With a sustained commitment to design excellence and a comprehensive body of work spanning a quarter century as the director of COCOA, the commencement of the studio, BRYAN BULLEN ARCHITECTS has spawned a new era.

Grenadian architect, Bryan Bullen is the recipient of the 2022 Commonwealth Association of Architects Design Excellence Award. His years of practice culminating in an extensive body of work centered on the advancement of contemporary Caribbean architecture – exploring the perimeters of social, economic, and environmental change.

He graduated as an honor student from the Ontario College of Art & Design (ACAD) in Toronto, Canada where he obtained a diploma in fine art, industrial design and environmental studies. Subsequently, he obtained a Master of Architecture degree at the world–renowned Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC) in Los Angeles, USA. He worked in the office of the late Trinidadian architect, Roger Turton before opening his award-winning firm, Caribbean Office of Co-operative Architecture (COCOA). Since 2000, COCOA has been at the forefront of regional design, amassing a diverse portfolio for a wide range of clients, including the Government of Grenada, St. George’s University, and a host of commercial clients, private homeowners, and residential developers in the Caribbean.

Bryan has served as an external examiner at Utech, Caribbean School of Architecture in Jamaica. He was chosen as the architect to represent Grenada at the 17th Annual 2021 Venice Architectural Biennale. The exhibition, – with the theme, – how do we live together, presented him the opportunity to promote regional architecture via a short film on the making of COCOA’s most celebrated built work, Grenada House of Parliament, along with a display that draws attention to the issues of urban regeneration, historical preservation, adaptive reuse, climate change and its impact on Grenada’s capital town of St. George’s, and by extension its threat to other coastal towns in the region.

In his relentless quest to develop architecture that is appropriate and responsive to the regional context, Bryan has embarked on writing a 5-part monograph series. Volumes 1 & 2 were launched December 2022, highlighting his philosophical approach to creating a sustainable, and ecologically responsible brand of biophilic design. Built and unbuilt works serve as a conduit for discourse on a multitude of factors influencing the advancement of Caribbean architecture. Particular attention paid to the architect’s privilege and responsibility, calling for due diligence and re-evaluation of methods in the deployment of regional practice.

“I am truly honored and excited for the studio of Bryan Bullen Architects, and the possibilities open to amplifying our brand of tropical contemporary architecture. Projects such as the Converge National Exhibition Center, and The Pavilion in Georgetown Guyana present unique opportunities to design culturally significant projects, alongside a host of commercial and institutional developments throughout the Caribbean. Not to be forgotten is my passion and continuous pursuit to develop housing typologies that are sympathetic to the needs of Caribbean people.”