Ana Franchini

Architectural Assistant

Ana joined our Midlands studio after her year-out work experience. Cullinan Studio is supporting her on the L7 Apprenticeship degree at the University of Nottingham where she is continuing her studies to achieve a professional qualification.

Ana believes good design focuses on the users’ needs, improving their lives, bringing joy to communities, innovating and promoting sustainability. In her Bachelor’s degree final year, she explored how the physical environment can help women and children to ease stress while escaping domestic violence. Interviewing survivors of domestic abuse and staff members working for refuges in Nottingham was an integral part of her research, providing her with an understanding of the users’ spatial needs, safety and privacy expectations, to better inform her design strategies. Ana’s work was awarded the RIBA Nottingham and Derby Women in Architecture Student award.

Away from the office Ana enjoys having coffee with friends and going for long walks to compensate for her short 5 minute commute to work.