Residential Architects Kensington and Chelsea
Design-led architecture for exceptional homes across the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea — from whole-house renovations and extensions to lofts, basements and high-specification new builds.
Discuss Your ProjectProjects typically from £200,000 · Initial consultation with a senior architect
Architects for Kensington and Chelsea Homes
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 RBKC home improvement project.
AURA Architecture is based nearby in Clapham and is highly experienced in working with planners across Central and South West London, including the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea planning department .
The team at our design-led studio provides a residential architecture service that helps you realise your ambitions. We create high-end finishes for extensions, loft conversions, basement conversions and new property builds.
Planning a High-Value Home Project?
Speak with a senior architect about your Kensington or Chelsea property.
Book a Design Consultation
Designing and Improving Prime London Homes
Our team provides a complete residential architecture service, from early feasibility and concept design to approvals, technical information and construction support.
Extensions & Renovations
Rear, side and roof extensions, internal reconfiguration and whole-house renovation designed to improve everyday living while respecting the character of the property.
Lofts & Basements
Carefully planned loft and basement conversions that unlock valuable space while addressing RBKC policy, heritage, structural and neighbour considerations from the outset.
New Homes & Interiors
Bespoke new-build homes, interior architecture and the selection of refined finishes and fittings, creating one coherent design from the building to its smallest details.
Experience, Creativity and a Clear Process
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea remains London's highest-value borough, with the official average house price approximately £1.25 million in June 2026. A home renovation here demands experienced architectural talent and careful project judgement.
Kensington Planning Experts
Kensington contains some of the country's most valuable homes, including properties on Kensington Palace Gardens, and a complex network of conservation areas . Successful projects often require classical and contemporary design to be combined skilfully. We develop the planning strategy early, balancing your ambitions with heritage significance, local policy and consent risk.
Adding Value to Kensington Properties
Few places in the country make the quality of architectural design more important. Relatively simple amendments to the design of a Kensington home can translate into significant differences in how the property functions, feels and is valued.
We specialise in extending and improving homes sustainably, sympathetically and creatively. Every project starts with your brief, which we then develop into a clear design for the home you want to create.
Our planning specialists work with the council and project consultants to prepare the strongest possible application. Whether the brief involves a basement extension, home office, complete renovation or internal reconfiguration, the design must satisfy your needs while standing a strong prospect of securing the required consent.
Adding Property Value
In Kensington, apparently small design decisions can have a major effect on usability and property value. We extend and remodel homes sustainably, sympathetically and creatively, beginning with a detailed understanding of your brief.
Conservation & Heritage
We assess the building, street and conservation context before design development so proposals respond intelligently to the property's architectural character.
Robust Applications
Clear drawings, a well-reasoned design and the right supporting information give your planning application the strongest foundation.
Chelsea Planning and Residential Design
Chelsea is one of London's most densely developed districts, making the intelligent use of space particularly important. We focus on maximising space while tailoring the property to your needs and adding value. Natural light, views, storage and carefully planned circulation create a stronger sense of wellbeing and openness, especially where more of life and work now happens at home.
Creating Dream Homes in Chelsea
Chelsea successfully combines the qualities associated with an affluent residential neighbourhood with the energy and convenience of central London living. It is a highly desirable place to live, but the property available to buy may not yet be the home you have in mind.
This is where AURA's architects and home designers can help. Clients often have an instinctive sense of what they want, but it is not always easy to express. We take time to understand your vision at the beginning and then place your needs at the heart of the design.
Where an extension is needed, we first assess what may be possible under permitted development. If planning permission is required, our team prepares and coordinates the application with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea planning department .
Assess the Opportunity
We first establish whether work may be possible under permitted development and identify the planning, heritage, freeholder or party-wall approvals likely to be required.
Create the Dream Home
We help clients express the home they have in mind, then place their lifestyle, priorities and long-term ambitions at the centre of the design.
Navigate RBKC
Where planning permission is required, we prepare and coordinate the application for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea .
Ten Luxury Studio Apartments
Council: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Budget: £700,000
Timeframe: Six months
Build date: September 2020
Design brief: Improve and extend a 3,900 sq ft period property containing ten residential dwellings.
Originally built in 1872, the property required clever design and highly practical use of space. Built-in joinery, raised bed platforms, mezzanine storage, internal Crittall doors, air conditioning, underfloor bathroom heating and smart digital locks helped create ten luxury studios for young professionals and executive travellers.
AURA secured planning permission for a sensitive basement-level rear extension, adding approximately 300 sq ft and creating a more expansive living space while remaining compatible with the existing building.
“It required precision, experience and haste. Aura were extremely efficient in all of these areas. I will 100% recommend and use Aura again.”Jack Jiggins — XP Property View Coleherne Project View All Projects
Our 10-Step Home Design Process
For all the work we undertake, we follow the process outlined in our 10-Step Home Design Guide . It begins when you first contact us and ends when the work is complete and your home is ready to enjoy. These five phases summarise the full ten-step journey.
Brief & Feasibility
Start with our online enquiry form . We assess your needs, the property and relevant planning constraints.
Consultation & Fee
A director or architect discusses your ambitions before we provide a clear, itemised written fee proposal.
Concept Design
We develop alternative design ideas, including plans and 3D material where appropriate, to bring your brief to life.
Approvals & Detail
We coordinate planning, building regulations and the technical information needed before construction.
Build & Completion
We can help select a trusted contractor and administer the contract through to a completed home.
From Your First Brief to the Finished Home
You can begin by creating a design brief through our online enquiry form . We then study your home to understand the relevant planning policies, physical constraints and opportunities that may apply.
Our director or one of our architects will discuss your needs in a meeting before providing an itemised written quotation. Once appointed, we create three concept designs to demonstrate different ways of bringing your plans to life.
We prepare and coordinate the information required for a robust planning application. Before construction begins, the design must also comply with building regulations for safety, performance and to avoid problems or indemnity requirements when the property is sold.
Additional services include interior design and the selection of refined finishes and fittings. AURA can also help you find the right contractor and administer the construction contract for a clearer, less stressful experience.
Homes with Space, Light and Lasting Quality
We maximise usable space, fully utilise natural light, favour clean and considered design, and pursue energy- and cost-efficient solutions.
Our Vision
- Maximise your RBKC property's space , ensuring it is customised to your requirements.
- Fully utilise natural light to create airiness and improve your sense of wellbeing.
- Create clean and simple designs, using colour and texture to add carefully judged interest.
- Create energy-efficient and cost-efficient properties through a sustainable approach.
The Five Values at the Heart of Every Project
- Attention to detail
- Innovation and creativity
- Honesty and integrity
- Understanding and respecting people
- Sustainability
Do You Always Need Planning Permission in Kensington and Chelsea?
Some extensions and home refurbishments can be completed under permitted development rules, but those rules are complex. Flats do not benefit from the same permitted development rights as houses, and rights can also be limited by listed status, conservation-area controls or an Article 4 direction.
Much of the borough's housing is within conservation areas. Achieving a design that meets your ambitions while responding successfully to the planning context may require creative architectural skill and detailed local knowledge.
Where the work is permitted development, it is often sensible to apply for a lawful development certificate rather than submit an unnecessary planning application. This provides formal evidence that the proposed work is lawful.
Read our detailed guide to planning permission and permitted development , or contact our architects for advice on the right route for your property.
RBKC Architect Fees
Unlike many architects in Kensington and Chelsea, we set out to make our fees transparent.
We charge a flat fee of £100 per hour and let you know the anticipated overall cost of our service as early as possible. This helps you plan with confidence and reduces the risk of escalating professional costs or an abandoned project.
Our fee structure is outlined clearly on our architect fees page .
Looking for a good local architect in another location? Read our guidance on finding a recommended residential architect near you .
Kensington and Chelsea Architecture FAQs
Do I always need planning permission in Kensington and Chelsea?
No, some extensions and refurbishments may fall within permitted development, but the rules are complex and rights can be restricted for flats, listed buildings and homes in conservation areas. A project-specific assessment is the safest starting point. It can also be sensible to obtain a lawful development certificate where permission is not required.
Can you help with conservation-area properties?
Yes. Much of Kensington and Chelsea is covered by conservation areas. We assess the property's significance and local context so the design can balance contemporary living with the character planners seek to preserve.
What services can AURA provide?
Our services can include feasibility, measured information, concept design, planning applications, building regulations, technical design, interior architecture, contractor selection and contract administration.
How do your architect fees work?
We aim to make fees transparent and explain the scope at an early stage. After understanding your property and brief, we provide an itemised written proposal. See our architect fees page for current details.
What type of projects do you take on?
We focus on high-value residential work, including whole-house renovations, extensions, lofts, basements, apartment reconfiguration, interior architecture and new homes. Projects typically start from £200,000.
Typical Kensington and Chelsea Projects
- Whole-House Renovations
- Extensions & Basements
- Loft Conversions
- Apartment Reconfiguration
- Interior Architecture
Tell Us About Your Property
Whether your home is in Kensington, Chelsea or elsewhere in RBKC, we can help you understand the opportunity, the constraints and the right route forward.
Book a Design Consultation
Tell us about your Kensington and Chelsea 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.