Meet Our Management Team
Our Hampshire-based management team have a combined architectural experience of more than 60 years. Paul’s technical expertise and Giordana’s Italian eye for design complement each other perfectly, resulting in safe, functionally designed, innovative, aesthetically pleasing buildings.
Paul Anderson – Director
Ask Paul when he first became interested in building, and he will tell you that this started early in life with a love of Lego! Paul soon discovered that he had an innate skill for conceiving a structure in his imagination and then constructing it.
Following an early career working on large-scale commercial projects, including The Spinnaker Tower, Port Solent, Town Quay and a cinema in Leicester Square in London, Paul joined Axis Architecture in 1998. His vast experience in commercial work armed him with a solid technical background. This exceptional technical expertise across many sectors allows us to find the best solutions for every situation, providing solid, reliable 'fit for purpose' buildings.
With a wealth of knowledge and experience in building design and construction, Paul can take on complex projects with ease and confidence. His attention to detail is remarkable, and he has a keen eye for identifying potential issues and finding creative solutions to overcome them.
Like the famous American Architect John Portman, Paul believes that 'Buildings should serve people, not the other way round'. He sees the value BIM (Building Information Modelling) brings in achieving this and recognises it as the construction industry's future for all scales of projects. Therefore, he is promoting our BIM technical and visualisation expertise, moving the company forward to face future challenges.
As a family man, Paul stays busy outside the practice too, but when he does find a moment to relax, you'll find him cycling the Hampshire countryside or attending an air show with his kids.
Giordana Burns RIBA – Director
Giordana's architectural story begins in Italy. Having grown up with a grandfather who built half of the old town of Formia, Italy, together with some very prestigious buildings and blocks of flats in Naples and Palermo, you could say her destiny was to enter the world of architectural design.
She began studying at the Universita' degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, before completing her studies in Greenwich, London.
Before joining Axis Architecture, her professional career saw her work within large practices and as a consultant delivering large commercial projects such as the Victorinox flagship store in New Bond Street.
Giordana's Italian heritage means that art and design are at the forefront of everything she does. So, it will come as no surprise that her favourite architect is Antoni Gaudi, the only architect in history who has physically sculpted parts of his projects. She loves contemporary design and the use of leading-edge, sustainable materials in construction. She has been instrumental in a new focus at Axis Architecture, transitioning the firm from its roots in traditional design to a company that delivers progressive architecture using innovative building techniques.
As a practising Buddhist, Giordana spends much of her spare time studying and volunteering. She’s also a mother of two, and with a love of the water, you'll often find her with her family, paddle-boarding, kayaking or sailing the Solent and the Hampshire coastline.