Meet our team
ARCHEA was founded in 2010 by Richard Skinner and Mai-ling Leung.
Our principal focus has always been existing residential accommodation, and through close analysis of our own domestic requirements, together with those of our peers and clients, aim to improve both the day-to-day, and long term relationships, with & within our Victorian homes.
Richard Skinner
Director
BA Hons, Dip Arch, RIBA 3, ARB
Richard set up ARCHEA in 2010 and has worked on over 100 Victorian home improvement projects since. He has been developing the ARCHEA System for the past 13 years.
Prior to setting up ARCHEA, Richard worked for pH+ Architects on a number of high-end domestic renovation projects, & David Wood Architects, working on large social & mixed tenure housing developments.
He studied Architecture at the University of Brighton and the University of North London (London Met). Whilst a student he worked for a number of contractors and developers, gaining a personal perspective of the construction process.
He completed his Professional Practice Examination in 2007 and is currently completing his professional certification as a Retrofit Coordinator.
Mai-ling Leung
Photography & Business Manager
BA Hons, Graphic Design
Mai-ling helped set up ARCHEA in 2010 and has been responsible for our project photography & bookkeeping since.
Prior to working with ARCHEA, Mai-ling co-founded directing duo ‘Local’ and was represented by Rose Hackney Barber, earning nominations for a number of prestigious music video awards.
She went on to work as a freelance graphic designer, photographer and animator for a range of brands.
Mai-ling completed her studies at Central St Martins College of Art and Design, graduating in 1998 with a BA Hons in Graphic Design.
Mariam Gulamhussein
Project Lead
BA Hons, Dip Arch, RIBA 3, ARB
Mariam joined ARCHEA in 2018 and has led on many of our most recent projects since.
Whilst at ARCHEA, Mariam is completing a PhD focused on modular housing systems at the University of Liverpool. She is interested in the social and cultural connotations related to ‘home’ and how this compares to how we design/ build/ adapt housing today, amidst a climate crisis.
Mariam was awarded the Venice Fellowship in 2016, and the Giles Worsley Fellowship from the British School at Rome in 2019 for her research and design work. She completed her Masters at The CASS and obtained her Professional Practice qualification in 2022.
Mariam is currently a visiting critic at both Liverpool University and The London School of Architecture.