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OAC, led by internationally acclaimed architectural designers, Charles Phu and Roger Whiteman, can draw on the international experience of our strong design team based in London, United Kingdom.

We also have experienced local representatives in St. Petersburg, Taipei and Shanghai to help us provide world-class design services locally around the world.

Charles Phu

Design Director / Founder

Charles Phu, born in Taiwan, has practiced architectural design for over 20 years, working in the USA, Asia, the Middle East and the UK. Before this, he gained his professional architectural qualification in North America. He has established an enviable reputation for designs ranging from high-rise buildings, performing arts venues and cultural, commercial and residential buildings. Prior to founding OAC, Charles was the design team leader on a number of iconic and award-winning buildings (designs) in regions including USA, United Kingdom, China, India, Russia, and the Middle East.

Charles was the Chief Architectural Designer for St. Petersburg's Okhta Centre (known as Gazprom City and now Lakhta Centre) including the 463-metre tower, which is set to be the tallest building in Europe on completion in 2018.

In 2011, he was selected to be one of 18 prominent international Architects / Designers to exhibit at Triennale di Milano in Italy and he regularly gives talks and media interviews on architecture and design. Charles is also a respected set designer for opera and ballet.

Some of his other projects have been:

Roger Whiteman

Management Director

Roger Whiteman has more than 30 years' experience in the design, design management and delivery of high quality architectural, urban design and master-planning projects across Europe and Asia.

Originally trained as an architect in London, Roger soon entered the international arena designing and delivering high-profile, complex projects ranging through cultural, commercial, educational, residential and performing arts buildings, as well as master-planning and urban regeneration schemes. In the early 1990s, he was appointed Managing Director of SOM's London office and in the early 2000s he was the Principal of RMJM's London office, a position he left in 2009 to form the design management practice Beside Design. He formed the collaboration with OAC in 2010.

Roger's portfolio of work includes:

Oliver Hempel

Project Director

Oliver Hempel obtained his architectural qualification in Germany after his first degree in art history. During the 20 years since then, he has worked in high profile international architectural practices in Berlin, Paris and London, gaining rich and diverse experience in the design and delivery of high quality architectural and master plan projects.

After his collaboration with practices including Norman Foster on projects in Berlin, Oliver became Senior Architectural Designer, in 1996, at Renzo Piano Building Workshop in Paris. This was followed by his collaboration with the British firm RMJM's London office in 2006, and, more recently, with Arup Associates. He has been responsible for design concepts, design development, construction documentation and site supervision of projects which include: Okhta Centre Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, St Petersburg Museum of Modern Art and Opera House, Royal Sports Centre in Riyadh, Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, Peek & Cloppenburg in Cologne and Postdamer Platz in Berlin. Mentored by Renzo Piano, Oliver believes fundamentally in the power of cultural meaning in buildings and spaces to deliver a profound human experience.

David Blackwood Murray

Landscape Adviser

David Blackwood Murray has established a strong reputation in the UK and overseas as one of Europe's leading landscape architects. As Chairman and Creative Director in Lovejoy's London design studio, David was responsible for a substantial award winning project portfolio, working with world renowned clients, architects and engineers.

His project portfolio embraces a wide range of work including: Disneyland Paris, The Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, Sheldon Square Paddington, Cardinal Place Victoria, Wandsworth Riverside Quarter, Baltimore Wharf and Canary Wharf London. Over the past decade David has regularly contributed to articles in the Architectural Review, AJ, Building Design, Estates Gazette and Property Week, and has hosted lectures and seminars in the City of London, at MIPIM, NLA, Cityscape and Ecobuild. David has collaborated on several international projects with OAC since 2011.

Daria Belova

CIS Representative / Sr Architectural Designer

Daria Belova was educated in Russia and obtained her design bachelor and master degrees in Russia and master degree in experimental architecture in University of Sheffield, UK. She has been actively involved in architectural, interior, and landscape designs in Russia, CIS countries and the UK.

Her experience in architectural design is mainly commercial, mixed-use and office building projects, as well as residential projects.

Daria is now the Russian representative of OAC in charge of Russian and CIS countries market and projects, responsible for OAC's marketing, communication and coordination for the company's projects, and client relations in Russia and CIS countries.

Olivia Wang

Executive Manager, Taiwan and Greater China

Olivia Wang holds a Master of Town Planning from University College London (UCL). She worked as a government officer and as a member of the Urban Design Review Committee in Taoyuan County, Taiwan before joining PTW Architects in 2010 where she successfully established the firm's presence in Taiwan. Olivia's experience of both public and private work along with her considerable academic background equip her to work on a wide range of projects and facilitate her excellent communication skills. She has established the Vertical Studio in Taiwan and Vietnam, which focuses on integrating different design resources. In 2014, she was appointed OAC's Executive Manager, responsible for marketing, business development and assistance in project management for Taiwan and Greater China.

Shiro Aw

Representative in China

Shiro Aw was educated in Singapore and obtained his Master's in Design from Savannah College of Art and Design in USA. He then practised in interior architectural design in Singapore, USA and China, working for M Moser Associates, HOK and IA Interior Architects.

Shiro moved to China in 2002 and founded his own design practice 'Square Foot' in Shanghai, establishing a strong reputation in Greater China and East Asia among major corporate and governmental clients. Shiro has collaborated with Charles Phu since 1999, assisting communications and coordination with clients in East Asia and is currently responsible for OAC's Shanghai office, handling marketing, communication and project coordination as well as client relations in China and the wider region.



OAC Partners:

SPB-A / BRIKKER (St Petersburg, Russia)

Engineering, Architecture, Planning

AKA (Slovakia)

Architectural Consultant

Square Foot (Shanghai, China)

Interior design consultant

One Landscape (Hong Kong)

Landscape Consultant

Collaborators:

Ramboll

Multi Disciplines Engineering Consultant

Müller-BBM (Munich, Germany)

Acoustics Consultant

Theatreplan

Theatre Consultant

Real Studios

Museum Consultant

Speirs + Major

Architectural Lighting Consultant

DBM

Landscape Design Consultant

City Design Cooperative

Landscape Consultant

LDA Design

Landscape Consultant

ViPS (St Petersburg, Russia)

Engineering, Architecture, Planning

D&D Art Productions

Performing Arts Consultant & Production

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