About Us
About Us
We believe that good home design can make a significant difference to our quality and enjoyment of life - increasing happiness, wellbeing and pleasure.
Our talented team share this vision, and contribute through their creativity, expertise and commitment to deliver these values.
Alex Rider
Founding Director
BArch (Hons), MArch, DipArch, ARB, RIBA
Alex is a qualified architect with over twenty years’ experience in practice.
Having studied architecture at The University of Nottingham, Alex worked at award winning firm Eric Parry Architects, where he delivered high-end residential schemes for commercial and private clients, alongside a range of unique office-sector projects.
Alex won a RIBA award and was shortlisted for the Stephen Lawrence Prize.
Alex believes that the best way to deliver great projects is to create a fantastic project team. This includes the client, professional consultants and talented contractors all contributing to build exceptional buildings.
Barry Stirland
Founding Director
BArch (Hons), MArch, DipArch, ARB, RIBA
Barry is less interested in developing a house style than in finding the idea that belongs to a particular house, site and client.
A qualified architect with over twenty years’ experience, he works across architecture and interiors, treating the house as a whole rather than separating the building from what happens inside it. He has a particular interest in natural materials, light and bespoke details, and in how these can give a project its own character.
He is equally interested in how a house performs. Energy use, comfort, and longevity are considered from the outset and worked into the design so that performance and character sit naturally together.
His experience of private houses, conservation settings and complex statutory approvals means that ambitious design is grounded in an understanding of what can actually be consented, detailed and built.
Matias Smyly
Associate
M.Eng / B.Eng, BA (Hons), MA, PGDip, ARB
Matias studied architecture at the University of Westminster and the University of Kingston, following a master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of Leeds. He joined Rider Stirland Architects in 2022 and brings a strong technical skill set to the team.
Prior to joining Rider Stirland Architects, Matias spent over five years at Waugh Thistleton Architects, working as a project architect on medium to large scale residential schemes. He has an excellent understanding of timber construction, having been prominently involved in numerous mass timber projects, including a pioneering design for the UK’s first mid-rise modular cross-laminated timber building.
Matias’s keen interest in the practical aspects of construction has led him to explore a passion for designing and making bespoke furniture for his own home; from built-in wardrobes and bathroom vanity units to a decorative plywood staircase, and even casting a concrete worktop.
Mami Hardy
Architect
BArch (Hons), DipArch, PGDip, ARB
Mami studied architecture at the University of Nottingham. She joined Rider Stirland Architects in 2022 as a Part II architectural assistant, qualifying as an architect in 2023. Mami has experience in high-end residential design as well as the retail and leisure sectors.
Prior to joining Rider Stirland Architects, Mami followed her passion for creating beautiful pieces of furniture and original products such as graphic posters which were sold at major high street brands. Her achievements include winning the Lexus Design Award at the Milan Design Week.
Mami is currently working on the early design stages of a range of residential projects, delivering feasibility, design studies and planning applications. Her work is characterised by an appreciation for craftsmanship and recognition for the importance of longevity in design.
Catrin Roberts
Architectural Assistant
BArch (Hons), MArch
Catrin is a Part 2 Architectural Assistant with an interest in the relationship between architecture and identity. She recently graduated from the University of Nottingham, where her master’s thesis was featured in Dezeen and nominated for departmental awards. Her work explored the Welsh concept of ‘hiraeth’, examining how memory, landscape and cultural history can shape meaningful spatial experiences.
Prior to joining Rider Stirland Architects, Catrin spent a year as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant at Farrells, gaining valuable experience across large scale residential projects, including the delivery of Powerhouse at Chelsea Waterfront.
Outside of work, Catrin enjoys getting to know London since relocating, exploring its different neighbourhoods and discovering new places to eat and visit.
Ellie Lodder
Architectural Assistant
BArch (Hons), MArch
Ellie joined Rider Stirland Architects in 2023 as a Part I architectural assistant. After graduating from the University of Nottingham, she worked in the high-end commercial and hospitality sectors, with a focus on interior design.
Ellie completed her Master's at the Royal College of Art in 2026, where her thesis was awarded the Dean’s prize for the School of Architecture. Since then, she has been working on a number of projects at different stages, developing each client’s brief into a unique, thoughtful response to the character of their home and how they live.
Alongside her work, Ellie is a keen painter and designer of textile and leather pieces. This has brought an appreciation for experimentation and playfulness with colour, texture, and light that translates into her approach for designing beautiful yet functional spaces.
