H. Olcay Cottrell

Strategic Urban Design Director with over 17 years of experience across UK projects, specialising in placemaking, masterplanning, and urban design leadership. Known for combining artistic vision with technical pragmatism, I have led the expansion of Place by Design from a reserved matters-focused studio to a more strategic design practice—delivering planning and design strategies for medium-scale residential developments, typically up to 500 homes. These projects often involve multiple stakeholders, technical constraints, and evolving planning contexts. Adept at navigating complex sites and working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams, I bring a balance of design flair, delivery focus, and people-first values. A former Urban Design Studio Tutor at Cardiff University, I continue to enjoy mentoring emerging designers and bridging the gap between academic thinking and practical application.