What YARD Architects does

YARD Architects is a design-led residential architecture practice headquartered in Borough, London, operating across London and South-East England. Founded in 2014 by directors Simon Graham and Jonathan Duffett, the RIBA chartered practice delivers end-to-end architectural services spanning briefing, concept design, technical packages, specifications, and site oversight through to completion. The six-person team comprises two directors, two qualified architects, and two architectural assistants, with one director assigned to every project to ensure oversight and quality control. Core offerings cover house extensions (rear, side returns, loft conversions, first-floor extensions, outriggers), full refurbishments, new-build houses, garden studios, and multi-unit residential developments for property developers. The practice has completed over 100 projects since formation.

The underlying technology stack is conventional for an architecture practice of this type: model-making, hand and digital drawings, 3D visualisations, and detailed technical packages and specifications used for pricing and construction. YARD's principal technical differentiator is low-energy design, anchored by director Simon Graham's full Passivhaus designer certification and the practice's 'fabric first' methodology, which relies on passive solar gain, triple glazing, high insulation, exceptional airtightness, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). This capability is offered as a formal service line on the website.

The business model is professional services: fee-based engagements scoped per project and delivered through a sales-led, direct-to-client channel. Prospective clients contact the studio via email, phone, or the website contact form, and the approachable studio culture encourages pre-engagement discussion. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; projects are quote-based and tailored to scope. Revenue is derived entirely from architectural fees with no product sales, licensing, or recurring revenue component. The company is privately held by the two founding directors with no external investment, operates as YARD Architects Limited (Company No. 09452028) registered in England and Wales, and relies on organic marketing channels (Instagram, Pinterest, an extensive project portfolio on the website, and sustained press coverage in Grand Designs, Elle Decoration, Dezeen, Livingetc, the Wall Street Journal, and the Sunday Times) to drive inbound demand.

Name

YARD Architects

Legal name

YARD Architects Limited

Website

https://yardarchitects.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

YARD Architects is a design-led, RIBA chartered residential architecture practice in Borough, London, serving private homeowners and property developers across London and South-East England with extensions, refurbishments, new-builds, multi-unit developments, and Passivhaus design services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC), Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE)

Keywords

• Residential architecture
• Architectural design
• House extensions
• Passivhaus design
• Multi-unit housing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural practice offering design-led residential architecture from inspirational house extensions to multi-unit developments. Services span briefing, concept design, technical packages, specifications, and site oversight through to completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

YARD Architects is a design-led RIBA chartered residential architecture practice that delivers full-service architectural design from briefing and concept through to completion. Their work spans house extensions, loft conversions, full house refurbishments, new-build homes, garden studios, and multi-unit residential developments for developers. The studio employs model-making, drawings, and visualisations to develop scope and produces detailed technical packages and specifications for pricing and construction.

Product overview

YARD Architects is a design-led residential architecture practice offering a unified service rather than discrete products. Their core offering comprises residential architecture services (house extensions, refurbishments, and new-builds) and multi-unit residential developments. Additional specialized services include Passivhaus design (with certified designer on staff) and full RIBA chartered practice services spanning concept through completion. The practice operates from Borough, London, serving clients across London and the south-east.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture Services Design-led residential architecture services covering house extensions (rear extensions, loft conversions, side returns, first floor extensions, outriggers), full house refurbishments, new-build houses, and garden studios for families, individuals, and developers across London and the South-East.
• Multi-Unit Residential Developments Multi-unit housing developments and innovative residential schemes delivered for property developers, covering the full RIBA work stage process from concept and technical packages through specifications to construction oversight.
• Passivhaus Design Services International low-energy design standard services including Passivhaus certification and EnerPHit retrofit standard, employing a 'fabric first' approach with triple glazing, high thermal insulation, exceptional airtightness, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), led by certified Passivhaus designer Simon Graham.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 completed projects since 2014

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tonkin Liu: RIBA-award-winning London practice with a strong residential and crafted-architecture portfolio. Comparable design-led positioning and focus on quality of light and material, relevant peer for premium London residential work.
• Coffey Architects: London design-led practice with strong residential portfolio including extensions and contemporary homes. Comparable scale and craft-focused approach, serving similar private client briefs in the capital.
• 6a architects: Award-winning London practice with significant residential and housing portfolio alongside cultural projects. Slightly larger but overlapping client base and design sensibility make it a relevant direct comparison.
• Carmody Groarke: London-based design-led practice with residential, cultural, and heritage projects. Award-winning portfolio and similar design ethos make it a relevant peer for premium architectural commissions in the capital.
• Adam Architecture: UK practice specialising in classical and traditional residential architecture with London projects. Comparable focus on bespoke homeowner briefs and contextual design, though stylistically distinct from YARD.
• nimtim architects: A South London-based residential architecture practice of comparable size and ethos to YARD, focused on high-quality, design-led homes, extensions, and low-energy retrofits. Strong direct peer given overlapping client base, sustainable design emphasis, and similar team scale.
• Alexander Owen Architecture: London residential and conservation-focused practice of similar scale to YARD, working on extensions, refurbishments, and contextual contemporary homes. Direct peer in the design-led London residential segment.
• RISE Design Studio: London-based residential architecture practice with a similar portfolio of house extensions, refurbishments, and bespoke homes. Comparable in size and design-led positioning, serving overlapping homeowner and developer clients in London and the south-east.

Broad incumbents

• Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM): Major London architectural practice with a broad portfolio including residential, commercial, and public work. Larger and broader than YARD but competes for design-led residential and developer briefs in London.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture firm headquartered in London with extensive residential and mixed-use portfolio. Much larger incumbent that competes for high-end residential briefs in London and serves developer clients YARD also targets.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/yardarchitects
• Pinterestpinterest.co.uk/yardarchitects
• Xx.com/yardarchitects
• Facebookfacebook.com/yardarchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yard-architects-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 YARD Architects