A Creative Guardian of Heritage

Architecture is in Carinna Gebhard’s blood. She always knew she wanted to design buildings and create places for people to explore, and says she would not change her job for the world. She relishes problem-solving and creating new spaces, explaining that “it’s not just about making a building beautiful, but about making it work functionally and planning spaces effectively for people to enjoy.”

Whilst Carinna enjoys a broad-ranging project portfolio, she has found a genuine calling in the conservation and cultural sectors. She finds purpose in bringing heritage buildings back to life, carefully blending the new with the old through thoughtful creative reuse. Her passion for conservation goes beyond technical delivery; she invests deeply in the stories, history and communities connected to each project, ensuring that every intervention feels respectful, meaningful and long-lasting. To have delivered the 1950s cinema and shops for the Remaking Beamish project was a real dream come true. A self-professed “Beamish geek”, Carinna has particularly enjoyed taking her children to visit the completed scheme and sharing in its legacy.

Carinna approaches her projects with care and determination, immersing herself in the detail and taking personal pride in seeing spaces restored and reactivated. Her enthusiasm is infectious within the studio, and her commitment to quality and authenticity ensures that her work leaves a lasting cultural impact.

Away from work, Carinna can be found spending time with her family, camping in their campervan or taking extended road trips through Europe, travelling down to Austria or the Italian Lakes. Back in the UK, she spends most weekends from early spring through to late autumn making the most of the outdoors, camping, sailing, paddleboarding and generally enjoying time in and around the water.