Alumni Services

Max de Rosee

Architect Max de Rosee met his wife at Edinburgh. Together they founded De Rosee Sa, an architectural and interior design practice which has won industry awards.

Name Max de Rosee
Degree 

MA (Hons) Architectural Design (RIBA Part 1)

Year of Graduation 1998
Architecture graduate Max de Rosee

Tell us about your time at the University

Coming from London, I was keen to explore a different part of the UK. I knew since GSCE level that I wanted to read Architecture, and having visited Edinburgh, it was my first choice. It seemed to have the advantages of a capital city but with so many students and different universities, also the atmosphere of a campus University.

My first year took a bit of adjustment mainly because my non-architect friends had a lot more free time than us architects who needed to go into the studio every day. Once adjusted, I loved the remaining years in the Architecture department and have strong friendships still. The department had a very good atmosphere.  There were the inevitable all-nighters before final presentations, which seemed a good idea at the time, followed by a visit to the Phoenix pub at 6am.

The degree project I remember most vividly was for a Contemporary Art Gallery with tutor Dr. Dorian Wiszniewski, and as a result, I still harbour a dream to eventually design an Art Gallery. There was also a field trip to the Isle of Scalpay in which we explored the island on foot, lost our way and nearly spent the night outside.

Edinburgh has had a big impact on the course of my life because that is where I met Claire Sa, who was also studying architecture there. We are now married, have five children and run an architecture practice together.

The degree project I remember most vividly was for a Contemporary Art Gallery with tutor Dr. Dorian Wiszniewski, and as a result, I still harbour a dream to eventually design an Art Gallery.

Co-founder and director of De Rosee SaMax de Rosee

Tell us about your experiences since leaving the University

I left Edinburgh University and returned to London to do my Architectural Diploma at the Architectural Association. A more experimental school, I thought it complimented my degree experience very well.

I then started working for a small architecture practice called DSDHA, who are now very successful; I think I was employee number 4. I was invited to do a bit of teaching at the Architectural Association that I combined with working at DSDHA.

I worked for a larger practice, Penoyre and Prasad, before joining a friend’s practice as a partner, Nick Cross Associates. Around 2006, Nick and I came up to Edinburgh to give a Friday evening talk to the Department, which was enjoyable.

In 2007, Claire and I set up our own practice; we are now 14 strong, and our Little Hall project won two Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) awards in 2016.

Alumni wisdom

I am still learning every day so I don’t think I have much wisdom to pass on yet!

I am very grateful that I am passionate about what we do. If I had to change a few things, I would show more determination in my 20s but I would probably have started our practice five years later. So I would pass on the following to current alumni: Show determination but be patient.

Related Links

Architecture MA/BA at Edinburgh College of Art