Alexander Rakita

Alexander Rakita
Alexander Rakita

Director, Founder

Alexander Rakita is an award-winning architect with 25 years of senior-level experience in the UK, Russia, Ireland and the Middle East.

Education

Alexander’s architectural qualifications match his international career. He graduating with honours from the Moscow Architectural Institute in 1993, having spent one year of his studies in Architecture and Urban Design at Ecole Paris-Tolbiac in France through an exchange programme. In 2008 he gained his Certificate in Professional Practice from the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, and in 2010 became a registered member of ARB and RIBA.

Career in Russia

Alexander Rakita spent his early career working in a number of public and private practices on some complex public and commercial projects, including theatres and museums, as well as several high-end residential schemes in the “Golden Mile” area of Moscow.

In 2004 Alexander became the Deputy Head of the Moscow office of Murray O’Laoire Architects (MOLA). With his help, the office doubled in size and won its first Russian award. Alexander’s projects during that period included International Congress Centre in Rostov-on-Don, Clover-Plaza mixed-use complex in Kaliningrad, Planeta shopping centre in Krasnoyarsk, BAT cigarette factory in St. Petersburg and many others.

Career in Ireland and the UK

In 2006 Alexander moved to MOLA’s headquarters in Dublin to lead the Dublin Airport Terminal 1 Extension (T1X) project. He also ran a significant urban development in the West of Ireland – Ceannt Railway Station and Urban Quarter, followed by the short-listed competition entry for the city of Navan / Co Meath Civil offices. International projects included Hyatt Regency hotel in Rostov-on-Don and three hotels for Sochi-2014 Olympic village. Alongside the design, Alexander was involved in the international business development and was appointed in 2009 the Head of MOLA’s new office in Abu Dhabi.

In 2010, he relocated to London, where after a period of working for Arup Associates, Woods Bagot and Crossrail established his own practice AR Architecture.

Alexander’s portfolio includes Urban Design and Masterplanning, Mixed-use, Hospitality, Commercial (offices, retail), Transportation (airport, railway and bus stations), Residential and Cultural (theatres, museums) projects in the UK, Ireland, Middle East and Russia.

Awards:

  • European Property Award for Best Hotel Architecture in Russia, for the Hyatt Regency Rostov Don-Plaza Hotel 2014/15
  • UK Property Award for Best Architecture Single Residence London, for a prestigious refurbishment project in Primrose Hill London 2014/15
  • County Meath/Navan Civic offices, RIAI competition – short-listed (4 of 75), 2008
  • Planeta Retail Centre in Krasnoyarsk – “Best Super-regional Centre-2008” Award of the Russian Council of Retail Centres, 2008
  • Planeta Retail Centre in Krasnoyarsk – “Retail Centre of the Year” Award of the VII International summit Retail-Director, 2008
  • International Congress Center in Rostov-on-Don – Silver Diploma of “Zodchestvo-2005”
  • Residential Building in Butikovskiy Lane – Golden Diploma and Prize of Architectural Media at “Zodchestvo-2003”
  • Reconstruction of the Moscow Theatre for Young Spectators – “Golden Section-99” – Extension to the regional museum in Noyabrsk, competition – 1st Place, 1997
  • All-Russian showcase of young architects at “Zodchestvo-1995” – 3d Place, 1995
  • Reconstruction of the Central Market in Moscow, competition – 1st Place, 1994
  • Sample project of a rural community club, all-USSR competition – 3d Place, 1988
  • 3 x “Best Project of the Year” awards during studies in MArchI, 1984-1993
  • International Congress Center in Rostov-on-Don – Silver Diploma of “Zodchestvo-2005”
  • Residential Building in Butikovskiy Lane – Golden Diploma and Prize of Architectural Media at “Zodchestvo-2003”
  • Reconstruction of the Moscow Theatre for Young Spectators – “Golden Section-99” – Extension to the regional museum in Noyabrsk, competition – 1st Place, 1997
  • All- Russian showcase of young architects at “Zodchestvo-1995” – 3d Place, 1995
  • Reconstruction of the Central Market in Moscow, competition – 1st Place, 1994
  • Sample project of a rural community club, all-USSR competition – 3d Place, 1988
  • 3 x “Best Project of the Year” awards during studies in MArchI, 1984-1993
Alexander Rakita

RIBA, ARB, MRIAI, UAR, Dip Arch (Hons)

LinkedIn