Matthew Willemsen - Made in Coventry

A Coventry University graduate making a lasting mark in architecture

When Matthew Willemsen first joined Coventry University in 2012 to study Architectural Technology BSc (Hons), he didn’t know how deeply the city and its community would shape his future career. What began as an undergraduate degree, soon grew into a long-term connection with the university and with Coventry itself. This continues today as Matthew balances running his own business, working in a conservation practice, and returning to campus to support the next generation of built environment students.

Foundations in architecture

Matthew looks back on his time at Coventry University as the place where his first serious architectural ambitions began. While studying, he threw himself into student life, setting up the Technical Architecture Society. His hard work certainly paid off, graduating with the CIAT Outstanding Student Award in 2015 for achieving the highest marks in his cohort.

Even after completing his education, Matthew remained very connected to the world of architectural technology. His career began at the largest architectural practice in Coventry, and he quickly became active in his regional branch of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT). Through this role, he remained involved with the university and frequently returned to assist with lecturing and providing tutorials.

Building a career in practice

After gaining industry experience in the local area, Matthew moved between several practices, including Gensler, the largest architectural firm in the world . There, he worked on complex projects such as multinational data centres and power stations, which taught him about large-scale design and international teamwork.

During this time, he also made the decision to start his own business, MWArchitectural, while continuing to work full-time in practice. This allowed him to focus on smaller, local projects at the same time as major infrastructure schemes. In 2018, he became Chartered with CIAT, a huge milestone for any technologist, and later went on to win the first-ever CIAT Emerging Talent in Architectural Technology Award in 2021, recognising his contributions to the field.

Returning to study

Even after completing his first degree, Matthew’s passion for learning didn’t stop there. A few years into his career, he returned to university to complete further study at Oxford Brookes and later at the University of Cambridge, where he is now undertaking his Part III in Architecture.

Remarkably, he completed all of this academic work whilst staying in full-time practice, balancing project deadlines with lectures, submissions, and studio work. His education now includes Coventry University, Oxford Brookes, and Cambridge University. All three of these stages improved his approach to design, technology, and architectural theory.

Giving back to Coventry

Despite studying and working across different countries, cities and institutions, Coventry University has remained an important part of Matthew’s story. He continues to return as a guest lecturer, tutorial leader and industry supporter. Only recently, he returned to the Architectural Technology Studio to help final-year students prepare for a module focused on architectural conservation.

He has also supported other universities (including Birmingham City and Wolverhampton), but Coventry, he says, will always be “where it started.”

Designing for the city where it all began

One of the most meaningful parts of Matthew’s journey is how often his work brings him back to Coventry’s buildings and spaces. During his studies at Oxford Brookes and Cambridge, he deliberately chose sites in Coventry for his projects, intentionally selecting areas of the city he felt could benefit from new energy and attention.

These projects included:

• a new scheme for Coventry Market, later featured in the Coventy Telegraph  and presented to the Coventry Society.
• reinventing the Daimler Powerhouse near the Canal Basin (now a new £2.5m creative hub)
• a close study of St Nicholas Church in Radford

Watching his academic ideas provoke local conversations about regeneration remains one of his proudest achievements.

Current Projects

Today, Matthew divides his time between:

• running his own architectural firm,  MWArchitectural, where he focuses mainly on high-end residential projects
• working with Robert Davies Architects, a conservation practice involved in some of Coventry’s most recognisable historic sites, including:
• Coventry Methodist Central Hall
• St John’s on Spon Street
• Spencer Park Pavilion in Earlsdon
• The Council House on Earl Street, just a short walk from the university

His career now combines modern design, conserving historic buildings and community projects, all shaped by his skills and his commitment to the city of Coventry.

Looking ahead

Matthew is passionate about design that makes a positive difference, whether that’s improving Coventry’s public spaces, maintaining the heritage of the city, or assisting people in creating better homes.

As he finishes his Part III at the University of Cambridge and continues to grow his practice, he’s excited to keep contributing to the architectural world both locally and nationally.