What David James Architects & Partners does

David James Architects & Partners (DJA) is a privately held, founder-led architectural practice registered in England (Company No. 08497947), headquartered at 5 Wolterton Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset. The firm delivers architectural design services across residential and commercial segments, spanning bespoke single dwellings, multi-unit apartment schemes, master planning, commercial developments, and interior architecture. DJA serves a mixed client base of private individual clients seeking custom-built homes and corporate/developer clients requiring larger-scale residential and commercial projects, with named repeat customers including Vivir Properties Ltd, Birchmere Limited, and Luxury Care Group.

The practice employs between 11 and 50 staff and operates as a Chartered Architectural Studio holding both ARB registration and RIBA Chartered Practice status. Service delivery is project-based and full-lifecycle, from planning and conception through to working drawings and interior architecture, with both contemporary and traditional design solutions offered. Revenue is generated through bespoke project fees structured around scope, complexity, and services required; no proprietary software platform exists, and technology is described as industry-standard architectural design tools.

DJA's go-to-market is direct-to-client, relying on a website portfolio showcase, Instagram presence, SEO targeting terms such as 'Architects Poole' and 'Architects Dorset', and client referrals evidenced by prominent testimonials. The firm is recognised as award-winning, having won the 'Architecture Single Residence, Hampshire' category at the International Property Awards 2025-26 for a Solent-view residence designed by founder David James. Operational geography spans the South Coast of England (Poole, Dorset, Hampshire, Devon, Christchurch) with a London SW15 foothold, and the firm is independently owned with no disclosed external investment, parent company, or M&A activity.

Name

David James Architects & Partners

Legal name

David James Architects Ltd.

Website

https://davidjamesarchitects.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

David James Architects & Partners is a Poole-based, founder-led Chartered Architectural Studio delivering bespoke residential, multi-unit, commercial, and master planning services to private clients and property developers across the South Coast of England and London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Custom Home Building (IMAFABAC), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential architecture
• Commercial architecture
• Master planning services
• Interior architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Poole

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional services revenue generated through providing architectural design, planning, and project delivery for residential and commercial projects. Revenue is project-based, with fees structured around scope of services from inception through to completion, including working drawings and interior architecture.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

David James Architects & Partners is an award-winning chartered architectural studio that designs and delivers residential and commercial building projects from inception through completion. Core services include bespoke residential architecture (single dwellings and multi-unit schemes), commercial architecture for town centre and mixed-use developments, master planning, and interior architecture, offered to both private individual clients and corporate/developer clients across the South Coast of England.

Product overview

David James Architects & Partners (DJA) operates as a single, unified architectural studio offering a comprehensive suite of design services rather than a modular software platform. The core offering comprises residential architectural services (spanning bespoke single dwellings and multi-unit apartment schemes), commercial architecture, and large-scale master planning. DJA delivers both contemporary and traditional design solutions, with supplementary services in interior architecture. The portfolio includes projects across categories such as coastal residences, rural homes, apartment blocks, and commercial town centre developments, all unified under the DJA brand and managed through the practice's in-house team of skilled architects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architectural Services Design and delivery of bespoke private homes, custom-built residences, and single-dwelling projects tailored to individual client requirements across the South Coast of England.
• Multi-Unit Residential Architecture Design services for apartment blocks, multiple-unit residential schemes, and multi-dwelling developments including coastal apartment projects in Poole, Dorset.
• Commercial Architecture Services Full-service commercial development design spanning corporate facilities, town centre developments, and mixed-use projects such as the Bournemouth Town Centre development.
• Master Planning Large-scale strategic planning and design for comprehensive development projects and master planning initiatives, delivered from inception through completion.
• Interior Architecture Specialist interior architecture services covering space planning, interior detailing, and finishes specification delivered as part of residential and commercial projects from working drawings through to interior fit-out.

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Architects Registration Board (ARB)minorOthersProfessional regulatory body ensuring architects meet professional standards. DJA displays ARB accreditation on their website as a mark of professional legitimacy and compliance.
• Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)minorOthersRIBA is a chartered body promoting architecture and architects. DJA displays RIBA accreditation on their website, indicating they are a chartered architectural practice meeting RIBA's professional standards.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Allies and Morrison: UK-based chartered architectural practice delivering residential, commercial, and master-planning projects. Comparable to DJA in chartered RIBA-style credentials, mixed residential/commercial portfolio, and design-led positioning across multiple building typologies.
• John Pardey Architects: UK architectural practice specialising in residential architecture, including single homes and multi-unit schemes. Comparable to DJA in residential focus, RIBA-recognised design credentials, and project base across southern England.
• Scott Brownrigg: UK-headquartered international design practice covering residential, commercial, and master-planning work. Comparable to DJA in offering integrated architectural services across housing, mixed-use, and commercial developments with a similar design-quality focus.
• Feilden Fowles: Contemporary UK architectural practice recognised for award-winning residential and cultural buildings. Comparable to DJA in scale, design-led ethos, RIBA-awarded status, and focus on bespoke residential commissions alongside larger institutional work.
• Rolfe Judd: UK chartered architectural practice delivering residential, commercial, and healthcare projects. Comparable to DJA in chartered status, mixed residential/commercial portfolio, and inclusion of multi-unit housing and care-sector work.
• PAD Studio: Hampshire-based chartered architectural practice delivering contemporary residential and small commercial projects. Comparable to DJA in South Coast England footprint, residential specialism, and award-recognized design portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: Global architectural firm headquartered in London, delivering large-scale residential, commercial, and master-planning projects worldwide. Comparable to DJA at a category level (RIBA-chartered, award-winning, mixed-use capability) but operates at vastly greater scale across multiple geographies.
• Wilkinson Eyre: Internationally recognised UK architectural practice covering commercial, residential, and infrastructure projects. Comparable to DJA in chartered status and award-winning design pedigree, but with significantly broader project scope and international reach.
• Purcell Architecture: UK chartered architectural practice with strong heritage, residential, and master-planning portfolio. Comparable to DJA in chartered credentials and architectural design focus, but with significantly larger headcount and broader institutional client base.
• Benoy: Global architectural, master-planning, and interior design practice with UK origins. Comparable to DJA in offering architectural design plus interior architecture and master planning, but at much larger scale across multiple international markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/davidjamesarc
• Facebookfacebook.com/davidjamesarchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/david-james-architects-llp

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about David James Architects & Partners