Leading by Design: Maria Knutsson-Hall

In the next instalment in our Leading by Design video series, Maria Knutsson-Hall shares how inclusive multi-use venues become anchors for communities and how projects such as Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Fulham FC Riverside Stand are opening up to new audiences and becoming catalysts for regeneration – serving local communities 365 days a year.

Originally hailing from Sweden, Maria promotes an inclusive design ethos that is accessible to all, and sees women’s sport as a key driver of change. “Fans of women’s sport often have different needs and expectations. Designing spaces that reflect those needs is crucial,” she says.

As Design Quality Lead for Populous across EMEA, Maria oversees design for the practice across the region. Her role supports architectural teams through design reviews, design surgeries and educational sessions.

Since joining Populous in 2013, Maria has provided design leadership on several large-scale sports and entertainment buildings. One of her most notable achievements is the delivery of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, for which she was the lead designer, from concept through to completion; a five year journey.

Maria is an experienced educator with a background in teaching at the Bartlett School of Architecture and Oxford Brookes University. She is passionate about architectural education and dedicated to connecting academic learning with real-world practice. Her work focuses on inspiring the next generation of architects.