People
BA (Hons) Arch, DipArch, RIBA
Rob graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 1998 with Post Graduate Diplomas in Architecture and Built Resource Studies. Registration as a Chartered Architect with the ARB and RIBA followed in 2001.
Rob co-founded A’Bear and Ball Architects LLP in 2016 after 17 years with Abingdon based practice West Waddy ADP where he delivered a wide range of architectural projects in the residential, commercial and education sectors with construction values up to £3m. In his Design Associate role, project delivery responsibilities were extended to include management of the firm’s architectural team and championing the Practice's ultra low energy design output.
Approaching 25 years experience, Rob’s main passion continues to be high quality contemporary residential architecture. With his ‘Passivhaus’ training background, Rob typically oversees the delivery of the Practices ultra low energy residential schemes, ranging from bespoke ‘one off’ private dwellings to larger multi unit schemes. Also experienced in conservation work, Rob has overseen many sensitive conversion and extension projects involving listed buildings.
Rob is also actively involved in the business management activities of the Practice including the programming of resources within the team and overseeing HR and Quality processes.
Outside of work, Rob is kept very busy by his three teenage daughters, but in his spare time, he enjoys a number of sports including skiing and road cycling. He has participated in numerous endurance cycling events including London to Paris (twice!) and more recently, in June 2023, the iconic 1,000 mile ‘LEJOG’, raising £3,000 for local charity Helen and Douglas House In Oxford.
BA (Hons) Arch, DipArch, RIBA
Damon graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2008 and has over 15 years experience in architectural practice. Damon registered as a Chartered Architect with the ARB and RIBA in 2014.
Damon co-founded A’Bear and Ball Architects LLP with Robert A'Bear after gaining a wealth of experience at West Waddy ADP in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. In his Senior Architect role, Damon delivered a number of schemes ranging in value up to £3m across a variety of sectors with a range of teams and consultants. This included the delivery of a large contemporary mixed use commercial/residential scheme in Bicester town centre incorporating 17 flats and 4 retail units, all delivered as part of a complex planning strategy. The project utilised BIM (Building Information Modelling) and an integrated model approach with the design team.
Damon has a passionate interest in contemporary architecture and has a keen eye for detail.
At A’Bear and Ball Architects Damon typically oversees the delivery of projects for our residential developer and commercial clients. Damon’s considerable practical construction knowledge is second to none and he is continually driven to find innovative and cost effective solutions to obtain best value for our clients.
Damon also has an expertise in helping our self build clients and one of his projects at the self build community at Graven Hill (Bicester) was recently featured on TV’s ‘Grand Designs: The Streets’!
In his spare time, Damon is a talented musician and a huge DIY enthusiast, recently embarking on his second self-build house project in rural Oxfordshire.
BSc (Hons), MArchD, RIBA
Duncan joined the Practice in March 2020 as a Part 2 qualified Architectural Assistant. He completed his postgraduate studies, specialising in Sustainable Building: Performance and Design, at Oxford Brookes University where the co-founders of A’Bear and Ball Architects also graduated (a few years earlier...!)
Supported by the Practice, Duncan successfully took his Architectural Part 3 Examination in Architecture in the Autumn of 2022 and registered as a Chartered Architect in Spring 2023.
Duncan came to the Practice with four years of experience and his expertise in sustainable design has strengthened the Practice’s ability to deliver an increasing number of exciting contemporary and sustainable residential schemes.
Having an eye for detail and a strong interest in delivering technically challenging and complex schemes, Duncan enjoys playing a leading role in the delivery of the Practices commercial and education projects – often coordinating the input of a range of external consultants within very tight project programmes.
Outside of work, Duncan enjoys outdoor activities with his family, including camping trips in the countryside with his young son.
BA (Hons), MArchD, RIBA
Gavin joined the Practice in June 2021 as a Project Architect. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2011 and registered as a Chartered Architect with the ARB and RIBA in 2016.
Gavin comes to the Practice with a range of experience working on feasibility/concept designs producing detail drawings and specification information for tender/construction and preparing planning and Building Regulation applications on residential, commercial and transport projects.
Gavin enjoys working on bespoke residential projects with a keen interest in how contemporary designs can employ cues to create architecture which is intrinsically linked to place.
Gavin is the Project Architect for several high quality ‘one off’ residential dwelling projects across the region, the most recent of which is located on a fantastic riverside site near Abingdon.
Gavin is also a ‘Certified Passivhaus Designer’ and this expertise strengthens the Practice’s ability to deliver a growing number of contemporary residential schemes with an ultra low energy design focus.
Outside of architecture, Gavin enjoys music and long family walks (perhaps more than his children). He is also a keen runner and has participated in numerous 10K and half marathon events.
BSc (Hons) ArchTech
Katie joined the Practice in April 2022 as an Architectural Technologist having graduated from the University of the West of England in 2015.
Katie comes to the Practice with seven years experience as an Architectural Technologist and typically produces detailed design packages of technical information for Building Regulation Application and Tender/Construction purposes.
Whilst mainly working on schemes at the detail design stage, Katie also enjoys assisting the team with the preparation of planning application submissions.
The Practice is currently supporting Katie to gain CIAT (Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists) accreditation and we look forward to her becoming a fully accredited Architectural Technologist in the near future!
Outside of work, Katie loves walking her dogs and has a keen interest in football, photography and travel.
Taryn joined the Practice in April 2022 as our Office Manager. She comes to the Practice with over 10 years professional office management experience in the construction/property sector.
Taryn has a range of experience in managing office processes and procedures providing general office support, personal assistant duties, project management tasks, maintaining office records and overseeing the upkeep of the office.
Taryn is instrumental in overseeing our Quality Assurance and financial processes whilst also helping to reduce the administrative burden on the team, particularly our two Partners enabling them to concentrate on the delivery of architectural projects, client contact and business development – she is the glue that holds us all together!
RIAS, RIBA
John is an ARB registered and RIBA Chartered Architect with 25 years experience who, prior to assisting A’Bear and Ball Architects LLP as a Consultant Architect, has worked in several international and local architect practices.
John also worked for several years in commercial and residential property development in London before moving back home to rural Oxfordshire in order to spend more time with his family.
Outside architecture, John is a keen traveller, reader and filmgoer.
BA Comm
Kaylene joined the Practice in June 2019. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in Communication and minor in English: Writing in 2015.
Kaylene coordinates and oversees the marketing activities of the Practice.
With experience writing about the property market, Kaylene updates our website with the practice's latest news, projects, and testimonials and manages our social media accounts.
In her spare time, Kaylene enjoys playing tennis and taking her dog on walks.