Our Team

iB Architects was founded in 2021 to collaborate with organisations and individuals to understand and realise their property and environmental challenges.

At iB we value everyone’s contribution and skills, providing agency and autonomy whilst ensuring that mentoring and learning provides a broad range of industry experience.  We welcome the range of voices and perspectives that create design solutions, ensuring that our thinking and technologies are kept fresh - derived from our participatory and inclusive working together, all in one studio space.

As a practice we have prioritised the nurturing of young talent and supporting them to achieve personal goals.

We are always interested in hearing from talented and enthusiastic individuals. If you think you would be a good fit for our team please email us with your CV and portfolio of recent work.

A man with glasses, gray hair, and a short beard, wearing a black shirt and navy blazer, smiling at the camera against a plain, light gray background.

  • Ian founded iB Architects in response to the post-pandemic world, aiming to address property and environmental challenges through design-driven, commercially sustainable architecture. With a career spanning between London and Newbury, Ian has over a decade of experience as a director in private practice. His projects, located across the UK, have recently focused on land-led opportunities for new housing, retail, and mixed-use developments.

    The pandemic underscored the importance of flexibility and adaptability, principles that are central to iB Architects. Ian believes in a collaborative approach, working with partners who share the firm’s ethos to deliver successful projects.

    Active in his local community, Ian is a member of West Berkshire Council’s Development Industry Forum, providing feedback to Building Control and Planning services. He also contributes to the development of Newbury’s Neighbourhood Development Plan as a steering group member.

    As well as managing the practice Ian specialises on the feasibility, viability and planning stages of projects at iB Architects.

Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and light skin, wearing a black turtleneck against a plain, light background.

  • Penny’s journey to architecture is anything but conventional. Designing spaces since the age of seven, Penny’s passion for creating environments has always been evident.

    Initially, she pursued a degree in environmental science, which led her to a career in the petro-chemical industry and later to teaching GCSE and A-level sciences. However, a transformative sabbatical traveling through Asia, Australasia, and the Americas inspired Penny to follow her true calling in architecture.

    Penny thrives on solving complex problems and optimising efficiencies at both macro and micro levels. Her straightforward approach and commitment to deeply understanding her clients’ needs result in designs that both delight and indulge. Penny is responsible for technical compliance and delivery at iB Architects.

  • Ellie is an ARB‑registered Architect and Certified Passivhaus Designer with over seven years’ professional experience in sustainable architectural practice. Alongside her role at iB Architects, she is undertaking a fully funded PhD within an international, industry‑engaged research programme in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada. Her research focuses on strengthening the evidence base for low‑carbon modular construction at scale, with a particular emphasis on timber and offsite systems. 

    Ellie’s doctoral work develops robust methodologies for whole‑building life‑cycle carbon and cost assessment, alongside national datasets for modular construction within the Canadian context. By integrating academic research with professional expertise in building physics, Passivhaus design and low‑carbon construction, Ellie’s work aims to deliver practical guidance, tools and knowledge transfer for industry and policy audiences. At iB Architects, Ellie contributes specialist insight into sustainable design and performance‑led thinking while working part‑time alongside her doctoral studies. 

Portrait of a woman with long dark hair, smiling, wearing a white shirt, standing against a plain light-colored background.

  • Nikita holds a BSc and MArch in Architecture from Cardiff University, bringing a unique blend of creative and technical expertise to the team. Her early experience in retail and a gap year focusing on industrial design enhanced her confidence and independent problem-solving abilities.

    At the Welsh School of Architecture, Nikita’s passion for social sustainability led her to explore how contemporary design impacts gender equality and mobility in urban spaces. At iB Architects, she plays a vital role in design interpretation, detailed drawing, computer modelling, and architectural representation across all stages of the RIBA plan of work. Nikita is responsible for BIM coordination across the practice.

Close-up of a black and white cat with yellow eyes, sitting indoors near a bookshelf.

  • Ziggy is responsible for the emotional wellbeing of everyone at iB Architects.

    Ziggy likes rodent control.

  • Lee holds a First-Class Master of Architecture degree from the University of Nottingham and a BSc (Hons) in Architecture from the University of Bath. With a strong interest in sustainability, retrofit and community focused design, he brings a thoughtful, research‑led approach to architectural practice. His academic work has explored the role of adaptive reuse and low‑carbon housing in response to the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, earning commendation from the RIBA East Midlands Education Group.

    Alongside practice, Lee has supported architectural education as a First Year Teaching Assistant at the University of Nottingham, reflecting his collaborative ethos and clear design communication skills. At iB Architects, Lee supports design development, technical coordination and architectural representation across projects.