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 seventeen years’ experience in practice.
Having studied architecture at The University of Nottingham, Alex worked at award winning firms Eric Parry Architects and Hampson Williams Architects. Alex completed high-end residential schemes for commercial and private clients and unique projects in the office sector.
In 2012, 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 a qualified architect with over seventeen years’ experience in practice. He studied at the universities of Nottingham, Bath, and Westminster, and worked previously as an Associate for the renowned architecture and interior design studio, Project Orange.
Barry is very experienced in designing private houses, having completed a number of highly personal homes, and also working at a greater scale, dealing with large client bodies and on projects which require complex statutory approvals.
His work has been widely featured in print and online, and at the 2017 Sunday Times British Homes Awards, Rathbone Market – a 216-home residential development for which Barry was the lead architect – won the Development of the Year award.
Brian Cody
Architect
BArch (Hons), ARB, AOI
Brian has over fifteen years’ experience as a qualified architect in London, primarily working within the private and affordable residential sectors in the UK. He studied at University College Dublin and worked with a number of creative teams in Scandinavian and London-based practices before joining Rider Stirland Architects in 2024.
He has been responsible for the design of transformative mixed-use schemes of varying scales on behalf of developers and local authorities. He has also designed and delivered a series of private homes in suburban and rural locations that have included new-build, remodelling and extension, as well as the sensitive refurbishment of listed structures.
He is motivated by opportunities to learn and develop new architectural design approaches grounded in low carbon principles, successful placemaking and with human experience at their heart.
Brian enjoys spatial design, the careful detailing of sustainably-sourced durable materials and the use of visual storytelling to communicate clear design strategies that respond to light, functionality and clients’ needs.
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.
Matias Smyly
Architect
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.
Tay Yik Teng
Architectural Assistant
BSc (Hons), MArch
Teng is a Part 2 Architectural Assistant, with a strong passion for architecture that integrates history, context, and site-specificity. She recently graduated from Cardiff University, where her bachelor’s thesis on architectural narratives in historical contexts was featured in Dezeen. For her master’s thesis, she focused on the regeneration of public spaces in Bristol, aiming to promote community wellbeing and drive economic growth.
Before joining Rider Stirland, Teng developed her interest in creating striking residential and commercial interiors at Diametrics Design in Malaysia. She later spent a year at Loyn + Co, where she further developed her expertise in residential design, leading the design of a bespoke home extension and contributing to a multi-unit affordable housing project.
Outside of architecture, Teng enjoys exploring new creative hobbies, experimenting in the kitchen, and staying active at the gym.
