Who We Are

Who We Are

Award-winning RIBA Chartered Practice, Sanya Polescuk Architects (SPA) is well known for breathing new life into old buildings while minimising their carbon footprint. The practice is particularly skilled in carefully reconfiguring historic environments and applying sustainable technologies.

SPA enjoys the challenge of working with complicated contextural constraints inherent in existing built environment and working closely with the Local Authority. These challenges help fuel solutions that are imaginative, functional and seek to maximise the potential of the building.

Our Approach

Nothing has to be only what it appears at first glance. A space is like a stage set, enabling a variety of scenes to be played out. We create spatial continuity that facilitates movement and generates light. “Rooms” can have ambiguous definition; without clear extent, always carrying on beyond the eye, they can form an overall architecture that is both ordered and dynamic.

We like re-claimed materials, adopted, adapted and boldly fused with the best of modern design; a mixture of light Industrial components and materials, with their confident aesthetics and precision, juxtaposed with the more modest, rudimentary, craft-like aesthetics of natural materials and on-site techniques.

We treat colour with a similar logic by exposing and enhancing it. Wherever possible a natural or man-made material with distinct inherent hue is used for its permanence, solidity and longevity. Applied colour is introduced to add dynamism and underline the difference between the building’s permanent structure verses its fit-out.

We work as a team with other consultants and contractors to create innovative, realistic and exceptional quality designs. Always keeping in mind that we all work for, and with, the client. Those now outdated images of the Architects and Contractors being in competition with each other are no longer needed.

Our Team

Sanya Polescuk, Dip Eng Arch, RIBA Principal Architect & Practice Founder

Sanya set up practice in 1998 with a vision to breath new life into old buildings. Born in Croatia, Sanya received Diploma from the University of Zagreb and came to London in 1988 via Amsterdam, where she worked for Herman Hertzberger. Before establishing SPA, she worked for Hopkins Architects and a conservation practice to The National Trust and Ecclesiastical buildings. In addition to running a practice, Sanya mentors architecture students from London Universities, judges AJ architecture awards and helps Belsize Society with Planning issues. In 2015 Sanya found NW3 CLT, the first North London’s Community Land Trust in order to develop sustainable, locally affordable community-led housing.

Alex Blundell, BSc, DipArch, ARB

Alex joined SPA in 2017 as a project architect with wide-ranging experience gained at Robert Dye Architects and a multidisciplinary practice specialising in structural engineering. Alex has worked on projects ranging from individual joinery pieces to large scale residential renovation both above and below ground. Originally from the countryside, he first worked at a drawing board where he honed his free-hand sketching skills. He also taught the architecture department at UEL where he originally studied. Now he spends his city time afloat as much as possible on river with a passion for boats.

Martyna Felus, BA Arch, MA Arch, RIBA Part II

Martyna joined SPA in 2017 straight after graduating from London’s Central Saint Martins, UAL. She already held Diploma in Interior Design from Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design and has since added to it the MA in Architecture and Urban Design from Oxford Brookes. Martyna is clearly an all-rounder with well-honed time-management skills. She learned that from working part-time throughout her studies in both retail industry and architecture practice. In her free time she enjoys exploring different painting techniques and refining her drawing skills.

Amanda Li Hope, BA Arch, AAdipl

Amanda came to SPA after completing her studies at the Architectural Association. She became the project architect on many of the office’s refurbishment projects and particularly enjoyed the small scale nature of residential work. 
Amanda’s interest in sustainable and detail-orientated design now carries over into fine jewellery – when she swaps her hard hat for a pair of visors Amanda designs and makes jewellery for her own collections and bespoke commissions. She was one of the world’s first Fairtrade Gold licensees. 

Ruby Abrams, BA Arts, Dip. Arch, M. Arch

Ruby joined SPA in 2019 after completing her degrees at the AA and The Cass. Originally South African, Ruby is a Hampstead local who regularly walks her dogs on Hampstead Heath.  During her studies, Ruby worked at a private bank for 8 years and applies this organisation to the smooth running of SPA Architects.