Ambit of the Practice
I run a solo practice focusing on conservation and community projects in Bloomsbury and wider London, but also carry out all kinds of architectural and conservation projects across the UK and abroad.
Personal Background
My background is in conservation and construction, having grown up in a building family and then volunteered on the Bloomsbury Conservation Area Advisory Committee since moving to Bloomsbury in 2019. I bring to my architectural work a builder’s ‘common sense’ and ‘can do attitude’ while also having extensive experience in permissions and planning, especially in Central London. I learned the practice of architecture at Hugh Cullum Architects, most recently as a director, and have also spent time abroad working on a tentative list site in Orchha, India with DRONAH.
I qualified in conservation taking an MSc in Sustainable Heritage at UCL in 2024. Having briefly experienced the vagaries of architectural education and seen its results in the poor skillsets of graduates and the general results of modern architecture, I decided not to pursue a formal education in architecture. This also allows me to work more flexibly and sidestep the considerable red tape surrounding the regulation of formally registered / chartered architects.
Architectural Approach
I am sceptical about the theoretical preoccupations of ‘modern architects’ and prefer to view the work of an architect as simply anything involved in getting a building built or altered. This can involve ‘innovative design’, but more generally relies upon a deep knowledge of planning, regulations, and construction methods – along with a lot of common sense and a firm grasp on financial realities. The ‘deal breaker’ in any project in the UK is securing planning permission, and this is an area in which I am very experienced and have extensive theoretical knowledge.
I also take great pleasure in working collaboratively with clients to design a building or solve a problem and plan an approach which suits them. I have no ‘standard approach’ and treat each project according to its own opportunities and constraints. This includes flexibility on fees and work planning to satisfy budgetary considerations.
Fees & Regulatory Matters
As a sole practitioner I am generally able to offer fees far below market value – I often carry out pro bono or heavily discounted work for community causes or for conservation groups in need of funding. I tend to work at a baseline of £35/h without VAT but this can go up or down depending on the risks and difficulties of a project. This equates to around £1200 for a very simple planning application or up to around £5000 for a complex or large application. Generally fees sit around £2000-£4000 for planning. ‘Whole project’ costs depend entirely upon the client’s desired finish and procurement method, but will generally sit around 3x the planning fee for a full service.
As a sole practitioner and being formally qualified in conservation rather than as a chartered architect, I am not regulated by the ARB or RIBA, rather the IHBC (Institute of Historic Building Conservation). You should be aware of this as it (notionally) offers less protection to a client although allows me to work with considerably more flexibility, especially on smaller or more informal projects where the ‘red tape’ of chartered status can become prohibitive. I nevertheless seek to abide by the ARB’s code of conduct as it sets out useful ethical principles towards managing architectural projects.
Other Services
Along with architectural work, I also carry out ‘pure’ conservation consultancy and research work, and also occasionally develop and design websites. I can also act as a planning consultant and advisor.
Getting in Touch
Initial consultations are of course free of charge and I endeavour to respond to any simple planning and conservation queries at no cost. Please contact me on the below information for any questions or to set up a meeting.
mail@wardconservation.com
07474617128