Architects Richmond upon Thames
Award-winning residential architects creating refined extensions, renovations, lofts, basements, home offices and bespoke new homes across Richmond and the surrounding borough.
Discuss Your Richmond ProjectProjects typically from £200,000 · Initial consultation with a senior architect
Award-Winning Richmond upon Thames Architects
We specialise in home offices, residential refurbishments, extensions, loft conversions, basement conversions and bespoke new homes with a high-end finish for clients in Richmond and surrounding areas.
Our design-led studio creates sustainable homes with clean lines, simple design and carefully considered natural light. Maximising space is our speciality, alongside creating homes that are energy efficient and built for long-term use.
Get in touch for advice about Richmond Council planning permission and building control, or for help shaping your ideal project. The borough contains 85 conservation areas, so understanding local design controls and planning restrictions from the outset is particularly important.
We also work closely with clients who want to create home offices in lofts, gardens or basements. Call our team on 0203 189 1619 .
Planning a High-Value Richmond Home Project?
Speak with a senior architect about your property, planning constraints and design ambitions.
Book a Design Consultation
The Principles Behind Every Richmond Project
Our vision is to create clean, simple and environmentally responsible homes that maximise space and natural light.
Planning in Richmond upon Thames
Richmond upon Thames is one of London's most sensitive planning environments. The borough contains 85 conservation areas, including historic village centres, riverside settings, Richmond Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Local character, heritage and neighbouring impact need to be considered carefully from the first design.
Each conservation area has its own statement describing why it was designated, its history and its boundary. Some properties are also affected by Article 4 Directions, which remove specific permitted development rights. Working with architects who understand Richmond planning policy and conservation controls can prevent avoidable redesign and improve the quality of an application.
AURA Architecture guides clients through the process, whether their home sits inside a conservation area or elsewhere in the borough. You can check the official Richmond conservation-area information , enquire online , or read our guide to planning permission and permitted development .
Our Richmond Architectural Services
Our team can support your project from early feasibility and planning strategy through technical design, interiors and construction.
Planning & Feasibility
Feasibility consultancy, planning strategy, advice on permitted development and retrospective planning where required.
Drawings & Building Control
Planning drawings including plans, sections and elevations, followed by building-regulation drawings for building control.
Interior & 3D Design
Interior design, spatial planning, layouts and optional 3D virtual-reality tours to help you experience the proposal before construction.
The Team Behind Your Richmond Project
Our Director introduces AURA Architecture and explains how our award-winning studio approaches residential design, planning and project delivery.
We work closely with homeowners from the first brief, helping them understand the opportunities, constraints and decisions involved in creating a carefully considered home.
Light-Filled Kitchen Extension
Design priorities: Natural light, practical family space and a stronger connection with the garden
Service: Architecture, planning and detailed residential design
A well-designed kitchen extension can transform how a family uses its home. The architecture must bring together daylight, circulation, storage, thermal comfort and a clear relationship between cooking, dining and social spaces.
View South West London Project View All ProjectsRichmond Home Extensions and Renovations
Explore light-filled extensions, carefully planned interiors and design details that show how space, daylight and materials can transform a Richmond home.
Utilising Natural Light
Do you wish your lounge felt brighter, or find that your kitchen lights remain on even when it is sunny outside? Many clients consider natural daylight essential to their wellbeing, and it is often a key reason for renovating or extending a home.
AURA Architecture specialises in making homes brighter and more desirable places to live. Bringing in more daylight requires careful specification. Poorly positioned or unsuitable glazing can cause heat loss, overheating, maintenance problems or a build-up of leaves and moss. Our architects and home designers consider these issues together, creating daylight solutions that are energy efficient, comfortable and low maintenance.
Kitchen Design Architecture in Richmond
The kitchen is often the heart of the home, particularly where it also includes dining and social space. AURA Architecture can help you create a practical, airy and spacious kitchen, allowing you to entertain comfortably and enjoy the room in everyday use.
Our 10-Step Residential Architecture Process
Our free 10-Step Home Design Guide explains the full process for homeowners seeking architects in Richmond.
Research
We complete a desktop study to understand the property, relevant Richmond policy and planning constraints.
Consultation
We meet in person or by video, review your goals and provide a fully itemised written quotation.
Concept
We develop three concept designs using plans, sketches and optional 3D visualisations.
Planning
Once a design is selected, we act as your agent and coordinate the planning application where required.
Detailed Design
We produce the specification of works, interior information, finish plans and tender documents.
Tender
We obtain competitive quotations and help you select a trustworthy, reliable contractor.
Site Monitoring
We can administer the contract and visit the site to monitor design quality and progress.
Enjoy Your Home
The completed space is ready for you and your family to enjoy.
The RIBA Architect Process
Every home is unique, but the process for designing it should remain consistent and methodical. The RIBA stages provide a reliable framework so that important decisions are not missed.
AURA Architecture follows the RIBA stages and translates them into a straightforward ten-step approach for homeowners. Download our Home Design Guide to understand the journey in more detail.
Virtual-Reality 3D Video Tours
What will the new home feel like, and how can you imagine yourself living in it? Every renovation is created twice, first through the design and then in construction. Without architectural experience, visualising the finished result from drawings alone can be difficult.
We offer Richmond clients 3D renderings so they can experience the proposed look and feel during the design stages. Feedback can be incorporated before work begins, reducing the risk of expensive, schedule-delaying changes during construction.
Read our 3D visualisation guide for an example. Alongside qualified architects, our team includes talented home designers who use carefully selected technology to help you understand and refine your home before plans are finalised.
Architect Fees in Richmond upon Thames
Unlike many architecture firms in Richmond, we believe in transparent fees. The scope and fee are set out in an itemised written quotation before the project begins, giving you a clear understanding of the service from the outset.
We avoid linking our fee automatically to a percentage of the final construction cost. Agreeing the architectural scope in advance allows our design team to focus on what is best for you and your home.
View the current details on our architect fees page .
Richmond Planning and Architecture FAQs
How many conservation areas are in Richmond upon Thames?
Richmond Council currently identifies 85 conservation areas. Each has a statement describing its special character and boundary, and some properties are also affected by Article 4 Directions.
Do I need planning permission for an extension in Richmond?
It depends on the property and proposed work. Some house extensions may fall within permitted development, while flats, listed buildings, conservation-area controls and Article 4 Directions can restrict those rights. A property-specific feasibility assessment is the safest starting point.
Can AURA prepare building-regulation drawings?
Yes. Once the design and required planning approvals are in place, we can prepare the technical drawings and coordinate submission to building control.
Do you design Richmond kitchen extensions and home offices?
Yes. Our residential work includes kitchen and side-return extensions, whole-house refurbishments, lofts, basements, garden or internal home offices, interior design and bespoke new homes.
Can I see my design in 3D before construction?
Yes. Optional 3D renderings and virtual-reality presentations can help you experience the layout, materials and daylight before the design is finalised.
How do your Richmond architect fees work?
We provide an itemised written quotation based on the agreed architectural scope. Current fee information is available on our architect fees page.
Typical Richmond Projects
- Whole-House Renovations
- Kitchen & Side Extensions
- Loft & Basement Conversions
- Home Offices
- Bespoke New Homes
Tell Us About Your Richmond Property
We can help you understand the opportunity, local planning constraints and the right route from first concept to completion.
Book a Design Consultation
Tell us about your Richmond upon Thames property — we'll respond within 24 hours.
Speak To Us Directly
Clapham, London, SW4 7NQ
RIBA Chartered Practice Professional architectural standards, clear processes and accountable project delivery.