Profile

7N Architects bring an integrated approach to placemaking. We specialise in generating innovative ideas that deliver simple solutions to complex problems and focus on delivering transformational change by unlocking the full potential of buildings, places and spaces.

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Our strength lies in an holistic approach to making better places through ideas led strategies that are embedded in their physical, social and economic contexts.
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An approach that always seeks to unlock the full potential of a project opportunity and deliver added value and wellbeing in their widest sense.
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We design and deliver our projects in 3D using Building Information Modelling (BIM) software to enhance our client’s engagement in the design process and optimise the quality of our technical information.
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Team

Our team structure enables us to deliver an agile and dynamic response to our client’s needs. We have the ability, proven experience and attention to detail to deliver projects at all levels and scales, from start to finish.

Ewan Anderson
Managing Director

Ewan is an Architect and Urban Planner with almost 30 years experience of delivering major, complex projects throughout the UK. Previously, he worked at a number of significant practices including Conran + Partners and Foster + Partners, before establishing 7N Architects in 2009.

Ewan leads the practice that has built a powerful reputation for its innovative approach and ability to deliver transformational change. He is an active member of the Architecture + Design Scotland Design Forum Panel, the Academy of Urbanism and is regularly invited to speak about placemaking and urban design.

Laura Adamson
Architect

Prior to joining 7N Architects, Laura worked at Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt Architects in London for 4 years. She gained experience working on a number of residential schemes of various scales, across all stages from feasibility to construction. She has previously worked in offices in Prague and Stuttgart. Laura has a keen interest in mentoring and took part in the RcA practice mentoring scheme for two years. As well as an interest in encouraging Diversity & Inclusion within the construction industry. She studied both her undergraduate and Masters degree at The University of Edinburgh and completed her Part 3 at The University of Westminster, qualifying as an architect in 2019.

Collette Anderson
Practice Manager

Collette has extensive experience of providing efficient, effective and safe management of organisations and their finances to ensure smooth running of the business and well-being of staff. Previously she worked in commercial/corporate roles in financial and private sector orgnaisations before joining 7N Architects in 2011. Skills and qualities such as rigor, compliance/legislation and quality have readily transferred to the creative industry of architecture.

Collette focuses on managing the business finances and supporting delivery of key elements of the studio’s growth and operations strategy in line with the 7N Architects’ philosophy.

Alex Angus
Architectural Assistant

Alex graduated from the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and The Built Environment in 2021 and was awarded Master of Architecture with Distinction. During her studies she developed her passion for civic design focusing on the remote island community of Orkney. In addition to this, she also expanded her interest and knowledge in sustainable and low energy design. During her Part 1, Alex gained experience at Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects in Copenhagen. Throughout her time here she worked on innovative and sustainable mixed use and office developments, developing her knowledge in BIM processes and large scale design projects.

Lisa Blyth
Architect

Lisa is an architect and long-standing member of the 7N Architects team, helping to found the practice in 2009 and returning after a career break in 2022. In that time, she has worked on a variety of 7N projects, including the delivery of large scale mixed use housing led projects and major masterplans. She also helped 7N to pioneer community led design in Scotland in the Sottish Government’s Charrette Mainstreaming Programme and to develop practical placemaking strategies in the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Toolkit. Lisa’s experience reflects her personal interest in how designers and stakeholders can work strategically to shape our built environment to significantly improve the quality of day-to-day life for its inhabitants.
Lisa studied at the Dundee School of Architecture and became an ARB registered architect in 2011.

Amy Drabble
Part II Architectural Assistant

Amy joined 7N after graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 2022, where she was awarded Master of Architecture with Distinction. During her studies, she explored architectural interventions set within rich historic contexts; designing an architectural proposal within the island Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, France. Prior to her postgraduate degree, Amy gained experience at practices in Edinburgh, Manchester and Malta where she worked on complex multi-million pound projects that include healthcare, commercial and higher education schemes (ranging from RIBA Stages 0 – 6).

Dylan Isaac
Architectural Assistant

Dylan has previous experience at JTP Architects in London, where his projects included new high-rise London apartments and modern rural homes in Cambridgeshire.

He graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a Master’s Degree in Architecture. His academic work ranged from a tea factory in Perthshire that explored the production of native tea with contextually natural botanicals, to a community project in Belfast. It was this project that drove his thesis idea of redefining high streets away from existing anti-social and digitally dependent places.

Tokini Kent
Architect

Tokini joined 7N Architects following 3 years working in London with Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, where she gained extensive experience working on a number of high profile mixed-use, residential, educational and master-planning projects on prominent sites across the City. She previously worked at The Bazeley Partnership where she gained experience in technical design of high-end bespoke homes.

Tokini studied at the University of Dundee, graduating with a First Class Honours in Architecture with Urban Planning. She completed her professional studies at the University of Westminster and became an ARB registered Architect in 2022.

Harry Kirkham
Architect + Operations Leader

Harry is an Architect with over a decade of experience designing and delivering many of 7N’s largest and most complex building and masterplanning projects. He has a particular focus on placemaking at both the architectural and urban scales, which has been proven through numerous awards and successful project delivery.

Harry joined 7N in 2011 and is part of the practice leadership team. He studied at the University of Bath and the University of Edinburgh, graduating with Distinction.

Rachel Leatherbarrow
Architect

Rachel joined 7N with over 5 years UK experience working across a broad range of building typologies across the Arts & Cultural, Residential and Civic Sectors. Prior to joining 7N Rachel worked for MUMA, Allies & Morrison and Squire and Partners in London where she was part of the design team on two Stirling Prize nominated projects and achieved planning consent on notable developments of strategic importance in London and Bath.

Her passion is for crafted design that embodies spirit of place with richness of materiality and intelligent environmental design. Educated at Newcastle University, Edinburgh University and the Bartlett School of Architecture, Rachel graduated with First Class Honours becoming an ARB registered architect in 2019.

Andrew McBride
Architect

Andrew is an Architect who studied at the University of Strathclyde, graduating with first class honours and a Masters degree in Architecture.

Prior to joining 7N, Andrew gained valuable experience working on mixed-use housing schemes both at Stockwool in London as a part-II architectural assistant and Spengler Wiescholek in Hamburg during his part-I year-out.

Christopher McHale
Architect

Chris brings over 12 years of job-running experience working for renowned design practices in London, leading multiple projects across a wide range of sectors for high profile clients. Prior to joining 7N, Chris was Project Architect at Coffey Architects and delivered award-winning projects for the studio with an acute attention to detail. His wealth of knowledge allows him to lead the design of complex, high quality schemes from inception to completion. Chris studied at the Glasgow School of Art graduating in 2004, and qualified as an ARB registered architect in 2007.

Patrick Mitchell
Projects Leader

Patrick joined 7N with over 20 years’ experience, working at senior level on projects in the UK as well as further afield in Peru, Australia and the Mid-East. He studied architecture at the University of Edinburgh and the Helsinki Institute of Technology, qualifying in 2003.

Patrick brings a considered, practical and technical knowledge to projects, with a thorough command of the technical complexities of construction and statutory consent processes. He is confident in leading and liaising with both multi-disciplinary design teams and client bodies working on complex projects. Patrick has excellent experience throughout the whole design working across most sectors including healthcare, commercial, education, residential, museums, galleries and exhibitions from concept to completion. Many of these projects have involved working with historic and sensitive buildings.

Adam Neep
Architect

Prior to joining 7N, Adam was an associate at Fletcher Joseph in Edinburgh where he delivered a number of mixed use and purpose built student accommodation projects. He previously worked at Fourpoint Architects in London, where he gained experience on a range of award winning residential and commercial projects.

Adam studied at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 2012, and qualified as an ARB registered architect in 2015.

Rachael Neville
Architect

Rachael relocated back to Scotland and joined 7N in October 2022. She had previously spent 7 years at Piercy&Co working with clients including Workspace, Argent and Wellcome Trust.

Rachael’s experience is wide-ranging, from small cultural projects to large scale commercial and multi-residential work, developing projects across all RIBA stages from feasibility to construction and in complex planning situations.

Working on several significant office-led mixed use projects at Piercy&Co including R8 at Kings Cross for Argent, developing through RIBA stage 3 & 4 to embed design and quality requirements in detailed tender drawings and specifications. She was also project architect for the multi-award-winning Drayton Green Church.

During her studies at the Mackintosh in Glasgow, she combined study with travel completing an exchange at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Switzerland, and her Part 1 placement in Paris. Rachael qualified as an architect in 2018.

Niamh O’Reilly
Projects Leader

Prior to joining 7N, Niamh worked in London for Studio Egret West, as a project architect, where she led a variety of mixed-use, residential and educational projects. She previously worked at Nicholas Hare Architects in London for 4 years, where she gained experience on a range of educational projects.

Niamh studied at the Mackintosh School of Architecture and qualified as an ARB registered architect in 2011 at the University of Westminster.

Kara Pankiw
Studio Administrator

Coming from a background in scenography and architecture, Kara is passionate about design. She has worked as a set, costume and lighting designer for the past five years across numerous theatre productions in Canada. Having earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture from the University of Manitoba in 2018, she has now returned to an architectural setting in a supportive administrative role; while having the opportunity to learn about built environment design strategies in a new country.

Mayya Potvar
Part II Architectural Assistant

Mayya is a Part 2 Architectural Assistant who recently graduated from the University of Dundee, achieving a First Class Honors. Her Master’s project ‘Rethinking Tenements’ received the student conservation award from the DIA, and was also nominated for the AJ student prize. For her Part 1 experience, Mayya worked at Miller Bourne Architects in Brighton, primarily engaging in educational projects.

Chris Raeburn
Architect

Chris brings practical knowledge and experience to the team after delivering projects from concept to completion for a range of private and public clients in Edinburgh, London, and the USA. He joins 7N after spending seven years working in New York City where he managed the design and construction of award-winning projects at Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the New York City Parks Department amongst others. Prior to this, Chris worked for Conran + Partners in London where he worked on a range of residential, hospitality, and retail projects.

Chris studied at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Westminster. He qualified as an ARB registered architect in 2012 and has had his architectural drawings exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, Glasgow Lighthouse Gallery, and in Trieste, Italy.

Craig Tait
Projects Leader

Prior to joining 7N Craig was an associate at jmarchitects and delivered a number of the practice’s award-winning projects. He has twice collaborated with Steven Holl Architects in New York, fulfilling the role of project architect for Maggie’s Barts in London and the Reid Building at the Glasgow School of Art. The buildings that Craig has worked on have been awarded several accolades including the Architects’ Journal AJ100 Building of Year and the Grand Prix Winner for Architecture at the Scottish Design Awards. Craig is currently delivering our Jordanhill and Rowanbank Gardens projects. Craig studied at the Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 2003, and qualified as an ARB registered architect in 2007.

Gabriella Togni
Architectural Assistant

Gabriella joined 7N whilst working to complete her Master of Architecture from The Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art, after successfully completing her Diploma in the spring of 2021. She recently was an editor on the first digital edition of the MacMag, curating the magazine on the theme of how current students, tutors and practitioners are responding to the issues we face today. Prior to this, Gabriella worked at AHMM, London, in the specialised Sustainability Team and subsequently as an Architectural Assistant. Here she gained invaluable experience working on the development of a BREEAM 2018 Outstanding commercial development. In 2017, Gabriella completed her BEng in Architecture and Environmental Engineering graduating with a first class with honours. She is passionate about social and environmental architecture and is now looking to develop her ability to balance design in the context of the climate crisis in her graduate experience.

Evelina Vasileva
Architect + BIM Specialist

Evelina is an architect, BIM Specialist and certified Passive House designer. Evelina has worked on a wide range of large scale residential and mixed-use developments across the UK. She is experienced in implementing collaborative workflows and delivering projects to BIM Level 2 standards. Evelina is passionate about the role of technology in the design process and creating more sustainable cities of the future. Her design ethos is defined by open collaboration, rigorous attention to materiality and detail, and thorough research of places’ social and cultural contexts and opportunities.

Ben Watson
Projects Leader

Ben is an architect with a diverse portfolio of built projects in Edinburgh, London and New York. He joined 7N Architects after spending six years in a senior role at Ben Adams Architects in London.

Ben has delivered numerous successful projects including large mixed use developments, innovative conversions of sensitive historic buildings and contemporary workplaces.

He studied at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Westminster.

Magda Wloczka
Part II Architectural Assistant

Magda joined 7N in 2022 after graduating with a Diploma in Architecture from the Mackintosh School of Architecture. During her studies, she focused on civic design and placemaking through an investigation of associated meaning of architectural forms in current urban environment. Prior to her postgraduate degree, Magda gained experience at Glenn Howells Architects in Birmingham, where she was involved in a number of residential and mixed-use projects.

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Clients

Our focus is designing places with an enduring legacy, capable of delivering tangible civic and economic benefits to our clients. We offer an integrated and inclusive approach to our work and are proud to have collaborated with the following organisations.

Awards

September 2023
New London Awards
Transport and Infrastructure - Shortlisted
Re-imagining Railways
May 2023
Scottish Design Awards
Finalist - Planning
20 Haymarket Yards
May 2022
Scottish Design Awards
Commendation - Future Building or Project
Reimaging Railways
May 2022
Scottish Design Awards
Winner - Design For Good
What If..? / Scotland
December 2021
Urban Design Awards
'People Friendly Place’ Award
Sauchiehall Street - Glasgow City Centre Strategy
October 2021
EAA Awards
EAA Ambassador Award
What if...?/ Scotland
August 2021
AJ Awards
Shortlisted - Housing Category (up to £10million)
Fraser Avenue
July 2021
Scottish Design Awards
Winner - Affordable Housing Category
Fraser Avenue
November 2020
Edinburgh Architectural Association Awards
Commendation - Regeneration Award
Holyrood Distillery
October 2020
Scottish Homes Award
Large Affordable Housing Development of the Year
Fraser Avenue
February 2020
Scottish Property Awards
Finalist - Regeneration Project of the Year
Holyrood Distillery
November 2019
AJ Architecture Awards
Shortlisted - Masterplanning
The Knab, Shetland
August 2019
Scottish Design Awards
Masterplanning Award
The Knab, Shetland
August 2019
Scottish Design Awards
Highly Commended - Future Project
Western Harbour
April 2019
Edinburgh Architectural Association Awards
Shortlisted - Large Project
Fraser Avenue, Phase One
April 2019
Homes for Scotland Awards
Shortlisted - Affordable Housing Development of the Year
Fraser Avenue, Phase One
August 2017
Inside Housing Awards
Shortlisted - Best Build for Rent Development
India Quay, Fountainbridge
July 2017
World Architecture Festival Awards
Shortlisted - Education Future Project
University of Glasgow Masterplan
June 2017
Saltire Society Housing Design Awards
Commendation - Innovation in Housing
Fraser Avenue
April 2017
Scottish Civic Trust
Commendation - Scottish Civic Trust My Place Award
Inverness Campus
April 2016
Planning and Placemaking Awards
Commendation - Planning and Placemaking Award
Inverness Campus
March 2016
Edinburgh Architectural Association Awards
Shortlisted - Building of the Year
Westfield Avenue Phase Two
February 2016
RTPI Planning Excellence Awards
Shortlisted - RTPI Planning Excellence
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
November 2015
Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning
Groundbreaking Approach to Local Planning
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
May 2015
Scottish Design Awards
Shortlisted - Placemaking/Masterplanning Award
India Quay, Fountainbridge
March 2015
Scottish Property Awards
Best Achievement in Masterplanning
India Quay, Fountainbridge
March 2015
Scottish Property Awards
Shortlisted - Development of the year - Public Building
Inverness Campus
June 2013
RIAS Awards
Shortlisted - RIAS Award
Garscube Link
September 2012
Saltire Society Housing Design Awards
Large Scale Housing Development
Westfield Avenue Phase One
June 2012
Scottish Homes Awards
Large Affordable Housing Development of the year
Westfield Avenue Phase One
March 2012
Edinburgh Architectural Association Awards
Commendation - Building of the Year
Westfield Avenue Phase One
November 2011
RIAS Andrew Doolan Awards
Special Mention - Best Building in Scotland Award
Phoenix Flowers
October 2010
Roses Design Awards
Placemaking and Landscaping
Garscube Link
May 2010
Scottish Design Awards
Best Future Building
Garscube Link
March 2010
Scottish Awards for Planning
Commendation - Planning Award
Speirs Locks
March 2009
BURA Awards
Strategy and Placemaking
Speirs Locks

Accreditations

7N Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice.

We have achieved ISO certification for our Quality Management, Environmental Management and Occupational Health and Safety Management systems.

As a practice, we are committed to the Scottish Business Pledge and encourage our suppliers to support the Living Wage. 7N Architects are Mass Timber Academy Student Sponsors.

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