Beginning his career in London as a hospitality and residential design consultant for ten years before relocating to North America, Bryan’s U.S. career began with Howard Hirsch in 1976. He then spent the next twenty-five years traveling the world and working with other well-respected design organizations before forming his own firm, Bantastudio.
Through the years, Bryan has added numerous design credits to his portfolio, including five Hospitality Design Gold Key Awards, and a host of special honors including the President’s Award for Excellence presented by Stouffer Hotels & Resorts. His many hospitality design projects reflect his global background, including properties in such diverse locations as India, Egypt, the Virgin Islands, Japan, China and England, as well as high profile projects in the United States.
As Vice President of Design for Stouffer Hotels & Resorts, Bryan developed a comprehensive understanding of programming, budgets and the corporate finance side of the hospitality business. As the designer solely responsible for the interior architecture concept design in architectural practices, Bryan has a finely-tuned expertise in hotel space planning with which he can achieve his design concept ideas while ensuring that the hotel operator has the best function possible. These skills, added to his artistic talent and eye for design detail have earned Bryan a spot as a respected leader in the field of hospitality design.Athene was born in England, brought up in Canada, and received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. After college she returned to England where she was elected to the Royal Institute of British Architects and registered with the Architectural Registration Council of the United Kingdom. Athene spent this part of her career in London working on high end infill hotel projects such as the Inn on the Park for Four Seasons Hotels. At the same time she ran the degree program for Architecture at Kingston University. It was at this time that she met Bryan Tarrant while they worked on a hotel project together. They eventually formed their own firm, AIDA, in London before moving to America.
Back in the US, Athene continued to work for architectural and interior design firms. As children came along, Athene returned to teaching architectural design at Kent State University, visiting lecturer at the U of W, and eventually adjunct faculty in Long Beach, CA. This led to her honorary election to Tau Sigma Delta in 1990.
Over the years, Athene always made time for community involvement including co-leadership in the successful effort to save the market structures of Covent Garden, London, from the demolition ball; advisory position on the board of historic heritage associations, a notable community playground project and the founding of a children’s theatre in Ohio.
Her many years in the design industry, either as a practicing architect, a lecturer, or a consultant have given Athene an extensive background which uniquely qualifies her to be a principal of Bantastudio.