Meet the Team

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  • Phil launched Hope Architects in 2019, bringing nearly two decades of architectural experience to the table - from bespoke home designs to multi-storey developments around London. He spent over seven years at Bloor Homes, overseeing up to 4,000 homes a year and steering exciting North West housing projects. Now living in the Peak District National Park, Phil enjoys hillwalking and countryside life - sometimes even tending a small flock of Charolais-cross sheep in Hope Valley.

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Phil Cooper

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  • Originally hailing from Patras, Greece, Christianna graduated from the University of Patras and ran her own practice before moving to the UK in 2016. A specialist in residential and later‑living design, she joined Hope in 2021. Christianna leads project teams and designs house types with flair. At home in Stockport, she’s a devoted mum to twins and dreams of a beachside day with frozen margaritas (sans kids). She has a soft spot for dogs but admits she'd be too lazy for walks - if she ever got one, it’d be a golden retriever named Bubble.

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Christianna Anagnostopoulou

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  • Saorla joined the team in mid-2025 after completing her master’s at the University of Sheffield, where she specialised in intersectional feminist design - and fully fell for the city in the process. Originally from London, she did her undergraduate degree at the University of Bath, with placements exploring meanwhile use and medical design. She also became a certified Passivhaus Designer in 2022 through Bath. Before returning north for postgrad, she spent a year in Glasgow working with a kit-house company, helping deliver sustainable homes across rural Scotland. Outside the studio, you’ll often find her crocheting, reading, doing pilates, playing board and video games, or at a gig, ideally with a strong cup of tea close by.

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Saorla Hanley

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  • Hannah completed her Master’s degree at the University of Sheffield in 2025, where she was awarded the Bedford Scholarship to research how schools can better connect with their urban context through travel in France and Germany. Her work was presented to the West Yorkshire Society of Architects and received a university commendation. Originally from Leicester, she studied architecture at Cardiff University, developing an interest in British and Irish vernacular architecture, and gained her Part 1 experience in the Cotswolds working on bespoke residential projects. Outside of architecture, Hannah enjoys long walks, painting, and is currently attempting to learn Chinese.

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Hannah Spiers

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  • Emily arrives at Hope Architects by way of Park Hill. Well, more accurately, by way of a great many sketches of it, which won her the Denis Mason Jones Sketching Award.
    She grew up in Harrogate, but Sheffield is where she built her architectural education, a Bachelor's and Master's both shaped by a particular interest in Brutalism. Not the buildings themselves so much as what you do with them once they're standing. Her university work looked at reusing components within Brutalist architecture, which is a polite way of saying: what do you do with a building nobody wants to knock down but nobody quite knows what to do with either? Park Hill made an obvious case study.
    Her Part 1 experience came in Leeds, followed by a summer on listed buildings and bespoke residential projects, the sort of work that teaches you to read what's already there before you decide what to add.
    Outside the studio, Emily sketches with Sheffield Urban Sketchers and sells her own artwork at local markets and conventions. When she's not doing that, she's at a gig, several hours into a board game, or planning wherever she's off to next.

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Emily Ridings

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  • Kate joined in early 2024, bringing with her a product design background that naturally morphed into illustration and graphic design. She keeps the studio running smoothly and lends her creative touch to presentations, marketing and social media. Living in the Peak District with her two children, she’s a fan of long country walks (with occasional reluctant jogs thrown in) and is always game for coffee and brunch - preferably both.

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Kate Johnston

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  • Mr Herbert J W Mystery claims to oversee the directors’ mental wellbeing—though he’s mostly found napping and rarely visits the studio.

    Once a garden stray in Sheffield, Herbert was rescued by Sheffield Cats Shelter after his health declined. He had nine teeth removed but has since settled in at Phil’s house, happily crunching his biscuits.

    Hope Architects proudly support Sheffield Cats Shelter with an annual donation. If Herbert’s story moves you, please consider donating on his behalf.

    Donate here

Herbert

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  • Rosie is our Chief Snuffling Officer and Brand Ambassador. No longer on probation.

    She joins us from Bulldog Rescue UK, an amazing organization dedicated to caring for a breed that’s loved by many but often underestimated in terms of the effort (and cost) required to keep them healthy and happy.

    At three years old, Rosie has a big personality: she loves snacks… even though she’s not allowed them. She’s already proving her loyalty by keeping a watchful eye on the Hope studio, greeting the postman with a bark that’s equal parts friendly and perfectly clichéd.

    Rosie is ready to bring charm, curiosity, and a touch of mischief to everything she does here!

    Read about Bulldog rescue UK

Rosie