Vivien joined Orms in 2024, bringing nearly a decade of diverse architectural experience from practices in both the UK and South Africa. Educated at the University of Cape Town and the Bartlett School of Architecture, her professional background encompasses a breadth of typologies including residential, healthcare, cultural, commercial and hospitality projects. Prior to Orms, Vivien led significant schemes including the Brighton Synagogue and multiple residential and healthcare developments for a London historic estate, delivering projects through to completion.
At Orms, Vivien is working on the deep retrofit of Customs House, a Grade I listed building in the City of London. This complex project involves transforming the institutional building into a luxury hotel with supporting cultural and hospitality offerings. Vivien leads the west wing design coordination with consultants, contributing to the building's sensitive adaptation and the reinstatement of its river frontage as an accessible public area featuring multiple events and cultural opportunities.
What does ultrapractical mean to you? Working across different continents and typologies has shown me that contextual understanding is fundamental to creating meaningful architecture. At Orms, being ultrapractical means applying rigorous technical knowledge whilst maintaining sensitivity to heritage and cultural contexts. I'm particularly interested in how we can breathe new life into historic buildings through thoughtful intervention, creating spaces that honour their past while meeting contemporary needs and aspirations for the future.