One To Watch: Tessa Baird and David Eland, Directors of OEB Architects

WHO

Names: Tessa Baird – Architect ; David Eland – Architect

Education:
Tessa Baird: University of Edinburgh (MA Hons, 2003); Royal College of Art (MA, 2006); Bartlett UCL (2009 – qualified as architect)
David Eland: University of Edinburgh (MA Hons, 2003) ; University of Westminster (2014 – qualified as architect)

Field of Study: Architecture

OEB Architects is a creative architecture practice that focuses on imaginative design through strategic thinking, open dialogue, and a passion for making. The firm is known for its characterful designs and a sensitive approach to material use and environmental impact.

WHY

Year Established: 2018

Inspiration to Start:
Tessa Baird and David Eland are long-time friends who have collaborated for over 20 years, sharing a passion for hands-on making and the camaraderie of working with a team to bring projects to life. Their journey began with a self-build charity during their student days, where they designed and constructed community buildings in the UK and Central Europe. After gaining diverse experiences in respected practices in London and construction management, they reunited to establish OEB Architects, driven by a shared sense of adventure and a commitment to imaginative and inclusive architecture.

First Major Commission:
Their first commission as a voluntary self-build group was a small community centre in Slovakia, which they designed, fundraised for, and constructed themselves. As OEB Architects, their first project was a passive house retrofit and extension of a Victorian house in Kentish Town, London, completed in 2019. This project involved building a new timber frame structure inside the existing brick shell to meet high-performance standards.

Future Plans:
Currently, OEB Architects is working on an exciting project in Sussex, utilising sustainably felled timber from the project site. This initiative exemplifies their commitment to applying their experience and creativity to larger projects in both urban and rural settings, collaborating with clients and stakeholders on various types of developments, including housing, community, and infrastructure projects.

WHAT

Key Projects:

Wysing Arts Centre
OEB Architects has been collaborating with Wysing Arts Centre near Cambridge to enhance the sustainability, accessibility, and usability of their buildings and landscape. After a lengthy funding process, the project is set to go on site, reflecting the firm’s commitment to community-focused design.

Lewisham Loggias
This project presents an unconventional approach to a loft extension, inspired by the client’s love for Italian Renaissance atmospheres. The design features lightweight rooftop spaces that offer long views across South London, prioritizing the use of natural and low-carbon materials.

Collaboration with Arrant Land
OEB Architects has a long-standing partnership with creative property developer Arrant Land, working on various projects that achieve planning permission for housing on challenging suburban sites and retrofitting existing buildings.