ABOUT US

Cross Works (XW) is built on the foundation of experience gained across decades of work in practice from it's MD and it's valued collaborators.

Our collective is made up of professionals and unique specialists who have come together to provide efficient, client-focussed solutions to real world problems. Our network of experts come from all over the world, utilising technology and agile remote working solutions to bring our minds together regardless of our respective locations. Our core team biographies can be found below.

OUR MISSION

Providing real experience and knowledge where it counts, to provide value and creativity to our clients' projects

From globally recognised brands like HOK, Benoy and Gillespies to world-class international architects like Emre Arolat, through to multi-disciplinary consultancies like BDP, the firm is built on a wide range of project leading and team leading experiences gained over the course of two decades by its founder and MD.

Hakan is a chartered architect (RIBA) and an expert city planner / urban designer, who has spent the past 15+ years in practice, reaching senior management levels and overseeing regional sectors in large practices, whilst also running giga-projects around the world as either Design Manager or Design Team / Consortium Lead.

With this broad remit of experience, Hakan founded Cross Works with the objective to be more agile and responsive to client needs; to be able to select and curate the best-in-class collaborators with whom to create project specific teams & collectives; and to be able to choose the projects that will have genuine positive impact in the future.

Hakan Agca (RIBA)
Founder / MD of XW

Osman Sahinbozkir
Head of Digital & BIM

OUR COLLECTIVE

Bringing together the best minds and talents to make cutting-edge design a new standard

Osman is a senior architectural consultant at Cross Works who specializes in advanced design technologies. He leads Building Information Modelling (BIM) and the digital delivery of projects at XW.

Having worked on large scale developments across the globe in the mixed-use, commercial, residential and hospitality sectors, he brings on board invaluable industry best-practice expertise having previously worked with global architecture firms such as HOK, WilkinsonEyre, SOM, ARUP and HKS.

With a background of RIBA accredited architectural education in the UK, he is a creatively driven, proactive individual with a diverse range of interests and skills. This diversity enables Osman to be a critical observer and an innovative problem solver.

His main area of focus is exploring the creative potential of new ideas and disruptive technologies within the architectural design process for optimizing delivery efficiency of projects and create added value for our clients.

OUR COLLECTIVE

Providing project-specific specialisms in the fields of architecture and urban planning to cater to project-specific needs

Kutay Mert Kilcioglu (MArch) started his career at Arup’s London office after completing his degree at Architectural Association School of Architecture / EmTech. During the time he spent at Arup, he completed significant projects such as the Hindu Heritage Museum in India, Ice House Project in London, and Amazon Data Centre in Spain. His academic studies were shortlisted in international competitions such as S.Arch International Design Competition.

Mert’s experties are in the precise modelling of complex systems and the rationalisation of complex geometries. He has also deep understanding about the implementation of AI to the design process through genetic algorithms. He has passion, experience, and is in continuous research around the production and use of parametric tools.

His design methodology implements scientific principles and environmental data to design. During his design process, he values the identification of aesthetic sensibility while taking historical and cultural aspects of a region into consideration, thus creating a more apt vision for the future.

Kutay Mert Kilcioglu
Architectural Designer & Parametric Design Lead

Dominic Bowyer
GIS Specialist

OUR COLLECTIVE

Embracing the latest in technology to deliver efficient workflows and reliable data to our clients and collaborators

Since graduating from Lancaster University with a degree in Economics and Geography, Dominic has established a firm background in GIS and spatial econometrics. His skills and knowledge are central to Cross Works large-scale masterplan work, creating Digital Twins of cities; integrating XW masterplans into their immediate and wider context; and creating comprehensive analysis of urban contexts, to which the design team can respond.

Prior to joining Cross Works, he worked closely with the NOVA School of Business and Economics, by offering his GIS expertise for a research project looking to model the effects of drug policy. It was during this time that he developed a deep understanding of statistical computer programming – mostly through using R and Python.

Dominic has since worked with the esteemed Howard de Walden Estate, providing GIS consultancy to gain a deeper understanding of the Harley Street Medical Area. Here, he learnt the potential of integrating Computer-Aided Design with GIS technology to process spatial data. He believes that such integration represents a necessary unity between art and functionality, paving the way for designers to undertake ambitious projects that can fully deliver their creative visions.

OUR COLLECTIVE

Creating places and destinations which are informed by their physical, cultural and socio-economic context

Paula's background stems from a Master’s degree in Architecture and Building Engineering, followed by a work experience in architecture and urbanism, collaborating with Steven Chilton Architects & MIRO Architetti on international projects of a variety of scales. Ranging from interior design to façade design, and urban planning research (working with the “Planning & Regeneration” team of the Department of Architecture at the University of Bologna in Italy), she is truly cross-disciplinary. In particular, during her experience in Bologna she was part of the management group of a cross-regional European project focused on boosting low-carbon multi-modal mobility for more sustainable cities.

Paula has also worked on the creation of territorial cognitive frameworks for two Italian Municipalities, which was the basis for the development of their new Urban Plans. This work included a deep study of the social, built, and natural environment, that also considered aspects such as building energy behaviour, land use, and other informative factors, as well as the creation of a GIS model containing all of the data collected.

Paula strongly believes that communication and collaboration are the keys to responding to the needs of a rapidly changing world and to design more liveable, inclusive, and sustainable cities.

Paula Saavedra Rosas
Architect & Urban Designer

2022 - MIPIM

CROSS WORKS IS ATTENDING MIPIM 2022 IN CANNES

XW will be at MIPIM this year. We're looking forward to catching up with clients, collaborators and consultants alike. Some in person, face-to-face meetings will be a welcome change after the past couple of years!

2022 - MORE WINS

CROSS WORKS WINS MORE WORK IN AFRICA & MIDDLE-EAST

Adding more projects to the XW mixed-use portfolio, and further more masterplanning work, the team grows further. Cross Works is currently on the lookout for a Project Architect & Architectural Assistants... get in touch!

2021 - GROWING

CROSS WORKS GAINING CROSS-SECTOR WORK :

LOOKING TO GROW THE COLLECTIVE

With residential projects increasing in number and masterplans landing around the world, we're on the lookout for talent to join our collective. Project Architects & Urban Designers are encouraged to get in touch!

2020 - FOUNDED

CROSS WORKS IS FOUNDED

A cross-disciplinary firm in London, made up of like-minded and experienced individuals from various professional backgrounds, kicks off. With offices in Soho, the collective is growing fast.