Giles studied at The University of Edinburgh and qualified as an Architect in 2005. He worked as senior project architect for the conservation practice John Edwards Architects for 8 years before founding Giles Arthur Architects in 2004.
Giles’ interests are rooted in the architecture, geography and landscapes of Northumberland and the Borders. This informs his approach to all commissions – whether the restoration a listing buildings or the design of a new build house, the approach will always be grounded in the spirit of the region.
holly york
associate
Holly competed BSc Architecture and Environmental Design at Sheffield Hallam University and DipArch at London Metropolitan University.
Having worked in Practices of varying sizes in Northumberland, Newcastle and Central London, Holly established HYO Architecture (an architecture, interiors and lifestyle design practice) before joining Giles Arthur Architects in 2020.
In addition to her excellence as a residential architect, Holly’s broad range of skills and experience encompass education, spatial planning, interior design, commercial offices and SEND facilities.
aidan scott
architectural assistant
After completing his BA at the University of Dundee in 2017, Aidan graduated as a Master of Architecture in 2021; studying part time at the University of Northumbria while working at Giles Arthur Architects.
Aidan is keen to understand the historic, cultural and geographic contexts of a site and allows this understanding to inform Architectural Design, resulting in meaningful Architecture.
jenny oman
project architect
Jenny studied at Northumbria University for her BA and MArch in Architecture and then went on to complete her Post-graduate Diploma in Architectural Practice and Management at Newcastle University in 2018. On completion of her degree, Jenny worked at a multidisciplinary architecture practice in Newcastle and then moved to work for a local housebuilder in Alnwick before joining Giles Arthur Architects in February 2024. Jenny is passionate about combining sustainable design, modern technologies and architecture that is sensitive to the environment.
our philosophy
Giles Arthur Architects sees the emerging challenges of climate change, rising energy costs, scarcity of traditional construction skills and materials, and the increased complexity of regulations as challenges to be addressed head-on and in such a way that constraints become opportunities such that we deliver buildings of exceptional architectural value with reduced lifetime costs.
We aim to deliver a service that surpasses expectations without exceeding the budget by looking beyond the brief to ensure no opportunities are missed to reduce costs and/or add value, whether that value is financial, environmental or simply a measure of the quality of life for those occupying the completed building.
An understanding of the dynamics and physics of how a building performs and relates to environmental conditions allows us to craft the orientation, form and efficiency of the building to provide optimal performance. Thus, the project’s design philosophy is derived from the site and client’s brief rather than being imposed by architectural dogma.
From inception to completion, Giles Arthur Architects balances creative thinking with technical awareness, that, combined with an unwavering attention to detail, results in innovative yet deliverable projects that invariably add value to the site.