Philip Shelley
Senior architect

MA (Cantab), MSc Arch ETH, ARB

Philip joined RGA in 2024 to contribute to the long-term direction of the practice, as an accomplished designer of projects involving the transformation and adaptive re-use of historic buildings and complex estates. His particular approach involves the careful and sympathetic investigation of buildings and their environments. He has enjoyed a varied career in practice and academia, both in the UK and in Switzerland, most recently leading housing projects in historic settings in and around Munich for Sergison Bates architects in London.

He studied architecture at the University of Cambridge and ETH Zurich, where he studied Historic Building Research and Conservation under Prof. Uta Hassler, and for a decade afterwards worked for Baumgartner Loewe Architekten in Zurich developing numerous competition designs, resulting in a series of built works, mostly schools and housing. In 2023, the renovation and extension of the listed Röhrliberg secondary school campus in Cham was awarded a national award (Arc Award) for architecture in the category ‘Transformation’. From 2014–2018 he served as a teaching and research assistant with Studio Tom Emerson at ETH Zurich.

At RGA, Philip leads our role for the conversion of Custom House, London, transforming the Grade I listed, former government building. He also leads the project for the transformation of the Grade II* listed Charles Barry Holy Trinity Church in Cloudesley Square, Islington, as well as the direction of potential and early-stage projects.