[We believe in environmentally sensitive design]

melon|design:architecture is the second largest architectural firm in St. Lucia. Over the past 10 years the partners at m|d:a have designed competition and award winning public buildings both in St. Lucia & the UK, establishing a reputation for providing imaginative and working solutions to meet the needs of both clients and users. m|d:a believes in environmentally sensitive architecture – this is both in terms of enhancing the surrounding context as well as reducing consumption of energy & resources. We believe that architecture, as the salient interactive component of the built environment has a responsibility for the enhancement of daily life, requiring careful thought and integration into its contextual environment – be it greenfield or urban. Our interaction with buildings is so much more than visual. As the major consumer of raw material and energy, Architecture has a responsibility to the natural environment – embracing energy saving techniques in design and technology and utilising sustainably sourced materials where applicable, benefits not only the environment, but in saving on lifetime running costs of the building benefits the client.

m|d:a maintains an associate studio in the UK, and is currently involved in projects in St. Lucia, the Grenadines, and Cyprus.

[We bring design experience ranging from corporate headquarters, theatre & arts centers, retail complexes, to private houses, resort masterplans and boutique hotels]

SLU: Sean Compton

St. Lucian by birth, Sean studied architecture in the UK. Before moving back to St. Lucia in 2000 to set up the St. Lucia studio of m|d:a Sean went on to gain experience working for a number of internationally recognised architects/designers including Glenn Howells Architects, Lane Pettigrew Associates, and Creative Design Agency, working in studios in Birmingham, Jamaica, Mannheim, Miami, and London on projects as far afield as Japan, the UK and Mexico as well as within the Caribbean region. The experience of working with different cultures, climates and technologies has shaped his appreciation of climactically appropriate & environmentally aware architecture, and its cultural impact. Sean has lectured at the Birmingham School of Architecture, and was a visiting studio critic to the Bartlett at University College of London.

He heads the m|d:a St. Lucia studio, and is a member of the St. Lucia Institute of Architects (SLIA)

UK: Pani Patsalos

Born in the UK to Greek Cypriot parents, Pani studied at the Birmingham School of Architecture and has worked professionally in Birmingham, Cyprus and London. His experience ranges from high design private residences in the UK and the Middle East to bank fit outs, corporate headquarters and offices. Pani is currently working on villa club projects in Cyprus and Corsica along with Andraos Associates. Pani finds focus in harmonising his dual heritage, creating a contemporary fusion of Middle Eastern and European living, informed by passive environmental technologies. Prior to establishing m|d:a with Sean, Pani worked at A&Q Partnership, Andraos Hampson, PPG, and Chiltern Cunningham Associates. Pani has tutored at the Birmingham School of Architecture, and is a recipient of the Greenbook Design Award. Pani is a registered architect with ARB in the UK.