About Nigel Coates

Nigel Coates is an English architect and designer with works on display in museums around the world, including the New York MOMA and the London Victoria & Albert. The fruits of his creative efforts span an array of design mediums, with a diverse portfolio that includes built architectural designs, well known narrative-based interiors and exhibitions, and an extensive collection of home furnishings and accessories.

Beginning his career as an architect, Nigel Coates completed his studies at the Architectural Association in 1974. He formed Branson Coates Architecture with design partner Doug Branson in 1985 and established his own studio of architecture and design in 2006. Between 1995 and 2011 he was Professor and Head of the Department of Architecture at the Royal College of Art and made Emeritus Professor in 2011. In 2012 Coates was awarded the RIBA Annie Spink Award recognizing his outstanding contribution to architectural education and is currently on the Board of Trustees of The Architecture Foundation.

In the early 2000s, Nigel Coates’ creative focus began shifting toward designing products for the home, and he became an in-demand furniture and lighting designer. His best known designs include collaborations with a variety of Italian furnishing and accessory companies like Fratelli Boffi, Alessi, SLAMP, AV Mazzega and Terzani.

Coates is currently the Art Director at modern Italian lighting company SLAMP. In addition to designing many of the fixtures himself, his long term relationship with star architect Zaha Hadid made possible the creation of the Hadid-designed Aria and Avia pendants.