Al-Jawad Pike — Practice

Founders

JESSAM AL-JAWAD

MA(Hons) Dip.Arch. RIBA, RIAS

Jessam is a founding director of Al-Jawad Pike with over 17 years’ experience delivering award-winning architecture across residential, cultural and commercial sectors. He leads the design and conceptual direction of the practice’s key projects, shaping their architectural language and visual identity while remaining closely involved through delivery to ensure the built work reflects the original design ambition. Alongside practice, he contributes to architectural education as a visiting lecturer and guest critic and is a member of the Hackney Council Design Review Panel.

Prior to establishing Al-Jawad Pike, Jessam studied architecture at the University of Edinburgh and The Bartlett, UCL, before spending a decade at David Chipperfield Architects. During this time he developed a rigorous, detail-led approach to design, working on complex projects in historically sensitive contexts. This experience continues to inform the studio's work, combining conceptual clarity with careful attention to materiality, craft and construction.

DEAN PIKE

BA(Hons) Dip.Arch. RIBA

Dean is a founding director of Al-Jawad Pike with over 17 years’ experience. He leads the studio’s strategic direction, overseeing new work, project development and the wider vision of the practice. He brings focus to visual communication, collaboration and organisational structures, embedding clarity in process and ensuring the studio’s ambitions and values are consistently realised. He remains closely involved in projects through critical review and oversight at key stages, supporting design and professional excellence while guiding the practice’s long-term growth. Dean is a member of the Islington Design Review Panel and contributes to architectural discourse through talks and professional forums.

Prior to establishing Al-Jawad Pike, Dean studied architecture at the University of Portsmouth and The Bartlett, UCL, before spending over a decade at David Chipperfield Architects, working on significant cultural, residential and civic projects in the UK and internationally.

Team

Leila Hooshmand

Part II architectural assistant

Leila joined Al-Jawad Pike in 2025 as a Part II Architectural Assistant. She contributes to early-stage design development across residential projects and competitions, supporting research, concept formation and visual communication.

Leila plays an active role in the studio’s image-making processes and coordinates the practice’s IT systems, helping to maintain efficient and integrated workflows across the studio.

Joseph Marchbank

Architect

Joseph joined the studio in 2017 and qualified as an architect after completing his Part II with the practice. He has led a number of housing competitions and feasibility studies and is currently leading the Anti-Apartheid Legacy project at 28 Penton Street.

Joseph brings strength in early-stage development with a strong making sensibility. He directs the studio’s model-making processes and has developed many of the practice’s systems-based approaches to project organisation, strengthening professional capability and delivery standards across the studio.

Tea Marta

Architect

Tea joined Al-Jawad Pike in 2024 as a Part II Architectural Assistant. She plays a central role in a number of interior projects, including retail fit-outs for Chloé and Tod’s Group and the restoration of a Grade II listed townhouse.

Tea supports the studio’s iterative design process and advances its 3D visualisation and representational techniques, helping to communicate spatial ideas with clarity and precision.

Ross Powell-Jones

Senior Architect

Ross joined Al-Jawad Pike as a senior architect in 2024. He leads housing projects within sensitive urban contexts, blending new-build interventions with existing fabric, and brings strong expertise in housing delivery and current regulatory frameworks. He is currently overseeing two infill schemes and contributing to a masterplan in South Thamesmead in collaboration with Karakusevic Carson Architects.

Ross also leads the studio’s CPD programme and technical resource library, supporting wider practice policy and development.

Jonathan Ramdeen

Architect

Jonathan joined Al-Jawad Pike as an architect in 2024. He works across several socially-led housing projects, from estate infill to masterplans, with particular experience in complex urban contexts. He is currently leading infill housing projects for Hackney Council, guiding design, technical coordination and stakeholder engagement to unlock constrained sites and deliver new social homes.

Jonathan also contributes to the studio’s BIM development and actively champions equality, diversity and inclusion, leading engagement initiatives in collaboration with Open City Accelerate

Joe Sampey

Part II architectural assistant

Joe joined Al-Jawad Pike in 2025 as a Part II architectural assistant. He is involved in a number of early-stage projects, including housing in Flanders, a new-build family home in north London and a cultural and spiritual centre in Saudi Arabia.

Joe supports concept design development across these projects and, alongside Jonathan, leads the studio’s BIM systems, helping to embed coordinated and rigorous workflows from the outset.

Shafika Talib

Part I architectural assistant

Shafika joined Al-Jawad Pike in 2025 as a Part I Architectural Assistant. She has worked on early-stage competitions, including a new care home in Lokeren, Flanders, and the concept development of a cultural and spiritual centre in Saudi Arabia, as well as contributing to retail design development for Aesop.

Alongside project responsibilities, Shafika supports the day-to-day operational life of the studio.

Previous Staff

Neguin Amiri, Filippo Antonucci, Diletta Aprile, Robin Ashurst, Eva Barnett, Carolina Bottazzi, Silvia Brotz, Alan Casey, Silvia Dessenibus, Jack Hudspith, Amandine Kastler, Vittoria Leonardelli, Jules Moritz, Laura O'Brien, Alessio Pavani, Joanna Pilecka, Renato Pimenta, Micaela Racca, Gioia Rossano, Isabel Sarasa, Luke Scott, Zoe Spittle, Lola Wilson, Marta Zinestra