ALASTAIR TOWNSEND AADipl
Born in the UK and raised in the US, Alastair left a promising career as a cellist to study architecture. Upon graduating with a diploma from London, Architectural Association School of Architecture (where he was also elected to serve as a member of the AA Council), he cut his teeth working in the practice of the pre-eminent British hi-tech architect, Sir Nicholas Grimshaw. It was there that he ran a small department that applied his digital design skills to some of the practice's, most exciting and innovative projects. In 2006, Alastair joined Youmeheshe (a Grimshaw spin off) and built the world's first project designed with the parametric design software Generative Components: the Cutty Sark Pavilion. In addition to his creative approach to digital design, he fosters a keen interest in sustainable construction technology and materials. He is a UK-registered architect.
KAYOKO OHTSUKI BS Arch AADipl.
Having spent almost half of her life in the West, Kayoko brings an international perspective back to her native Japan. Upon receiving a degree in English Literature from Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College in Tokyo, Kayoko sought excitement abroad. She studied architecture at Northeastern University in Boston, MA and worked for a number of city, most established practices (Machado and Silvetti Associates, Kallmann McKinnell & Wood Architects, and Office dA) after earning her BS Arch . In 2003 she graduated with a Diploma from London, Architectural Association School of Architecture (the AA). In London she worked with Block Architecture on Hussein Chalayan, first Tokyo fashion boutique and designed exclusive residential and boutique hotel projects with Anouska Hempel Design. More recently, Kayoko refined her taste for entrepreneurship, working closely with London, top restaurateur, Alan Yau of Hakkasan on his globally expanding portfolio of new restaurants. She is a UK-registered architect.
