People

Prior to qualifying as an architect in 2009, Darren received his Diploma (Distinction) in Architecture and Masters in Professional Practice from the University of Nottingham. Darren has worked in a number of award-winning practices across the country, including marsh:grochowski in Nottingham, and bere:architects in London, working on the UK’s first non-residential certified Passivhaus retrofit project.

Prior to establishing the practice in 2013, Darren spent 3 years as a project architect for Cowper Griffith Architects in Cambridge, working on Ipswich School’s music school and auditorium, and a number of award-winning private houses across East Anglia. When not in the office, Darren is likely to be tending the garden with his partner Jenny, baking or listening to TMS with a pint alongside Kalli the cat.

Rita joined the practice in 2015, and has overseen several of the practice’s high end residential projects, such as Oglander Road & Pine Walk. She studied at Queen’s University Belfast for her BSc Architecture (RIBA Part 1) & MArch (RIBA Part II) before completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice (RIBA Part III) at the University of Westminster and qualifying as an Architect in 2017.

Outside the practice, Rita is one of the world’s leading Ullieann pipe musicians (that’s Irish Bagpipes to the uninitiated). She has performed all over the world and continues to play regularly across London. In 2019 Rita recorded with Robbie Williams, and appeared on The Graham Norton Show.

Lydia joined the Practice in October 2020 as a Part II Architectural Assistant, having previously worked at prestigious practices Knox Bhavan and Ash Sakula. Lydia studied at the University of Nottingham for her RIBA Part I Architecture degree, specialising in sustainability, and then pursued the sustainability teaching programme for her RIBA Part II Architecture Masters at the Aarhus Arkitekskolen, Denmark. In Aarhus she specialised in intergenerational housing, and has given talks for York City Council on this subject.

Outside of her working time, Lydia is a keen sea swimmer and cyclist, and has recently taken up jewellery-making.

Jenny is the Practice’s Business and Marketing Manager. She’s been involved in Darren Oldfield Architects since it first started – though in a more informal capacity, as she is also Darren’s partner in life as well as in business!

Outside the practice, Jenny is an academic researcher on film and visual culture, and a fledgling fiction writer. In her spare time, she swims and practices yoga, as well as tending the allotment and garden.

Kalli took over as office mascot in September 2020 after we lost our wonderful Juno.  You will mainly find her disrupting any attempt for Darren to work efficiently from home!