People

David Gale ARB RIBADirector

David established the practice with Ian Snowden in 1992, and subsequently has directed the vision of the practice. Educated at Plymouth and Canterbury School’s of Architecture, David received the RIBA Silver Award in 1990 for his design work and dissertation and research on Hassan Fathy’s Earthen Architecture and Housing in Egypt. David is responsible for project delivery throughout the practice and has developed excellent client relationships on a wide variety of projects. David plays a major role in the concept stage of all major projects, has considerable contractual experience. David has overall responsibility for CPD within the office. David is a trained and experienced Permaculture designer and also works with Jason in the Mechanical Engineering team. David is a BREEAM for office assessor and has undertaken various research work for such organisations as the BRE, Carbon Trust, Energy Saving Trust and local authorities including City of Westminster. David was an RIBA / BRE Zero CO2 Housing Competitions Assessor in 1999, and has been a part time lecturer in ecological design at the Prince of Wales Institute and Plymouth School of Architecture. David’s approach to the business is a reflection on his personal commitment to environmental responsibility, having designed his own forest garden and renovated his own Grade II listed building to be low energy and ecological in every respect. He catches his own fish to eat and grows his own food in his own time. David’s chickens are called Legbar and Sussex White.

Ian Snowden ARB RIBADirector

Ian Snowden established the practice with David GaIe in 1992. The practice is nationally recognised as one of the pioneers in sustainable design, and Ian has over 18 years experience in ecological design. Ian’s key role in the practice is technical quality control throughout all RIBA workstages for all projects and to provide technical support throughout the practice. Ian is a working director and is involved in all stages of key projects, quality control and project management. Ian ensures that the attention to detail is maintained at all times throughout the work in the practice, which is essential in delivering passive design strategies and beautiful architecture. Ian is a trained Permaculture designer. Ian has renovated his own homes using traditional building methods and to improve their environmental performance. Ian enjoys life in North Devon and surfs and walks when his young family life permits.

Lawrence Millyard ARB RIBADirector

Lawrence joined the practice in 1998 and became a director in 2006. Educated at Plymouth School of Architecture, Lawrence has had considerable on-site experience prior to joining the practice. The practice is nationally recognised as one of the pioneers in sustainable design, and Lawrence has over 12 years experience in ecological design. Lawrence is responsible for project delivery in the Exeter office, and is the director responsible for Health & Safety in the practice. He is also an Eco homes assessor. Lawrence has many years of delivering successful projects to budget and on time as Project Architect and on site as Contract Administrator. Amongst other projects Lawrence was the Project Architect for Oak Meadow, Brook Green Learning Centre and Trelowarren. Lawrence has carried out extensive renovation work himself on all his personal properties. Lawrence has four lovely chickens.

Allyson Vernon ARB RIBASenior Architect

Allyson joined the practice in 1998. Educated at Manchester and Canterbury School’s of Architecture, Allyson was an RIBA Silver Award finalist in 1990. Prior to joining Gale & Snowden Architects, Allyson worked at MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects (MJP Architects. Allyson provides quality design input on all major projects in the office. Allyson has designed her own new build home to exacting standards.

Jason Fitzsimmons Principal Mechanical and Renewable Energy Engineer

Jason leads the mechanical engineering team. Prior to joining Gale & Snowden in 2008 he worked with Faber Maunsell, Atkins and BSRIA as a senior building mechanical engineer. Jason has carried out extensive research work. Jason is qualified to carry out computer thermal modelling using IES software for buildings and landscaping and Building Regulations Part L Compliance. He provides strategic renewable energy advice as well as designing building services systems.

Tomas Gartner ARB RIBASenior Architect

Tomas joined Gale & Snowden in 2007 after being a project architect in Germany. He has brought to the practice an enthusiasm for pioneering the ‘Passivhaus’ affordable housing schemes for Exeter City Council, for which he is the Project Architect. Tomas is a Passivhaus Accredited Designer and a Code for Sustainable Homes Assessor.

Jonathan Barattini BSc(Hons) BA(Hons) M.ArchArchitectural Assistant

Jonathan joined Gale & Snowden in 2009. Jonathan is a Part 2 RIBA Architectural Assistant. He is well versed in the computer software used in the office including CAD and imaging packages. In parallel to studying towards his degree in architecture Jonathan also worked as a labourer which has provided him with a good practical knowledge of the industry and construction which is beneficial to his current design and detailing work. Prior to studying Architecture, he completed a degree in Surf Science and Technology. Jonathan now lives on the coast in North Devon where he can combine his passion for the environment with his love of surfing and being outdoors.

Maria Gale Practice Manager

Maria is the Practice Manager at Gale & Snowden and she also contributes to the practice’s environmental consultancy work. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse Coopers, after which she completed an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial College, London, specialising in energy. Prior to joining Gale & Snowden Maria was the first energy efficiency officer in the country at Hastoe Housing Association (Sustainable Homes), for over 3 years and thereafter worked as a energy consultant specialising in developing energy efficiency strategies with local authorities, providing research for the Government and very hands on energy advice training to local authority and housing association tenants and staff. Whilst at Hastoe Maria was an active member of the Housing Ecology Network and has seen at first hand exemplar housing projects in Denmark, The Netherlands, France and Portugal. She helped to develop the Environmental Assessment Method with Martin Rowbottom, which helped to inform the BREEAM methodology. Maria was the co author of the Publication ‘Affordable Water’ for the Housing Corporation which helped to put affordable water issues on the agenda in affordable housing. At Gale & Snowden Maria is able to combine her professional training in accountancy and her passion for and experience in sustainable living.