About Us
CEAD Architects is headed by Roger Maier, a registered Architect with 20 years’ professional experience. He studied architecture in South Africa, at the Architectural Association in London and at Newcastle University, where he obtained an MA in Urban Design. He has completed projects across a range of sectors including housing, master-planning, commercial, heritage and community projects. Roger enhances his practice with ongoing teaching at Newcastle University in the fields of sustainability and urban design.
Paul McNally is the Technical Associate and ensures that all projects are well resolved and delivered to the highest standards on site. He has 25 years experience handling projects up to £7m.
The wider team combine skills in urban design, planning, graphic design, visualisation and landscape architecture. This enables the practice to deliver a high-quality, comprehensive service. We also maintain excellent relationships with local consultants from all building disciplines. This can be drawn upon, as required, to ensure excellent support for all our projects.
As occupants, we often adapt to the limits of the space we’re in. The joy of starting at the beginning is that there are very few limits – the new space has the potential to mould around you. Active listening helps us to understand the ‘landscape’.
Our Approach
Listening is our vital first step. Design is not about us making a personal monument – it’s to create great buildings that work well for our Clients, that exceed expectations and are positive places to be in.
Active listening helps us to understand the ‘landscape’. Where is the give and take? What are the patterns of living and working? Constraints and opportunities? As occupants, we often adapt to the limits of the space we’re in. The joy of starting at the beginning is that there are very few limits – the new space has the potential to mould around you. We can help to draw out that optimum version.
Through sketches, three dimensional visualisations and talking through the problems and opportunities, we work with Clients to refine solutions.
That process is slightly different for private Clients designing a home or a commercial client looking for an optimum investment. Nevertheless, the sensitivity and thinking time is the same.
Services
We offer a full end-to-end service. Taking Clients from initial thoughts, strategic planning, all the way through planning, choosing a builder and construction. Or, as a Client, you can pick just the elements you need.
We are passionate about our work, but also practical. We constantly think about how decisions will either help or hinder us further along. That pays dividends for our Clients and makes the process smoother for everyone. We are good team players. We enjoy working with colleagues in planning, engineering, project management, ecology and all the other skills that go together to make great buildings.
A particular skill is negotiating difficult planning situations. This can feel like a minefield for Clients and misunderstandings or missteps can causes delays of weeks or months. We have a solid understanding of the planning system over many years and have an excellent track record for approvals. Supporting this we have excellent visualisation skills, to best portray projects and diffuse any potential negatives. We regularly produce photomontages, shading studies and visual impact assessments. Our deep urban design/masterplanning experience helps to get it right first time, avoiding time consuming back and forth with planning departments.
Finally, we have a team of specialists that focus on the marketing of completed projects. We produce brochures, 3d visuals, interiors and promotional videos to most effectively market both our own and others’ projects. See our Visualisation section for more details.
Whatever the project, we can tailor a service meet your needs.
