In October 2025, we were delighted to welcome Adlina Marsya to AO as a Part II Architectural Assistant, and are pleased to formally introduce her to our network.
A naturally creative soul, Adlina’s early passion for making and problem-solving led her to major in Engineering Drawing at high school, laying the foundation for a future in design. After completing a BA (Hons) Architecture Part I at UiTM, she moved to the UK to complete her Part II at Oxford Brookes University, specialising in Development & Emergency Practice (CENDEP) — a programme that broadened her perspective on architecture beyond the built form and deepened her interest in socially responsible design. During her studies, she contributed to the Oxford Human Rights Festival, helping to organise and participate in events exploring how spatial practice can support social justice.
With over three years in commercial and residential practice in Malaysia, following Part II graduation, Adlina went on to gain experience in educational and retrofit projects in the UK, including specialist PMLD and SEND schools, designing equitable spaces for children with diverse learning needs. Her broad experience has shaped a clear ethos: design rooted in compassion and empathy, balancing environmental responsibility with a genuine understanding of those who inhabit the space. She is most fulfilled when designing at the human scale, and this approach and sensibility has been instrumental in her work on the Delamere clinic in Nottingham.
Outside the studio, Adlina is a lifelong badminton player, enjoys weekly yoga, and is an accomplished guitarist and composer, having earned four consecutive Distinctions in Music Performance from the London College of Music, University of West London. She occasionally returns to life drawing to reconnect with her artistic roots, and recently welcomed a 16-year-old rescue cat, Whisky, into her home — now very much at the centre of daily life.
As she prepares to embark on her Part III qualification later this year, we are excited to support Adlina in the next stage of her professional journey and look forward to seeing her continue to make a meaningful impact through her work.
