Marks Barfield Architects

Julia Barfield MBE FRSA RIBA is Co-founder of Marks Barfield Architects together with husband and partner David Marks They are also the originators and creative entrepreneurs behind the design and realisation of the London Eye.

She studied at the Architectural Association (AA) and spent her year out in South America working in the barriada’s of Lima in Peru. Worked for Richard Rogers & Partners and Foster Associates for a total of 9 years and was project architect for the Sackler Galleries in the Royal Academy, Piccadilly, responsible for developing the early design strategy. She has been an Awards assessor for the RIBA and the Civic Trust, and was a member of the CABE National Design Review Panel; Guy’s and St Tomas’s Members Council and Vice President of the AA., and is a Governor of Godolphin & Latymer School. She has lectured in schools, universities and conferences, in both London and overseas including Mexico, Rome and Berlin and at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

Julia received an MBE in March 2000 for the London Eye, The Prince Philip Designers Prize ,special commendation and became a Fellow of the RSA in 2007. She has designed award-winning projects in the leisure, transport, education and cultural sectors and has recently completed the Think Tank, an office building for new start up businesses.

Leigh Jostins FCCA graduated from Manchester University before completing a business postgraduate course at Leeds University. She worked in the music and publishing business and went on to become the accounts manager for Tetra modelmakers. She joined Marks Barfield in 1989 and is responsible for all aspects of accounts management, the day-to-day running of the business finances and human resources management. She worked on the initial business plan for the London Eye and managed its accounts during the pre-construction phase. In 1998 she became a director of Marks Barfield Architects. She qualified as a certified accountant in 2001 winning the ACCA New Accountant of the Year Award.

David Marks MBE FRSA RIBA was educated at the International School of Geneva and the Architectural Association in London. After spending 7 years at Richard Rogers and Partners he co-founded Marks Barfield Architects with Julia Barfield in 1984.

In 1994 David and Julia founded the London Eye Company and demonstrated a sophisticated business capability in which the roles of architect, client and entrepreneur were skillfully combined. The London Eye has become the most popular attraction in the UK and is recognised as a new symbol of London and the UK.

In 2000 David was made an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List, and received the Prince Philip Special Commendation for Outstanding Achievement in Design for Business and Society. In 2001 David was awarded the Faculty of Building Trophy for outstanding work in the field of construction, and Marks Barfield received The Building Architectural Practice of the Year Award. In 2003 Marks Barfield received the Queens Award for Enterprise (Innovation). From 2002 to 2007 David was Chairman of the Waterloo Project Board, a regeneration program in London SE1. In 2007 David was elected a Fellow of the RSA. In 2009 Marks Barfield received the Sports and Leisure Architect of the Year Award.

Ian Rudolph BA (Hons) Arch, Dip (Hons) Arch RIBA has been a qualified architect since 1995 and joined Marks Barfield Architects as Practice Director in early 2007. He was promoted to a Director of the practice in February 2008.

Ian previously worked as the Sector Director for the Workplace Sector of Sheppard Robson. He lead the Abbey Headquarters in Triton Square, and was project manager for Arups’s HQ in Fitzrovia, London and an office building with retail units for the British Land Company plc at 350 Regent’s Place, London. Ian was also the Sector Director of the Science Sector at Sheppard Robson from 2002-2006, where he project managed the Imperial College London Frameworks Projects and Burlington Danes, an Imaging Centre for Imperial College, GSK and the MRC. He has been involved in refurbishment work for Imperial College London where decant of users was paramount to the success of the project, allowing the refurbishment programme to continue while the buildings were in occupation. With excellent experience within the commercial workplace and science sectors, Ian also has considerable experience of working on complex, large projects within housing, education, retail, transport, and urban planning.

As Director for Marks Barfield Architects, Ian’s core responsibilities include risk management, contract negotiations, project administration, quality assurance, health & safety and resources management. Since joining Marks Barfield, he has played an important role with technical reviews for MBA’s current projects.

Ian has an overview of all projects in MBA on a daily basis. His experience of completed projects and technical expertise is fed into every design stage of the project, from inception and concept through to completion. His particular first-hand experience of International Projects is invaluable for MBA’s many clients.