Home Improvement Tips
Residential Architects Kensington and Chelsea
Choosing the right residential architect in Chelsea or Kensington is not easy, so we have put together this guide to the key considerations when choosing an architect in this area of London. We also highlight the genuine differences that AURA Architecture can offer to enhance your next LBKC home improvement project.
AURA Architecture are based nearby in Clapham, and are extremely experienced in working with planners in all Central and South West London boroughs, including the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea planning department.
The team at our design-led studio provide you with a residential architecture service that helps you realise your dreams. We create high-end finishes for extensions, loft conversions, basement conversions, and new property builds.
Why AURA Architecture?
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is an affluent area, with average property prices over £1.3million, and any home renovation project in this area demands the best architect talent in London.
So why should you choose AURA Architecture’s small yet expert team of architects and designers to manage your project?
AURA follow the Riba stages and can manage your project right through to completion and beyond, as outlined in our helpful free guide.
Reviews – see our glowing architect reviews online, and get a taste for how we make our customers feel after or during their project
Awards – ‘Most Trusted Residential Architecture Firm‘ in the Home & Garden Awards by Build Magazine
Trust – our fixed fee structure allows us to focus on what’s best for you. We believe that charging a percentage of the total project cost incentives architects to add in costly features and select expensive contractors to increase their fees, so we steer clear of this approach.
Design focused around YOU – thanks to our fixed fee policy, we can focus on creating the perfect home to suit YOUR needs.
Maximising space – we are a creative team of architects, well able to maximise space in surprising ways. We know the ins and outs of working with the planning teams at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) to gain planning permission for what you want to achieve as you extend and refurbish your home.
We offer a helpful, problem-solving approach. AURA Architecture can help you with all aspects of residential architecture, including concept design, planning permission advice, detailed design, and even finding you a trusted and reliable builder to carry out your home improvement works. Our comprehensive Home Design Consultation with an expert provides incredible value at just £250+VAT and will cover everything you need to consider before you commence your project.
Technology – Using 3D modelling and Virtual Reality software will help you save costly changes mid-project. See what your new property will look like before it’s built.
Residential Architecture Projects In Kensington And Chelsea
You can view our projects section to get ideas for your project, or simply
Get in touch with our award-winning team of Architects!
Kensington Planning Experts
Kensington boasts the most expensive street in the UK, Kensington Palace Gardens, where average property prices are £35.6m according to the Telegraph. It also contains a complex network of conservation areas, meaning you may need to blend classical and contemporary designs in a skilful manner to obtain planning permission for any kind of home modernisation or expansion.
Our planning permission specialists will work with the planners at council to obtain planning permission in a timely manner, and our architects team will design a basement extension or home office that both suits your needs and stands the best chance of getting planning permission granted quickly.
Adding Value to Kensington Properties
No-where else in the country is it so essential to harness the best architect talent – simple amends to your home design can translate into differences of hundreds of thousands of pounds in the value of your home. We specialise in extending your home sustainably, sympathetically, and creatively, starting with your brief and then developing it into the home of your dreams.
Chelsea Planning Experts
Chelsea is one of the most densely populated boroughs in London, so we focus on maximising space whilst tailoring it to your needs and adding value to the property. Our team of residential architects find ingenious ways to use natural light to create a sense of well being and airiness – even more appropriate with many people now working from home.
Where an extension is needed to provide the space you need, we first assess what can be done without needing planning permission at all, under permitted development rules.
If planning permission is required, our planning team are experienced at working with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea planning department to obtain the permission you need in the shortest possible time.
Creating Dream Homes in Chelsea
The Chelsea district of this Royal London borough successfully combines the characteristics of an affluent out-of-town location with the buzz and convenience of city-centre living. This makes it a popular place to want to live, but maybe the house you can afford within this area is not the home of your dreams.
Which is where the architects and home designers at AURA can help. Clients have an inward sense of what they want and we know that it’s not always easy for our clients to express that. We take time to understand your vision of the perfect home right at the start, and then put your needs at the heart of everything we do.
Do You Always Need Planning Permission In Kensington and Chelsea?
Some kinds of extensions and home refurbishments can be completed under the rules of ‘permitted development’, but the rules are complex, especially if you happen to live in a conservation area.
Much of the housing here is within conservation areas, so achieving a design that meets your desires whilst keeping planners happy, may require some creative architect talent, and in-depth knowledge of the local area is essential.
It is often wise to put in a planning application to the council even if your project is within the scope of permitted development.
See our in-depth planning blog article for more information on this subject, or if you’re short of time to do your own research, simply contact our helpful team of architects and we can advise you on the best approach.
Our vision and values
Our vision is to:
Maximise your RBKC property’s space, ensuring that it’s customised to your requirements
Fully utilise natural light to create airiness and improve your sense of wellbeing
Create clean and simple designs, with dashes of colour and textures that create added interest
Create energy-efficient and cost-efficient properties with our sustainable approach
The five values at the heart of every project:
Attention to detail
Innovation and creativity
Honesty and integrity
Understanding and respecting people, and
Sustainability
Our 10-step home design process:
For all the work we undertake, we follow the process outlined in our 10 Step Home Design Guide.
This begins when you first contact us and ends when the work is completed and your home is ready for you to enjoy.
First, you can start off the process by creating a design brief using our online enquiry form.
Our guide then explains the steps we take, such as carrying out a study of your home to understand any relevant planning policies or restrictions that may apply in your area.
Our director or one of our architects will then discuss your needs in a meeting. Then provide you with an itemised written quote. If all looks good, we then create three concept designs that show how we can bring your plans to life.
Our guide also explains the work we undertake to ensure planning applications are submitted and approved promptly.
Building regulations must be complied with before work commences, both for your safety, and to avoid embarrassing indemnity clauses when you come to sell your property. Additional services we provide include interior design, and selection of finer finishes and fittings.
AURA Architecture will also help you find the right contractor, and manage contracts for the completion of the work, for a stress-free experience.
RBKC Architect Fees
Unlike many architects in Kensington and Chelsea, we set out to make sure our fees are transparent.
We charge a flat fee of £100 per hour and let you know what the overall cost of our service will be as early as possible.
This way you are not faced with the prospect of escalating costs or abandoned projects.
Our fee structure is outlined clearly here
Looking to find a good local architect in another location? Read our tips for finding your most recommended local architect anywhere in the country.
Watch one of our site tours here!
Play Video
Our Online Reviews
Our Blog
Home Improvement Tips