Our Approach

Scott Donald

Owner Director

Scott formed his own architectural practice in 2011 after gaining 10 years of experience working for practices in Dundee, Glasgow and Manchester.

He has experience in a number of sectors, but it is private residential where Scott’s passion lies.  It is his belief that residential architecture provides opportunities to be more creative and more unique than any other building type. Working with clients to help deliver their dream home is a highly rewarding part of Scott’s work.

Rui Rodrigues

Director

Rui brings a rare combination of design sensitivity, hands-on construction knowledge and technical precision to the practice. With a wealth of post-Part III experience and a portfolio spanning large public projects to refined private homes, he has worked and delivered projects across all RIBA stages.

Before joining SDA, Rui worked for Pozzoni Architects, where he led on a multitude of complex buildings. His experience there – running projects from early concept to site handover – gives him a deep understanding of how design decisions translate into construction realities.

At SDA, Rui leads projects with quiet rigour and clarity. He is particularly adept at navigating complex briefs and constrained sites, balancing beauty and practicality with ease. His work is underpinned by a love of craft, natural materials and a calm, considered design process.

Outside of architecture, Rui is a home renovator, having painstakingly remodelled his own south Manchester home.  To balance, he can regularly be found in far-flung remote locations at one in his Tentbox.