Gianni Botsford, Director & Head of Design, was born in Venice, Italy in 1960. He originally studied Interior Design at Kingston University (84-86) and worked for a number of practices in London from 86-94. He completed his education at the Architectural Association, London (94-96), in Professor John Frazer’s Evolutionary Architecture Unit, before setting up Gianni Botsford Architects in 1996 which he continues to direct. He was appointed AA Research Fellow in 1997 and has taught at the AA, London Metropolitan University and the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff, has run a unit in the annual Studio in the Woods since its inception, as well as being a visiting critic at the AA, Bartlett, Cambridge, St John Cass and Bath Universities. He was recently a member of the RIBA Awards Group and sits on the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Architecture Appraisal Panel. The recipient of numerous awards, he has also lectured in the UK, India, the USA, Taiwan and Mexico on the work of the practice. His research work at the AA and subsequently with Arup into the optimisation of the control of natural light has been used throughout the projects the studio has built and developed.

Anahi Copponex studied fashion at Kingston University before starting her career at Marithe & Francois
Girbaud in Paris. On returning to the UK she worked for a number of designers including Ally Capellino and Sara Sturgeon, before moving towards the areas of costume and theatre design. Collaborations with the theatre director Frank Ramon on Leo Ferre in France, Architects Gianni Botsford and David Connor, and costume designs for The London Ballet School have followed. Her most recent projects include costume designs for the film ‘The Leskov Project’ to be shot in Russia this winter, and architectural screens for a residential project in London. Her collaborations over the years with GBA range from material research, modelmaking, and the testing of approaches to light, space and the body

Arslan Arkallayev built his academic career in the UK, receiving his Part I at the University of Edinburgh before graduating with a Part II Diploma from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in 2018. During his time at the AA, his design won the student competition to build a pop-up 'Nomadic Bookstore' for Lars Muller Publishers at Salone Del Mobile 2017. After graduating, he moved and worked in Milan before joining GBA in 2020. Arslan completed his Part III and became a registered architect in 2022. 

Oli studied at the University of Portsmouth and the Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University. At Cardiff he studied in the Local Adaptation unit under Gianni Botsford and Kate Darby. His thesis involved digitally scanning a single oak tree using LiDar technology to unlock the structural potential of the complex geometries of its branches. It hoped to challenge resource efficiency and create an adaptive architecture that is driven by environment and material. Alongside his thesis, Oli took part in the design and construction of an experimental and generative oak pavilion in the Wyre Forest. Professionally, he has experience on a range of typologies, including large mixed-use projects, historically significant buildings and private homes.

James Eagle obtained his Master Degree in Architecture at Greenwich University under the supervision of Professor Neil Spiller and Dr Rachel Armstrong. Graduating with distinction, James won the RIBA Selsa Prize, was nominated for the RIBA Presidents Medals, and shortlisted for both the Jerwood and Derwent Drawing Prizes. His reseach has notably been published by Wiley in AD Surrealism in Architecture and exhibited across the UK. His research interests include biological living architectural systems, computational design, biodigital design methodologies and surrealism. James completed his professional qualifications with the RIBA and is a UK registered architect. Since joining GBA in 2008 he has worked on many projects across differing typologies and work stages from concept to construction, including House in a Garden, White on White, Two Stair House, Villa Arcipelago, Pink Sand Pavilion, Rise and Fall and the Welbeck Collections Gallery. 

Liz Tatarintseva received her Diploma from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in 2014. She has worked for several London based practices including Amanda Levete Architects, Jerry Tate Architects and Foster+Partners, gaining experience in masterplanning, gallery and residential projects. Her interests in generative design have led her to hold computational workshops at the UCL Bartlett Graduate Urban Design. Since joining GBA in 2014, she has been working on a tower and shopping mall in China, as well as several residential projects in London.