Spear's Review

Alison Brooks is one of the world's most sought-after architects. Her practice takes on projects worldwide – from Lithuania to Toronto – and her crowning glory, the Cohen Quad for Exeter College, Oxford, 'exceeded everyone's expectations', she says. 

Brooks never underestimates the importance of the little things: 'It's fantastic to work at so many different scales, from designing a cherrywood staircase to a major urban neighbourhood.' 

In the 29 years since founding her firm, Brooks has won numerous awards, including multiple Architect of the Year honours, plus several RIBA commendations, including for Windward House in Gloucestershire and the Wrap House in London. In her most recent conversation with Spear's, she emphasises the importance of the 'buzz' of connection in her designs: 'We create a space that allows movement between rooms and visibility between floors ... people can cook, work from home and play together.'