Alistair Haxton
MD Alistair Haxton worked as an advertising and editorial illustrator in Soho for the likes of Saatchi & Saatchi before a passion for great buildings, and memories of his father and grandfather at work in their draughtsman’s office, led him to university and the architectural drawing board. He qualified in 1991, bringing to architecture his creative flair and a passion for finding ways of ensuring great design always works to enhance people’s lives. Positions in a number of practices have given him a wealth of experience. Alistair has worked on London’s iconic O2 Arena, the regeneration of numerous schools across the Midlands and Lincolnshire – one in consultation with former Prime Minister Sir John Major – plus numerous specialised listed building projects ranging from barn conversions, restoring farmhouses, cottages and grand period properties. He is also highly experienced in working with medical practices and with disability access, and has worked with legal trustees to create homes for their clients. His extensive work on housing projects includes imaginative and elegant residential extensions and conversions.
Favourite project:
Converting of a Victorian brick industrial store in a highly popular residential Sheffield location into an uber-cool, contemporary open-plan two-storey home for a client in his 20s. An inner courtyard garden accessible from both levels floods the property with light. This highly complex scheme worked beautifully.
Dream project:
A mountain ski chalet. Firstly I must confess, I love skiing. But I would relish the challenge of creating a property which successfully contrasts the stunning exterior panorama with the comforting feel of a cosy bolt-hole, so necessary after an exhilarating day on the slopes.
Scott Wood
Architectural Technician Scott Wood gives HKA an invaluable practical insight into the world of construction. Before joining us with an honours degree in architectural technology, his entire working life had been spent in the building trade. He has skills and qualifications in a wide range of construction disciplines, having continually sought education throughout his 33-year career – NVQs in Bricklaying, Roofing and Cladding, a Sub-diploma in Construction in the Built Environment and a HNC with distinction in Construction In the Built Environment. He gained the latter at Chesterfield College while running his own construction firm. But never one to rest on his laurels, Scott decided to push himself further and develop a long-held passion for architecture and design into a new career. He headed to Sheffield Hallam University, continuing to run his business through four challenging years of part-time study. He achieved his goal aged 52. He has now handed management of his business to his son and is firmly focussed on his architectural career at HKA.
Favourite project:
An HKA design which will create two stunning homes in a picturesque Derbyshire valley for one family. To take best advantage of the views to the rear, and to ensure we meet with planning authority approval, both homes will be semi-submerged into the ground to create a low front profile. I am really enjoying the complex design issues this entails.
Dream project:
I would love the challenge of building a certified passive house, which would truly showcase our innovative design ideas and our commitment to sustainability, low carbon footprint and low energy running costs.
John Muddiman
Award-winning structural engineer John Muddiman is on the journey to become a qualified architect with HKA. John started off as a draftsperson for a Leeds Engineering consultancy. Whilst working full-time, he undertook a Civil Engineering degree, graduating with a First. He became a Structural Engineer with Leeds City Council’s multi-disciplinary in-house design department, working alongside architects, interior designers and building surveyors and enjoyed working collaboratively with them. He gained the Award for Long Service to the Institution of Structural Engineers in 2018 and his more than 20-year career has spanned projects in heritage and conservation, new builds, schools and care homes, libraries, museums, galleries and theatres – a number of which were award-winning. In 2021 he joined the multi-disciplinary team at Chesterfield Borough Council, the town his maternal grandparents hailed from (Stephensons). Returning to his roots opened the door for John to switch careers to architecture. He said: “I worked on a commercial project with HKA’s MD Alistair. He could see I was a creative person and gave me the opportunity to join the practice and study for a Masters in Architecture. So HKA now has an engineer, with a knowledge of the ‘art of the possible’ when a scheme is being designed, at the next desk. The more skills you have in-house, the better the result for the client.”
Favourite project at HKA to date:
Rose Hill Arts Centre – I wrote the feasibility study for the client, Chesterfield Studios, an organisation dedicated to nurturing young performers since 2009. It is one of the leading theatre schools in the East Midlands. The Arts Centre will be created from a former church and its adjoining hall and former Sunday School buildings. HKA was principally commissioned to look at how the church could be redeveloped, but I quickly saw that what was really required was a master plan, with options for how all of the buildings could be incorporated into one scheme. The client has now been presented with a vision for a state-of the-art community performing arts centre, with spaces which could be hired for weddings, events and performances, providing an additional income stream.
Dream project:
In 2020 I ran an international design competition, inviting engineers and architects to produce solutions which would allow impoverished people in coastal and estuarine areas of less-developed countries which will be affected by rising sea levels, to continue to live there and make their livelihoods. One day, there may be the political impetus to invest in such schemes and turn them into a reality.
Jo Davison
Jo Davison is our in-house PR and business development manager, who comes to us after a distinguished career in journalism. She specialised in in-depth feature-writing and opinion columns before becoming a leading business journalist in Sheffield. Jo is now a PR and communications specialist. She has brought with her a vast contacts book and highly valuable communications and research skills. Jo is helping us to grow our workload and brand, forge new relationships and plan a communications strategy.
Favourite project:
I love to follow the tasks the architectural team are working on. A stone coach house recently converted into a stunning yet cosy annexe to the beautiful Cavendish hotel in Baslow is a particular favourite. There are now four spacious rooms with wonderful bathrooms. Two have been carefully and subtly enhanced to give people with mobility issues the space and facilities they need.
Dream project:
To renovate a French chateau. I would chose a small chateau, though – I have no desire to turn my chic summer home into a wedding venue!
The practice:
Haxton Koyander Architecture formed in January 2015 from the merger of two long-established practices. Haxton Associates launched in Sheffield in 2005 and Koyander Architects Ltd has been based in Chesterfield since 1998. The fusion of experience, creativity and professionalism in these two practices has created what we believe is a vibrant, forward-thinking team with a vast range of talents and experience and an extensive knowledge of the planning and regulatory process. We are passionate about good design – and combining creativity with functionality so that your project doesn’t just look great inside and out, it works beautifully too. From our Sheffield and Chesterfield offices we give a highly personalised and cost-effective service to commercial developers, growing businesses, charities, schools, home-owners and land-owners. We respond swiftly to every client‘s needs with the one-to-one consultation we believe is vital for a perfect end result.
Completed schemes:
- Conversion of a large, redundant Victorian factory complex into a contemporary business centre which now boasts tenants from a host of sectors
- Residential extensions including creating a cutting-edge roof terrace and remodelling the upper floors of a Victorian four-storey town house in Maida Vale London
- Block of apartments in Chesterfield within a restrictive town centre site
- Complex projects in education which provided new and highly-valued spaces to a time-conscious schedule
- Housing developments in Sheffield, Dronfield and Chesterfield
- Office refurbishments in Sheffield and Derbyshire
- Creating and extending numerous medical practices in Lincolnshire and Derbyshire. Often such work was tailored around a busy, working surgery
Ongoing schemes:
- Refurbishment of a Methodist church in Tideswell
- Sensitive refurbishment of a Grade 2 listed hall in Rowthorne for Chatsworth Settlement Trustees
- In planning: Proposal to return a substantial Victorian manor house latterly in use as a care home back to a private residence, and build three detached homes in its Sheffield grounds
- Conversion of a Victorian industrial warehouse in Sheffield into an urbane, contemporary bachelor pad
- Conversion of a late Georgian shop in Alfreton market place into an optician’s, with apartments above
- Building of three new cottages on Green Field land in Nottinghamshire. Outline planning granted. Full planning permission in the process of being sought.
- Number of residential developments ranging from 5 to 48 dwellings
- External works for a popular Peak district Farm shop
- Bespoke dwelling for a private client in North East Derbyshire
