Scottish Young Architect of the Year, commendation 2005, short listed 2008
Profile
WTArchitecture
was founded by Architect William Tunnell in 2006 following the
expansion of his work as a sole practitioner. The practice is based in
South Queensferry in Edinburgh and has undertaken a number of acclaimed & award-winning projects. WTA aims to produce contemporary
design, responding to and respecting the history of the contextual
architecture, and delivering practical, sustainable solutions.
We
often work within listed buildings and conservation areas and have
undertaken domestic, public and commercial commissions, as well urban
design proposals. WTA has been involved in urban design work in
Kirkcaldy, Queensferry and Edinburgh and has been a consultant to City
of Edinburgh Council on the impact of the Tram proposals on the public
realm.
A
number of small crafted projects have been recently completed in
Edinburgh and current projects include new houses in The Trossachs,
Argyll and the Hebrides, a farm shop near Linlithgow, new housing in
Northamptonshire and the conversion of a fort in Kent.
People
William Tunnell, Principal
Architect, BSc(Hons) BArch(Hons) (Bath) RIBA ARIAS
William
Tunnell started his career in practice while still a student, building
a house in the Hebrides for himself from a ruin croft house. This drew
commissions for other rural buildings and started a fascination with
buildings in the landscape and the potential of contemporary approaches
to vernacular architecture. This fascination is particularly
demonstrated in WTA's White House project where the new buildings tie
into an ancient pattern of enclosure. He gained a deeper understanding
of traditional and historic buildings through working at Simpson and
Brown Architects, and then in Urban Design through a degree in
Architecture and Urban Studies at Bath University.
William
Tunnell has worked full time in private practice since 2001. Before
this he worked with Richard Murphy's highly successful team for five
years and was Project Architect on a number of award winning schemes.
Early
projects for the practice were domestic extensions which have explored
different means for connecting houses with their gardens. These
extensions are simple ensembles of clearly separate built elements –
tall wrapping walls, curved roof, sharp-edged plate roof, unfolding
planes of wall, incidental seats etc. They often try and break down the
barrier between inside and outside, something that modern technologies
enable us to do. Larger stand alone projects have followed which have
extended an architectural language of breaking down the defensive
building envelope and connecting new structures into thier landscapes.
William Tunnell's expertise in urban design has led to work in
Edinburgh and Fife, most notably working regularly with Sir Terry
Farrell's City Design Champion team.
Since
1999 he has been a part time Architecture tutor and lecturer at
Edinburgh University.
Tamsin
Cunningham, Associate, Architect, MA(Hons) MArch (Edinburgh)
Tamsin
Cunningham joined WTA in 2006 following completion of her studies at
Edinburgh University and has led the projects for The White House on
the Isle of Coll, The GRV Venue and the Kirkliston House.
Prior to this she worked on a number of sustainability-driven
conservation projects at Simpson and Brown Architects, Edinburgh and as
part of an award-winning multi-disciplinary design team at Pinc (People
Incorporated) in Stockholm. Here she helped develop prototype designs
for contemporary modular housing. Tamsin's continued interest in the
relationship between architecture and landscape has also informed a
private design study for Scottish Natural Heritage in the Isle of Rum
and is a particular focus in her work at WTA.
Susie
Moss Langfield, Architect, MA(Hons) MArch (Edinburgh)
Susie
Moss Langfield has worked with WTA since 2007. She has led the
Inverleith House, Circus Lane Mews and Murrayfield House projects in
Edinburgh. She is also responsible for new projects in Aberfeldy, North
Berwick and Fife. Before joining WTA she worked as a photographer in
Whistler after completing architectural studies at Edinburgh
University. Her masters centred on an interest in the integration of
cultural open spaces within the fabric of communities, and adaptable
buildings which can respond and unfold, eroding the boundary of the
internal/external space.
Marta Garcia Aranda, Architectural Assistant
Marta joined WTA in Febraury 2010 on a trainee placement from Valencia in Spain.
Juliette
Summers
Juliette
Summers works part time in a business advisory role.
