Sector clients and a variety of Residential, Commercial, New Build and Refurbished buildings, Guy’s mission is not only crafting practical and beautiful answers to design briefs, but also creating a sense of place and sustainable design solutions for the built environment.
His interests include meeting new people, canoeing the Thames, growing vegetables on his allotment, playing the bass guitar and exploring local and national history. Guy is an avid cyclist and has cycled from London to Montpellier, Land’s End to John O’Groats and he has also completed the Three Peaks Challenge. His next cycling quest is to cycle the entire length of the south coast.
BA (Hons), PgDip ARB
Petya Tsokova
Petya joined the Sawkings Architects team in 2015 as a Part I Architectural Assistant, later returning in 2018 after completing her Part II studies at the Oxford Brookes School of Architecture. Alongside her Master’s studies, Petya was an editor and writer for the OSA Magazine.
She gained her Part III qualification from Kingston University in 2020.
Petya has gained experience on a variety of residential and mixed-use projects – from private, bespoke homes to large complex schemes – in London, Kent, and Surrey. She particularly enjoys working on the technical and construction stages of project development.
In her free time, Petya always has a book in her hand which she then enjoys reviewing on a variety of reader platforms.
BA (Hons), PgDip ARB RIBA
Architect
Chris Channell
Architect, Managing Director
Chris first joined Sawkings Architects in 2010 as a Part I architectural assistant, returning to complete his Part II and III studies at the University of Portsmouth. Chris qualified as an Architect in 2015 and became an Associate Director in 2017. With experience at all RIBA stages in Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Retail Developments, he has developed multiple mixed use projects, apartment schemes and residential masterplans, including a housing development with £26m GDV, and several developer-led schemes of £15m+ GDV
He has a keen eye for detail and strong respect for the value of international technology and collaboration, placing an emphasis on getting the right solution for the values of the client. He is interested in the integration of technology and sustainable design in Architecture, and investment in property. When not in front of the drawing board, he pursues a love of travel, DIY, sport and fitness.
BA (Hons), MArch ARB RIBA
OUR ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANTS
Bijou Harding
Part II Architectural Assistant
Bijou joined Sawkings Architects in September 2022 after recently completing her Pt. II in Architecture and Urban Design from the University of Cambridge and undergraduate in architecture from UCL. Before coming to Sawkings she has experience working on commercial and residential masterplan design projects in the UK.
She has aims to continue the development of her architecture career towards her Pt. III qualification, her experience working on site and through the later RIBA stages of a building project. Bijou is keen to explore innovative design at a multitude of scales, in both mixed-use large-scale builds and also through 1:1 close-up details, understanding the material qualities of a spaces.
Bijou is passionate about working with her hands through model making, photography, working with fabric and sewing new things in her spare time.
BA (Hons), MPhil
Rutuja Rasal
Part II Architectural Assistant
BA (Hons), MArch
Rutuja is an architectural designer from India with a passion for sustainability and heritage conservation. After working in the Indian architecture industry for more than a year, she decided to pursue her master's degree in the UK to further develop her understanding of these areas. Rutu is particularly interested in the ways in which traditional building techniques can be integrated into modern design to create sustainable and energy-efficient structures.
In addition to her architectural pursuits, Rutu is an avid traveller and painter. She enjoys exploring new cultures and gaining inspiration from different architectural styles around the world, and finds painting to be a relaxing and fulfilling hobby which allows her to express her creativity in a different medium.
In summary, Rutuja is dedicated to using her skills and knowledge as an architect to promote sustainable and culturally-sensitive design, while also pursuing her passions for travel and art.
Regina Nakansere
Part II Architectural Assistant
MArch
Gina completed her Part 1 architecture degree and 2 years of architectural practice in Uganda, before joining the University of Brighton in 2019 for her Part 2 architecture degree. She now joins Sawkings Architects in 2022 to gain work experience towards her Part 3 qualification. She particularly enjoys detailing schemes for residential and community projects.
Gina loves to host guests and cook meals from scratch which she shares on her food page. She enjoys watching football and also sightseeing with a growing interest in skilled photography. With her background knowledge of Uganda’s construction, Gina is researching eco-friendly house construction proposals for Uganda.
Iskren Lazarov
Part I Architectural Assistant
Iskren completed his Part I studies at the University of Portsmouth in July 2022 and has been awarded the RIBA Prize and Dibben Prize for best understanding of construction, materials, and their integration within design.
Since an early age Iskren has felt a strong connection with nature, which is now evident in his interest in sustainability. He is enthusiastic and motivated, always aiming for self-development, achieving it either by learning something new or simply going to the gym. Iskren enjoys spending his free time at the gym, hiking and travelling.
BA (Hons)
Michael Hill
Part I Architectural Assistant
Michael is working on his Part II studies in architecture at the University of Portsmouth. Joining Sawkings Architects in 2021, he has been working on a range of residential and mixed-use projects, gaining experience to support his progress towards Part II qualification.
Michael is enthusiastic about concept design and is eager to develop his knowledge in technical detailing.
In his spare time, he either is playing or watching sport and is a qualified Dinghy Instructor.
BA (Hons)
OUR OFFICE TEAM
Samantha Bickford-Sawkings
Practice Manager
Working the previous 14 years in an international finance role for a leading US Management Consultancy, Sam joined Sawkings Architects in 2014. Since then, she has implemented many of the systems which have helped us to be more organised and more successful. She is the go to person in the office for everything Admin, Welfare and Finance, which essentially means she deals with everything from the stationary, organising training and office events, ensuring the fridge is stocked with beer for Friday afternoons as well as keeping a close eye on our financial health.
Outside of work, Sam is a cat rescue volunteer, enjoys gardening, swimming and cycling and is a passionate Scuba Diver spending many a weekend and most of her holidays underwater. Her goal list includes diving with Hammerhead Sharks in the Galapagos Islands, Manta Rays in the Maldives and experiencing the Sardine Run, underwater of course, in South Africa.