Alex Borrell joined Nissen Richards Studio in 2026. He studied architecture at Newcastle University and the Bartlett. He is a designer and maker whose work moves between concept, fabrication and installation, with a particular sensitivity to how materials, environments and ideas evolve over time. His practice is grounded in the belief that design is not a fixed outcome, but a process shaped by collaboration, experimentation and the shifting conditions of the world around us.

He has led and delivered complex international projects across cultural and architectural contexts, most notably as Project Lead and Head of Making at Asif Khan, where he oversaw projects from early-stage design through to on-site realisation. His role spanned drawing, fabrication strategy and material research, ensuring that ambitious ideas held their integrity as they became physical. 

Alex’s work extends into education and research. He runs a live-build course at the Architectural Association and has previously taught at The Bartlett School of Architecture and the University for the Creative Arts. His teaching focuses on the translation between digital and physical realms, encouraging students to test ideas at full scale and to develop tools for thinking.

Alongside his professional and academic work, Alex has collaborated widely as a freelance designer. He has worked with artists, architects and institutions – weaving together craft, computation and narrative into projects that demand both technical rigour and creative agility.

Alex’s approach is defined by materials, towards systems and the relationships between people, place and the non-human world.