THE design ideas of architect Anna Vitiello have quite literally swept London's business community off its feet.

Anna, 38, is design director of Office Design Solutions (ODS), a company she runs in partnership with her husband in Chilham.

Anna was chosen by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry to redesign and refurbish its headquarters in the City. Anna's contemporary ideas and innovative designs have won the £500,000 project much acclaim.

Prior to the work the building did not reflect modern business life, but thanks to Anna's skill the Chamber is now a modern, practical business space with more areas for members to sit, relax and do business.

Increased membership, booked out meeting rooms and a 300 per cent increase in use of the members lounge are proof of her achievement.

The project is one of the most prestigious the Italian-born architect has delivered but she says the UK falls way behind Italy in producing work by women architects.

"In Italy there is a 50/50 balance of male and female architects, but in this country it is more 90/10. In Italy there is only one architecture degree, in England you can specialise and women tend toward interior design. Italy is not so sectoral."

Anna admits she was surprised to find this trend in England, but thinks it is changing.

"There are more famous women architects coming along and women generally seem to be more confident at entering 'male' professions."

However, Anna says she is yet to find another female architect in Kent.

She said: "It is a shame, because this profession is not all about creativity, it is about understanding practical needs and issues, such as a creche within an office block - proven to reduce staff absenteeism - and women have an intrinsic understanding of such points."

The industry itself does not help. Trade newspaper Building Design is running a campaign to persuade design practices to offer more female-friendly policies.

It blasts the profession for a "macho culture of long hours, sexism and backward thinking on maternity leave and retraining".

Anna has seen these problems in practice and says such policies make it equally difficult for male staff with parenting duties.

It was the confines of this work culture that persuaded Anna to go it alone and set up ODS and she appreciates there has never been a better time to be an architect in Kent and Medway.

With the thousands of homes destined for Ashford and the Thames Gateway, Anna recognises the unique opportunities the county has to develop quality designs but only if local developers step outside the safety zone of tried and tested ideas.

She said: "A lot of people think very small locally. There is not a mentality to try new things. They tend to work with what they know."

As ODS grows in reputation Anna is hoping that she will be the one helping Kent and Medway to think outside its box.