Matt Chan
“Matt is incredibly skilled at asking the right questions. He gets to the heart of an issue, finding solutions in unexpected places, and keeping projects moving forwards.”
For almost two decades, Matt has been designing and project managing buildings, exhibitions and places to bring communities and their stories together.
Whether it’s a national gallery in a former naval storehouse or a small roadside garden, he brings people’s collective intentions to life in every project.
Several senior client-side roles, and apprenticing in various trades as a maker-builder, taught Matt the strength of bringing varied skillsets together. With Tom, Extended Studio became the logical way to build a collaborative design practice grounded in a community of skills.
Today his drive is to leverage this sensitivity to help others build the most welcoming places that support their communities.
Tom Sykes
“Tom inspires people to understand design. He brings it to life by showing what it can give to a project – its value, its legacy and its long standing impact.”
Tom has always put people first, designing buildings and strategies that are based on a sensitivity to how people inhabit places.
From social housing projects that stitch into existing neighbourhoods, to transforming the culture of large organisations, his skill is in making aspirations believable and realisable.
Taking lessons from leadership roles on both client and architect side, Tom has built up an particular understanding of development and design. With Matt, Extended Studio draws these varied experiences together, balancing strategic thinking with attention to detail in a collaborative setting.
Now his passion is focussed on communities, and the ways that good design, from architecture to systems, can support them.
Advocacy:
Tom is a Design Expert for the Design Council and a Public Practice alumni
Teaching and research:
Matt leads an undergraduate design studio at University of Greenwich
Tom leads an undergraduate design studio at the Welsh School of Architecture
‘How can public sector clients develop their design ambitions?’ – research for Public Practice – link