Team
Mark Potter
Director
Mark is one of our founding partners. He completed his architectural training at Cambridge University and has now worked in the business for over four decades. Since opening the doors to Potter & Holmes in 1987, Mark has designed and built hundreds of very successful projects, which reflect his extensive, diverse experience in the field.
Mark co-directs the London office and has always championed the practice’s personal, collaborative approach to client work. He has a particular interest in architecture with a social purpose and he focuses on what he calls ‘Havens of hope’ – property for those in need – and affordable starter homes.
When he’s not at work he spends time with his family in SW London and deep sea diving.
“We have a duty as human beings to tread softly on the ground we have been given, to use our resources efficiently and to inspire and delight where we can with our creativity”
Mark Potter
Director
“We have a duty as human beings to tread softly on the ground we have been given, to use our resources efficiently and to inspire and delight where we can with our creativity”
Mark is one of our founding partners. He completed his architectural training at Cambridge University and has now worked in the business for over four decades. Since opening the doors to Potter & Holmes in 1987, Mark has designed and built hundreds of very successful projects, which reflect his extensive, diverse experience in the field.
Mark co-directs the London office and has always championed the practice’s personal, collaborative approach to client work. He has a particular interest in architecture with a social purpose and he focuses on what he calls ‘Havens of hope’ – property for those in need – and affordable starter homes.
When he’s not at work he spends time with his family in SW London and deep sea diving.
Key Projects
Polly Church
Director
Polly co-directs Potter Church & Holmes’ London office working primarily on the medium to large scale projects and is a key player in the practice’s focus on finding truly innovative and creative design solutions. She is highly accomplished at the design and delivery stages of a project, working closely with clients to come up with imaginative schemes, often to tight budgets.
Polly has taught architecture at Greenwich and Westminster universities and prior to Potter and Holmes worked on large infrastructure and commercial projects for Foster and Partners. Before qualifying as an architect in 2000 from The Bartlett (UCL) Polly took a degree in German at UEA. Speaking fluent German, she has lived and worked in both Germany and Austria and still indulges her passion for 20th century German & Austrian literature. Her must read novel would be Austerlitz by WG Sebald. Outside of work she spends time with family and playing tennis.
“Great architecture is a process of collaboration influenced by the character of a place and its physical, social and cultural conditions.”
Polly Church
Director
“Great architecture is a process of collaboration influenced by the character of a place and its physical, social and cultural conditions.”
Polly co-directs Potter Church & Holmes’ London office working primarily on the medium to large scale projects and is a key player in the practice’s focus on finding truly innovative and creative design solutions. She is highly accomplished at the design and delivery stages of a project, working closely with clients to come up with imaginative schemes, often to tight budgets.
Polly has taught architecture at Greenwich and Westminster universities and prior to Potter and Holmes worked on large infrastructure and commercial projects for Foster and Partners. Before qualifying as an architect in 2000 from The Bartlett (UCL) Polly took a degree in German at UEA. Speaking fluent German, she has lived and worked in both Germany and Austria and still indulges her passion for 20th century German & Austrian literature. Her must read novel would be Austerlitz by WG Sebald. Outside of work she spends time with family and playing tennis.
Key Projects
Irene Yeung
Associate
Irene is a qualified architect, graduating from The Barlett (UCL) and was made Associate at Potter and Holmes in 2012. She has been with the Practice since 2008 and is responsible for the delivery of medium to large projects within the office including the CAC project.
She speaks and writes fluent Cantonese and when not at work, she spends time with family and friends.
Irene Yeung
Associate
Irene is a qualified architect, graduating from The Barlett (UCL) and was made Associate at Potter and Holmes in 2012. She has been with the Practice since 2008 and is responsible for the delivery of medium to large projects within the office including the CAC project.
She speaks and writes fluent Cantonese and when not at work, she spends time with family and friends.
Key Projects
Steven Jones
Architect
Steven focuses on the day to day management and the integration of Revit 3-D modelling into our main projects, bringing his proven design, visual and presentational skills to the table. He uses his keen eye for detail to ensure that each project achieves the highest quality of design at every stage.
His experience spans private one off houses, with a sustainable design ethos, social and developer-lead housing schemes, as well as large scale retail developments. He also has a real passion for alternative housing such as co-housing and land trusts.
When not at work, Steven can usually be found tucking into exciting dishes at new restaurants or recreating them in his own kitchen. He then burns off the calories on his bike or in the pool. He recently rekindled his passion for sailing, zipping around the Cyclades with friends, with more adventures to come.
Steven Jones
Architect
Steven focuses on the day to day management and the integration of Revit 3-D modelling into our main projects, bringing his proven design, visual and presentational skills to the table. He uses his keen eye for detail to ensure that each project achieves the highest quality of design at every stage.
His experience spans private one off houses, with a sustainable design ethos, social and developer-lead housing schemes, as well as large scale retail developments. He also has a real passion for alternative housing such as co-housing and land trusts.
When not at work, Steven can usually be found tucking into exciting dishes at new restaurants or recreating them in his own kitchen. He then burns off the calories on his bike or in the pool. He recently rekindled his passion for sailing, zipping around the Cyclades with friends, with more adventures to come.
Tosin Ajayi
Architect
Tosin is one or our qualified architects and has a particular interest in the evolution of residential architecture. She has a unique ability to help clients really understand their spatial needs and from there come up with innovative designs that truly reflect these. She is also a Revit user.
As a lover of the outdoors she can often be found hiking and mountain biking in the woods or on high peaks. Loving a challenge, she has also been known to participate in Tough Mudder races and half marathons. Of all the sports she has tried though, Lacrosse has been a constant since university, which has helped to balance her love of barbecued and Thai food.
Tosin Ajayi
Architect
Tosin is one or our qualified architects and has a particular interest in the evolution of residential architecture. She has a unique ability to help clients really understand their spatial needs and from there come up with innovative designs that truly reflect these. She is also a Revit user.
As a lover of the outdoors she can often be found hiking and mountain biking in the woods or on high peaks. Loving a challenge, she has also been known to participate in Tough Mudder races and half marathons. Of all the sports she has tried though, Lacrosse has been a constant since university, which has helped to balance her love of barbecued and Thai food.
Michael Parish
Architectural Assistant
Michael is an Architectural Assistant, graduating in 2016 from the University of Liverpool.
He has taken every opportunity to widen his horizons by running his own printing service for architectural students during his undergraduate years and travelling abroad.
With a particular interest in New Zealand he took a year out after graduating, exploring the two islands in an old 4x4 and camping in the wild for six months. When he’s not at work you can usually find him cycling around the streets of London or surfing the waves in Devon.
Vruti Parmar
Practice Manager
Vruti is the Practice Manager, having worked as an architectural assistant for 14 years on residential, commercial and educational projects alike. Her understanding of project management and the architectural process gives her the tools to keep the practice firmly on its feet.
During her studies at Kingston University, Vruti developed a rather unusual interest in how residential developments incorporated crime prevention, with her dissertation focusing on the extent of which design can influence the level of crime.
When Vruti has spare time away from being a mum she enjoys running and yoga. She has a good few 5K runs under her belt and her next challenge is to up her distance to 10k and beyond. She is also passionate about food from around the globe – both cooking and eating it!
Vruti Parmar
Practice Manager
Vruti is the Practice Manager, having worked as an architectural assistant for 14 years on residential, commercial and educational projects alike. Her understanding of project management and the architectural process gives her the tools to keep the practice firmly on its feet.
During her studies at Kingston University, Vruti developed a rather unusual interest in how residential developments incorporated crime prevention, with her dissertation focusing on the extent of which design can influence the level of crime.
When Vruti has spare time away from being a mum she enjoys running and yoga. She has a good few 5K runs under her belt and her next challenge is to up her distance to 10k and beyond. She is also passionate about food from around the globe – both cooking and eating it!
Sara Jarman
Finance and HR Manager
After years working as an IT Project Manager, Sara joined Potter Church & Holmes’ London office as Practice Manager in 2010. Her role is wide and varied, but with the emphasis often on the financial side of the business, she keeps a close eye on the practice’s bottom line.
With her children growing up and becoming more independent, Sara has been able to indulge in her own interests and hobbies. A keen rower, she is often to be found sculling up and down the Thames, as well as walking alongside the river with her large, energetic dog, Griff. She also loves photography, tending her allotment and has an, as yet, unfulfilled ambition to speak French fluently.
Sara Jarman
Finance and HR Manager
After years working as an IT Project Manager, Sara joined Potter Church & Holmes’ London office as Practice Manager in 2010. Her role is wide and varied, but with the emphasis often on the financial side of the business, she keeps a close eye on the practice’s bottom line.
With her children growing up and becoming more independent, Sara has been able to indulge in her own interests and hobbies. A keen rower, she is often to be found sculling up and down the Thames, as well as walking alongside the river with her large, energetic dog, Griff. She also loves photography, tending her allotment and has an, as yet, unfulfilled ambition to speak French fluently.
Our Awards
We believe that our achievements are best recognised through the positive feedback we receive from our clients and the awards we have won over the years.
We are also active members of industry organisations including AECB (Association of Environmentally Conscious Building), the RIBA and Construction Line.
Ruskin Square
2018 – Winner of British Parking Award for Best Car Park Refurbishment
Ealing Green Church
2018 – Civic Trust Awards Regional Finalist
2017 – Winner of RICS Awards for Community Benefit
2017 – Commendation Award for Refurbishment and Landscaping by Ealing Civic Society
Rose Lane Car Park
2017 – Winner of BPA Best New Car Park
2017 – Winner for Civic Award by Norwich Society
Talbot Road Blackpool
2014 – Winner of BPA Best Car Park Refurbishment
2014 – Winner of Lighting Design Award
Chapter 1 Xenia Student Hostel
2012 – Shortlisted for the RICS Regional Award
The Old Tramshed
2010 – Winner of Tony Leitch Townscape Award
Musgrove Park Hospital Car Park
2007 – Winner of BPA Best New Car Park
Ambler Primary School
2006 – Shortlisted for Partners in Excellence Award
Marlborough Yard
1989 – RIBA Regional Housing Award