About

As CEO, Jo is the strategic and commercial lead for Studio Jo Cowen, best known for her unique combination of design and commercial skills. Jo comes with a unique background as being both a qualified Architect, yet trained in real estate investment management. This provides a broad understanding of the complexities involved in bringing schemes to fruition enabling the practice to work in partnership with clients and stakeholders. She is a leader in analysing and creatively assessing a site’s potential, as well as advising on value curation, the development brief and planning risk.

Jo is responsible for the strategic growth of the practice’s Living sector led regeneration schemes as well as overseeing the master planning projects. Currently working with several respected industry bodies, Jo is a thought leader recognised for her ongoing contribution to improving the quality of delivery within the sector.

Jo believes that sustainable design should deliver for the place, local community, investor, developer, operator and fundamentally, the end user. Jo is a founding shareholder for Action Funder, which provides valuable resource to community groups in need. Jo is also Vice President of Story of Christmas and fund raiser for Restore the Music.

As Managing Director, Chris is responsible for the overall design and delivery of all of our most innovative work. He leads concept and technical development of all major practice projects, from master-planning to multi-unit for sale and build-to-rent schemes, as well as being at the forefront of best in class residential led regeneration. Chris is able to rationalise sites at the earliest stages, unlocking potential in a sympathetic yet ambitious way. He goes beyond being an architect, with a deep understanding of operational strategies and interlocking multiple scales and phases of development in tandem.

Working at the forefront of conceptual progression of modern housing design, Chris has a reputation for unlocking complex sites with planning authorities, bringing new and alternative perspectives to urban townscape, marrying high quality design that performs for all stakeholders. Chris works hard to push forward the practices ‘clean and climate’ tech innovation and has led on multiple award winning projects.

Central to Chris’s approach is a co-aligned relationships with clients, statutory authorities and consultants throughout the design process. He carefully considers the appearance, performance and viability of buildings, adopting cutting-edge sustainable design strategies and the latest low carbon technologies. Chris strives to ensure that we remain at the forefront of the profession, investing in best in class capabilities and delivery excellence.

For more than ten years, Carlota has been a key figure at Studio Jo Cowen, collaborating closely with founder Jo Cowen and helping to grow the studio into the established and respected name in architecture that it has become. A strong foundation in residential architecture allows Carlota to merge innovative design with commercial viability, leading to projects that are both inspiring and practical.

A passionate advocate for sustainable design, Carlota is particularly adept and experienced in working on listed buildings, bringing a thoughtful, eco-conscious approach to preserving their heritage while introducing modern, environmentally friendly solutions. She combines a natural design flare with a strong technical knowledge of how buildings are constructed and detailed in order to efficiently resolve complex spatial and construction issues across all stages of the design process. Her approach is holistic, ensuring that each project maintains a contemporary yet timeless aesthetic alongside functional excellence.

Carlota prides herself on fostering strong relationships with clients and consultants, understanding that it takes collaboration to continue to deliver beautifully executed projects that meet the needs of both clients and the environment.

As Practice Director Judith works with the senior leadership team on the strategy, organisational and operational management of the practice. This encompasses people, culture, finance, operations and aspects of QA, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Judith is a qualified architect and gained a distinction in her Part 3. She has worked in practice both in London and New York and it was during her time there that she broadened her experience within the construction team taking on roles with a main contractor and project manager. On returning to the UK, Judith returned to the profession in a role that would make the most of her strengths and interests, that of practice management.

Judith has a particular interest in people and culture and has completed CIPD Associate (Level 5) in People Management. She is passionate about broadening diversity within the profession and wider built environment sector, actively pursuing opportunities to enable this across all stages of a career from outreach to schools to career progression within practice, continually striving to create and maintain an inclusive workplace.

As Finance and Practice Manager, Caroline works directly with the senior team to assist in the general management of the practice. Her role encompasses finance, HR, operations, and aspects of ISO 9001.

Caroline studied PPE at Oxford University, and her background is in finance. She has over 15 years of experience in businesses across the creative sector, bringing strategic and analytical skills to her role at Studio Jo Cowen.

Outside of work, Caroline is passionate about all things literary and has had a number of novels published, as well as writing for the BBC.

Laira has a wealth of experience in delivering high-end residential projects, from the restoration of traditional properties and listed buildings to the design of bespoke new homes. As a qualified Passivhaus Designer, she has successfully completed several net-zero projects, demonstrating her commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.

Detail-oriented and client-focused, Laira excels at crafting inspirational homes that not only reflect her clients’ unique vision but also uphold the highest standards of design, craftsmanship, and innovation.

Nada has been with Jo Cowen Studio since 2017 and has extensive experience in delivering several prestigious high-end residential projects. She has strong management capabilities, keen attention to detail and a collaborative mind-set that achieves high quality architectural outcomes.

With a robust understanding of working with existing period properties in London, Nada specialises in transforming spaces to meet the needs of contemporary living and ensuring that design integrity is maintained throughout all stages of a project’s development through to its execution on site.

Her approach is dynamic, practical, and attentive, with a commitment to working closely with Clients, consultants, and contractors, to ensure the vision and brief remains at the heart of every project.

Michael is an experienced architect of over 15 years of work on the refurbishment and extension of existing buildings, often for private end-user clients and usually working in his favoured environment of the building-site.

With a focus on creating highly personalised functional spaces and often incorporating contemporary technologies into historic built fabric, his expertise in detail and technique also inform strategic approaches to Planning Consent and achieving Building Control approval.

Alberto brings over a decade of experience working on high‑end private residential projects across Italy and the UK. His portfolio spans the refurbishment of historic and listed buildings, the reimagining of traditional homes, and the delivery of contemporary, bespoke residences.

Committed to design excellence and meticulous detail, Alberto oversees projects through all stages—from early concept to final completion—ensuring a seamless and thoughtful process for clients. He excels in building strong relationships with clients, contractors, and consultants, fostering a collaborative environment that supports both creativity and technical rigour.

With a passion for crafting refined, beautifully resolved spaces, Alberto combines architectural sensitivity with a practical understanding of construction, delivering homes that are elegant, functional, and genuinely tailored to the people who live in them.

Leire has almost a decade of experience working within the residential sector across London, delivering projects across both listed and non‑listed properties. She brings a considered, design‑led approach to her work, underpinned by a strong sensitivity to context, heritage, and the individual character of each home.

With particular expertise in working with period and listed buildings, Leire is highly attentive to detail and focuses on thoughtfully balancing contemporary living requirements with the preservation of architectural integrity. She works closely with clients and consultant teams throughout all stages of the design process, ensuring each project is carefully resolved, responsive, and reflective of the client’s vision.

Beth is a fully qualified Architect, having completed the Professional Practice in Architecture Postgraduate Diploma at the University of Westminster in 2021, an M.Arch Architecture at the Bartlett, UCL in 2018, and a BA (Hons) Architecture at the University of Brighton in 2014, where she received a First Class Degree with Honours.

Throughout her academic studies and career, it is the expression of materiality, craft of construction, and consideration for colour and tone which have sat at the heart of Beth’s design ethos and practice. She believes the culmination of these principles are what make both successful places and spaces.

This outlook has enabled Beth to work across a range of scales in the residential sector, from the complexity of a detailed tender package for a client’s home, to developing strategies to deliver a new town centre for future communities.

Pippa holds an MArch degree in Architecture from the University of Bath and began her career at Studio Jo Cowen as the first Level 7 Architecture Apprentice, balancing her professional work with academic studies. Prior to joining the team, Pippa studied at Loughborough University where she obtained a BArch (Hons) degree in Architecture with a Diploma in Professional Studies.

Passionate about sustainable architecture and resilient design, Pippa places sustainability at the forefront of her work, evident by her nomination for the AJ Sustainability Student Prize in her second year and her dissertation which explored embodied carbon in flood resilient design. Pippa has also been actively involved in community focused sustainability efforts, including volunteering at the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) where she led the social media graphics team.

In 2023, Pippa achieved her Passive House Designer certification, building a more mathematical understanding of building physics and energy performance. Whilst working on the domestic team, Pippa has curated the domestic sustainability brochure and developed her knowledge and expertise in the retrofit of listed buildings, from working on planning and extensive listed building matters to the drawing of tender and construction information.

Philippe completed his Masters of Architecture, with distinction, at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. His thesis interrogated the complex urban fabric of a culturally and historically rich inner-city block in Johannesburg. The themes picked up in his thesis provide an insight into his architectural interests that have emerged in professional practice. He has a particular interest in restoration, historic preservation and research, placemaking, urbanism, as well as a passion for sustainability and environmental preservation.

After obtaining his architectural professional registration in South Africa, he elected to further his professional development in the UK. Philippe has been a core team member on a diverse range of commercial and residential projects, developing a varied skillset for designing spaces at a variety of scales. Most notably, Philippe offers a high proficiency in various computer modelling and visualisation software as well as varied coordination and teamwork experience.

As an architectural assistant, Abigail completed an M.Arch Architecture at the Bartlett, UCL in 2022, where she received a Distinction. Throughout her academic studies she has had a keen interest in vernacular ingenuity. In particular, the use of sustainable materials in vernacular technologies.

Abigail has an appreciation of traditional and classical design, exploring building technologies and materials. This has enabled her to successfully work on domestic projects in the residential sector.

Jamie joined Studio Jo Cowen in 2023 having just graduated from the University of Bath. Throughout his time here he has worked across a multitude of projects at various stages, whether that be in early-stage concept and feasibility design, preparing planning applications or assisting in the detailed design stage.

Jamie’s interests lie in sustainability and across his research at university, he focused on designing low energy performing buildings using natural materials and how different methods of construction could be used as an alternative to traditional building.

Aside from this Jamie is interested in how 3D modelling to test different design options and materiality can be used throughout the design process to give a better understanding of space and scale.

Recently, Jamie has begun studying for his master’s degree in architecture at the London School of Architecture, where he balances part time studying whilst continuing his career at Studio Jo Cowen.

Sean has a background in Architecture, having studied at The Bartlett, University College London.

Prior to joining Studio Jo Cowen Sean collaborated with a variety of clients across the built environment at ING Media, and contributed to the operations team at Architecture & Interior Design practice Foster Lomas.

As Studio Manager at Studio Jo Cowen Sean has a passion for people and their relationship with the built environment.