Biba Dow (born 9 July 1969 in London) is a

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architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

and architectural assessor. She co-founded Dow Jones Architects in 2000 with Alun Jones and is a director and partner at the firm. Dow Jones Architects has produced a wide-ranging body of work, much of which has been published in international architectural publications, mainstream publications and has been featured in several exhibitions. She is a member of the Cathedral Fabric Committee at

Coventry Cathedral The Cathedral Church of Saint Michael, commonly known as Coventry Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry within the Church of England. The cathedral is located in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midla ...

, the

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Design Review Panel and the Old Oak and Park Royal Design Review Panel.

Education and career

Biba Dow studied architecture at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

where she received her Bachelor's degree in architecture (1988 - 1991) and MA Dip.Arch (Cantab) (1992 - 1994). After graduating in 1994, Dow worked for the architectural practice Powell and Moya. In 2000, she co-founded Dow Jones Architecture with her husband Alun Jones where she continues to practice.

Work

Architectural and urban practice

Dow Jones Architects' work ranges from strategic planning projects to museum and gallery projects and private residences. Having worked with clients from the private, public, and commercial sectors including the

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, Design for London, and

Tate Britain Tate Britain, known from 1897 to 1932 as the National Gallery of British Art and from 1932 to 2000 as the Tate Gallery, is an art museum on Millbank in the City of Westminster in London, England. It is part of the Tate network of galleries in En ...

, they have won numerous awards including the

RIBA National Award RIBA National Awards are part of an awards program operated by the Royal Institute of British Architects, also encompassing the Stirling Prize, the European Award and the International Award. The National Awards are given to buildings in the UK w ...

in 2009 and 2021. Dow has led many projects including Grand Junction at

St Mary Magdalene, Paddington St Mary Magdalene, Paddington, is a Grade I listed Anglican church at Rowington Close, London, dedicated to Jesus' follower, Saint Mary Magdalene. The parish was established in 1865 and work on the church started in 1867. Although complete in , ...

, which involved an extension to a listed church and the introduction of more open access, a café, and performance space, the redevelopment of

Bevis Marks Synagogue Bevis Marks Synagogue, officially Qahal Kadosh Sha'ar ha-Shamayim (), is an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Judaism, Jewish congregation and synagogue, located off Bevis Marks, Aldgate, in the City of London, England, in the United Kingdom. The congr ...

, and restoration and redevelopment of the

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Christ Church, Spitalfields Christ Church Spitalfields is an Anglican church built between 1714 and 1729 to a design by Nicholas Hawksmoor. On Commercial Street (London), Commercial Street in the East End and in today's Central London it is in the London Borough of Tower H ...

. She has also led a number of public regeneration and research projects for the

including ''Rubbish In, Resources Out'', an award-winning strategic design report investigating urban waste treatment facilities in London. Today, Dow and Jones remain actively engaged as design and project leaders, but lead projects individually. Dow has cited architect couples like

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and Ray Eams, the Smithsons, and Lucienne and

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as her inspiration for founding a practice with her partner and as models for combining creative practice with living and working together.

Other involvements

Dow lectures and writes on the work of her practice and on wider cultural ideas, and has been involved with teaching and examining throughout her career. She has written about architecture and culture in publications including ''Drawing Matter'', the Architecture Foundation and ''

Architects' Journal ''Architects' Journal'' is a professional architecture magazine, published monthly in London by Metropolis International. Each issue includes in-depth features on relevant current affairs, alongside profiles of recently completed buildings. Ten t ...

''. A theme in much of her written work and lectures is the reconsideration of resources use in construction and the ethical professional responsibilities of architects in the face of climate change. Through her involvement in initiatives such as the

's ''Rubbish In, Resources Out'', and events such as Building on the Built, which focuses on architectural work connected with existing structures, and Architect@Work (London 2020), which centred around the intersection of design and architecture with nature, Dow has emerged as a leading architectural figure in the new movement in urban environmental policy and circular economies. Dow has also taught at various UK universities, is an external examiner and teaches a diploma unit at the Cass, and has been a visiting critic at

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

, the Kingston School of Art, and other schools. She is also a governor of a

primary school A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...

Brixton Brixton is an area of South London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th century ...

. She is a member of the Cathedral Fabric Committee at

, the

Design Review Panel and the Old Oak and Park Royal Design Review Panel.

Notable projects

Garden Museum The Garden Museum (formerly known as the Museum of Garden History) in London is Britain's only museum of the art, history and design of gardens. The museum re-opened in 2017 after an 18-month redevelopment project. The building is largely the ...

, London (2007) * Christ Church Spitalfields, London (2010) * Grand Junction at

, London (2016) *

Maggie's Centre Maggie's centres are a network of drop-in centres across the United Kingdom and abroad that aim to help anyone who has been affected by cancer. They are intended as welcoming and caring environments that provide support, information and practica ...

Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

(2019) *

, London (2022)

Lectures and seminars

* 2015 - "Rubbish In, Resources Out" (lecture, Producing Waste/Producing Space, Princeton, NJ, March 7, 2015). * 2019 - "Uncertainty" (lecture, Architecture Friday Lecture, 8 February 2019.) * 2022 - "Quiet Marvels" (seminar, Online talks on sacred space: Presence, Person, Beauty, December 8, 2022.)

Publications

* Dow and Alun Jones. "Metamorphosis: Thoughts on emerging into a world of professionalism." In ''Defining contemporary Professionalism'' edited by Alun Jones, Rob Hyde. London: RIBA Publishing, 2019. * Biba, Dow. "Six Architects on Their Dream Desks." ''Drawing Matter'', 17 December 2019. * Biba, Dow. "Biba Dow: Profession’s failure to embrace retrofits is a macho hangover of Modernism." ''Architects' Journal'', 20 January 2020. * Biba, Dow. "Biba Dow on Giorgio Morandi: Group and Threshold." ''Drawing Matter'', 3 March 2020. * Dow and Alun Jones. "B for Building." In ''An Alphabet of Architectural Models'', edited by Olivia Horsfall Turner, Simona Valeriani, Matthew Wells and Teresa Fankhänel, London and New York: Merell, 2021 * Biba, Dow. "Survey: Piazza Grande, Gubbio, Prugia." ''Drawing Matter'', 18 August 2021. * Biba, Dow. "Dalibor Vesely: Shared Horizons." ''Drawing Matter'', 8 August 2022.

Awards and honours

* 2021 –

, Maggie's Centre * 2021 – RSAW Welsh Architecture Award, Maggie's Centre * 2020 – BD Public Building Architect of the Year Award * 2020 – RICS Social Impact Award, Maggie's Centre * 2020 – Civic Trust Award, Maggie's Centre * 2019 – National Eisteddfod Plaque of Merit, Maggie's Centre * 2018 – Architects Journal Retrofit Award, Museums & Galleries, Garden Museum * 2018 – Woman Architect of the Year (Finalist) * 2018 – Civic Trust Award, Garden Museum * 2016 – Architects Journal Retrofit Award, Listed Buildings Under £5m, Christ Church Spitalfields * 2015 – RIBA Isle of Wight Award, Best New Build, The Sett * 2013 – RIBA London Regional Awards, Tanners Hill * 2010 – Lighting Design Award, East Central Gallery * 2010 – BD Refurbishment Architects of the Year, East Central Gallery * 2010 – BD Refurbishment Architects of the Year, Lant Street * 2010 – BD Refurbishment Architects of the Year, Prospect House * 2010 – BD Refurbishment Architects of the Year, Christ Church Spitalfields * 2009 – RIBA Research Award, Rubbish In, Resources Out * 2007 – Brick Award, Poplar Cottage

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dow, Biba 21st-century British architects British women architects 1969 births Living people