"When circumstances defy order, order should bend or break: anomalies and uncertainties give validity to
architecture.”
Robert Venturi, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture.
Since 2008 Original Field has established themselves as an Architectural practice that specialises in projects that are expressive and engaging reflecting the complexities and contradictions of a contemporary world.
Our projects successfully negotiate complex historical, social and economic environments resulting in innovative and creative outcomes. In all
cases they emanate from clear simple ideas that encapsulate the essence of a project. In doing this our work celebrates the richness of our clients
and context.
The dialogue between architecture and place is a key interest to us. After further study and research we are expanding our skill set to now integrate
Landscape Architecture into the practice. On creating a dialogue between building and landscape we broaden the potential of projects to be sensitively integrated into sites. In creating a sense of place the architectural and
landscape outcomes work in unison to complete the act of Place Making.
The continued collaboration with consultants, contractors, artists, trades and specialist craftsmen contributes to our ever expanding network.
We are privileged to be surrounded by people that make the journey an enjoyable one.
Joelle Darby
Director- BArch, DipArch, MALA, ARB, RIBA
Joelle joined OFA in 2014 and became a director in 2015. She qualified in 2000 and has worked in London and Oxford on a wide variety of housing, healthcare, and education projects. She is jointly qualified in architecture and landscape architecture having completed an MA in Landscape Architecture in 2018.
Roxiana Dumitru
Architectural Assistant- BSc (Hons), MArchD
Roxiana completed her Masters of Architecture degree with distinction at Oxford Brookes University before joining OFA in September 2021. She has a particular interest in Sustainable Architecture. During her studies, she specialised in Sustainable Building Performance and Design and her Master’s thesis focused on transforming an existing Grade II Cinema into a zero carbon multi-functional centre. Since coming to OFA, Roxiana has assisted on different projects, and currently works on decarbonisation plans for University College and St Edmund Hall in Oxford.
Andrew Dawson
Director- BAppSc, BArch(Hons), RAIA, ARB (Aust & UK)
Andrew has been practicing architecture since 1996, working in Oxford; Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia; and Münster, Germany. In 2008, he was a founding director of Original Field of Architecture. A graduate of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Andrew has for many years tutored design at a number of universities and has extensive experience across the architectural profession.
Bella Hazri
Architectural Assistant- B.Sc (Hons), MArch, M.Sc
Bella joined Original Field as a Part 2 Architectural Assistant in 2022. She completed her Part I and Part II in Malaysia and has over 2 years-experience working in a social impact organisation as an architectural/urban designer involved in a range of regeneration and public realm projects. Bella completed her second Master’s degree in Sustainable Architecture Studies at the University of Sheffield where she was funded by the Malaysian Government and obtained a distinction.
Igea Troiani
Director- BAppSc, BArch (Hons), PhD, ARB (Aust), RIBA (Affiliate)
Igea is a Professor and Head of Architecture at London South Bank University. She became a registered architect in Australia in 1989 where she co-founded the collaborative architectural studio, HAPPENiNC in Brisbane with Andrew Dawson. She is a Founding Director of OFA.
Raghav Dixit
Architect- B.Sc (Hons), MArch, MRes, PG Cert, ARB
Raghav completed his Part II RIBA Master’s degree from The University of East London, where he achieved a distinction. He is currently studying for his Part III. Raghav has worked on a wide range of projects in Delhi, Toledo, and London before joining Original Field in 2020. Past projects include pavilions, luxury houses and commercial projects with a contract value of over £ 5 million. While at OFA he has worked on domestic extensions, and complex design and reconfiguration projects in a number of Oxford colleges. Alongside architecture, in his free time he likes to design and make sculptures and to take photographs, which he has already exhibited in the UK and India.
Marion Brereton
Architect- BArch, DipArch, ARB
Marion joined Original Field as a consultant in 2020 focussing on projects at Wolfson College. She is a highly experienced project architect working in the residential, commercial, and higher education sectors. Marion has delivered a range of award-winning projects while working with Wolfson College at Berman Guedes Stretton over the last 20 years. This includes the Academic Wing, completed in 2016 which received national and international recognition for its design sensitivity and sustainable features. For six years, Marion was a Part 3 external examiner and sat on the examination sub-committee for the professional exam in Architecture at Oxford Brookes University.
Peter Newton
Associate Director
Peter joined OFA from Barton Wilmore where he was a director in their architecture team leading a range of projects from large scale regeneration masterplans through to individual buildings for both local authority and private sector clients. Peter is an imaginative and open minded architect and urbanist who has great enthusiasm for collaboration and inventive problem solving. He is also an Associate Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, and an External Examiner at Coventry University.
Selin Ucar
Architectural Assistant- BSc (Hons), MArchD
Selin joined OFA as a Part 2 Architectural assistant in 2022. She completed her Master’s at Oxford Brookes University, focusing on social inequality in the city and homelessness. Her final project explored zero waste design on existing buildings using St Catherine’s College, Oxford. She has a keen interest in the impact of architecture and design on societies and on the behaviour of individuals. During and after her undergraduate degree, she gained experience by being involved in various residential and commercial projects at different stages in Turkey. In her free time, she enjoys painting, taking photos, reading, and walking around the city.
Olaa Mohamad
Architectural Assistant- B.Arch
Olaa studied for 5 years in the Architecture faculty at Damascus University. During her studies she was interested in blending ancient and modern architectural styles, and this was the basis for her final project. Her project proposal preserved historic buildings while designing newer buildings in an environmentally sustainable way, including new green spaces. Olaa proposes modern design that retains the spirit of the historic city scape. Her experience is reflected in her work at OFA, where she is inspired by the renowned historic architecture of Oxford. Olaa’s projects at OFA have included residential contracts and Wolfson College.
Kim Revell
Office Manager
Kim joined OFA in June 2021 as Office Manager and before that worked for Berman Guedes Stretton Architects for almost 19 years. Her role was all aspects of Finances, HR, and Administration tasks. She went to Abingdon & Witney College a few years ago and got an BTEC Award in Construction. She has done several Race for Life and Alzheimers walks and plans to do them again this year.
