About us
HBA combines the complimentary skills and experience of its two principle Architects to provide a unique combination of design skills, expertise in the conservation of historic buildings and knowledge of traditional and contemporary building technologies.
Rhys Brookes B.Sc. B.Arch. Grad.Dipl.Cons.(AA) RIBA SCA, AABC
Rhys Brookes trained as an Architect at Bath University, graduating in 1989. His initial experience was gained working on a selection of Grade I listed classical buildings such as the temples at Stowe garden and a range of stately homes. He completed the Post Graduate Diploma of Conservation at the Architectural Association, London in 1997.
After spending time as an in-house Architect for a company building traditional green oak timber frames he applied this knowledge to the repair of medieval timber structures and went on to work with Roderick James Architects designing innovative new oak framed buildings.
Rhys’ work is driven by a desire to ‘crack the code’ of buildings, unpicking the rationale and evolution of their form, construction and materials in order to make informed decisions about repairs or adaptations. He uses his skill and aptitude for traditional drafting techniques to explore the geometry and proportions that create harmony in new design and facilitate historical analysis.
Rhys has a great enthusiasm for developing his extensive knowledge of materials and building technologies and explores the process of making further by undertaking metal casting, woodturning and joinery projects at home.
Rebecca Harrison BSc. B.Arch. ARB
Rebecca Harrison trained as an Architect at Bath University graduating in 1992 with two first class honours degrees. She spent time studying at the British Institute in Florence and was awarded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Building’s Scholarship in 1993 which involved nine months of intensive hands on conservation training on building sites around the United Kingdom. She initially worked repairing listed medieval churches and vernacular buildings in Somerset before establishing Harrison Brookes Architects.
Rebecca’s focus lies primarily in the way people experience and interact with buildings. She is interested in maximizing the potential of places, both spatially and functionally, and providing creative and aesthetically pleasing solutions to practical problems.
Her practical skills gained from building boats, repairing and maintaining houses and everyday family life give her an implicit understanding of the requirements of living and working environments which perform over time.
An interest in gardening and finding a more sustainable way to live informs her work and a love of outdoor pursuits has led to volunteering at West Wiltshire Youth Sailing Association as an RYA dinghy instructor.
