The studio draws upon an accumulated technical building knowledge and recent experience to create and inform design-led solutions. We provide our clients with a hands-on, professional, and tailored design approach, founded on the RIBA's tried and tested project work stages.

An empathetic application of materials to context, supported by craft and application is a particular focus within the studio. We listen carefully and work closely with our clients to create designs that translate visual appeal and bring technical economy. We design to optimise a balance between environmental impact and built resilience. Reductive overtones and a human scale are common qualities embedded within designs, that together help distil the specifics of function, place, orientation and site geometry, to make our clients' projects successful.

Our design process focuses on future pragmatic responses that get the basics right. Healthy buildings, that create uplifting and rewarding spaces to naturally reduce a reliance on energy and carbon intensive solutions.

As an RIBA chartered practice, our design processes use tried and tested work stages to help clients' plan ahead, manage demands and guide design decisions that can achieve design quality, while helping manage your budget and time.

example services

◦ Strategic brief development
◦ Preparation of project briefs
◦ Feasibility studies
◦ Pre-purchase design appraisals
◦ Planning guidance and applications
◦ Design review and development
◦ Technical design
◦ Tender information
◦ Construction technology
◦ Self-Build assistance

Building and development isn't easy and requires investment of all kinds. We offer our experience and knowledge to clients, throughout the various project stages, maintaining a proactive and impartial custodian of the evolved design.

specialist areas

• Small site development
• Residential design
• Gap sites
• Mixed use buildings
• Reuse and building adaptation
• Micro-communities
• Repurposing, extensions and retreats
• Retrofit
• Bespoke houses and retreats
• Low energy, low carbon building
• Environmentally conscious design

quality

We think of design quality having three distinct measures; cognitive appreciation, emotional engagement both positive and negative, and designing with a sense of purpose.

The studio is committed to providing our clients with an informative, stimulating and professional design service. We follow the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Code of Professional Conduct. Project architects are registered with the ARB (Architects Registration Board). The studio is an RIBA Chartered Practice, to give new clients confidence and assurance that the quality of service they receive, commitment to design excellence and delivery, is professional and accountable.

The studio was founded by Mark Richards in 2012. Mark, a Chartered Architect, has extensive architectural design and delivery experience gained during international design practice, designing and leading large-scale projects in the UK and overseas. He has a keen interest in mixing building typologies, environmentally conscious building and an aptitude for simplifying complex problems. Mark was the RIBA elected member of the Cambridge City Design Review panel in 2017/18 and supports the local RIBA chapter; the Cambridge Association of Architects.