Deborah Saunt facts for kids

Deborah Saunt is a talented architect and urban designer from Australia who also teaches. She helped start a design studio in London called DSDHA with David Hills. This studio focuses on architecture, urban design, and research about spaces.

Early Life and Learning

Deborah Saunt was born in New South Wales, Australia. She spent her childhood in Kenya and England. She studied at Heriot-Watt University/Edinburgh College of Art and the University of Cambridge.

Later, she earned a special degree called a PhD from RMIT University. She also received an important award called a Fellowship from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 for her work in building design.

Her Career in Architecture

Deborah Saunt started her architecture career working with a firm called van Heyningen and Haward. In the early 1990s, she worked on the famous British Library in London. She learned from well-known architects like Colin St John Wilson and MJ Long. After that, she worked for MJ Long's own company.

In 1997, Deborah began teaching at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. She has also taught at other top schools, including the Royal College of Art and the University of Cambridge. She was even a visiting professor at Yale School of Architecture. She also worked for architect Tony Fretton.

DSDHA: Her Own Design Studio

Deborah Saunt started her own design studio, DSDHA, with David Hills. Together, they have created many interesting buildings.

• They designed a unique flat-iron shaped building for Bosideng on South Molton Street.
• They also created a residential building for the Riverside development on the Greenwich Peninsula.
• They designed a block of buildings for the Olympic Village in East Village.
• They built a studio and gallery for artist Edmund de Waal in West Norwood.
• They also designed a jewellery studio for Alex Monroe in Bermondsey.

In 2009, one of DSDHA's projects, the St Anne’s SureStart Centre in Colchester, was nominated for a major European architecture award. In 2010, Saunt and Hills designed a new building for Christ's College in Guildford. This project was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize, which is a very important award in British architecture.

Other Important Roles

Deborah Saunt is involved in many important groups. She is a commissioner for the Independent Transport Commission. She is also part of an expert group for Historic England, which protects historical places. She helps lead the City Property Association.

She was also on the jury that helped choose designs to re-imagine London's Grosvenor Square. Deborah often gives talks at places like the Royal Academy of Art. She also speaks on TV and radio about architecture. She believes that everyone should be involved in making cities better places.

Deborah Saunt has been recognized for her influence. She was included in Forbes 500 and the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list of influential people in London.

She always looks beyond just one building when she designs. She works on big plans for cities and public spaces. Deborah also works to make architecture more open to everyone. She especially supports the role of women in architecture. She helped create the Jane Drew Prize in Architecture. She is also a founding director and trustee of the London School of Architecture.

Personal Life

Deborah Saunt is married to her business partner, David Hills. They live in Clapham with their two children.

See also

In Spanish: Deborah Saunt para niños