Kate Cheyne

Kate Cheyne is an architect and director of Architects In Residence. She was educated at the Macintosh School of Architecture followed by the Bartlett, University College of London. Prior to setting up A.I.R. she worked in various practices both in London, Israel and Sri Lanka predominantly working on healthcare and housing projects. She established herself as a sole practitioner in 2001 designing both high end private housing and community centres. She often teamed with other small practices and continues to believe strongly in collaboration. She joined forces with Jo Townshend in 2003 to form A.I.R. where she continues to implement collaborative projects with other disciplines. Kate has real experience in prefabricated timber housing winning the Off-site category for 2007 Wood Awards and is currently researching zero-carbon housing using alternative prefabricated materials. Kate has been a guest critic as the Bartlett, Kingston University and Oxford Brookes and has taught a unit in Interior Architecture in Brighton since 2003 where the students are encouraged to develop projects that make explicit ways in which we unknowingly see, experience and occupy space.

Jo Townshend

Jo Townshend is an architect and director of Architects In Residence. She was educated at the Bartlett School of architecture, University College London. Prior to setting up AIR Jo worked for several London firms involved in social housing projects and bar and restaurant design before moving to France as a co founder of architecture practice, Formworks. On returning to the UK she worked as a sole practitioner on high end private residential projects. Since setting up AIR with Kate Cheyne in 2003, Jo continues to exploit her bilingual skills by working on residential projects in France. Jo is currently working on a school refurbishment project and looking to develop the office’s education portfolio. She is a member of the Green Register of Construction Professionals and brings sustainability into all aspects of her work.

Bjørn Kvalen

Studied architecture at the university of brighton, shool of architecture and design.

Before joining AiR in january 2007 Bjørn previously worked in Norway before moving to England to get his diploma in architecture at brighton. He has worked with practices in brighton and chichester and has experience with private residential, public housing, leisure and educational projects.

Previous employers:
Miller Hughes Associates Ltd.
DRP Architects Ltd.
Svein Skibnes Arkitektkontor AS
Bente Rødal Arkitekter AS.