Staran Architects

What Staran Architects does

Staran Architects is a privately held Scottish architectural practice founded in 2012 by James Ferguson and Iain Shillady, headquartered at 49 Cumberland Street in Edinburgh's New Town with a secondary studio in Kinross. The firm delivers full architectural services from concept through completion across three core service lines: residential architecture (bespoke new builds, extensions, listed building alterations, and renovations), commercial architecture (hotels, distilleries, retail, restaurants, mixed-use developments, and office conversions), and an architect-led Design & Build offering that merges design and contracting into a single client-facing entity for new build houses. Add-on services include interior design, bespoke joinery design and manufacture, computer-generated imagery, site selection, and funding advisory. The practice operates within approximately 1.5 hours' drive of its Edinburgh and Kinross studios as its primary catchment, with projects extending across the UK from the Outer Hebrides to London.

The business model is professional services fee-based, with architectural service fees on one-off homes typically set at 8-12% of build cost and tailored to project complexity, scale, and duration. The Design & Build service adds a managed services / construction delivery revenue layer on top of design fees. The technology stack relies on BIM software, 3D rendering, and VR/animation visualisation, supported by an in-house 3D artist and architectural technologist. Marketing is content-led via a website blog (Journal), LinkedIn and Instagram presence, trade show participation, and earned media through Grand Designs TV feature (2021) and Grand Designs at 25 book inclusion (2024). The firm is founder-owned with no external investment and operates with a small team of approximately 8-10 staff including co-founders, directors, associates, architects, and architectural assistants.

Name

Staran Architects

Legal name

Staran Architects Ltd

Website

https://staranarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Staran Architects is a privately held Edinburgh-based architectural practice founded in 2012, delivering full residential, commercial, and architect-led Design & Build services to private clients, property developers, and commercial customers across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410), Residential Building Construction (2361), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220)

SIC

Operative Builders (1531)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC)

Keywords

• Residential architecture services
• Commercial architectural design
• Design and build services
• Heritage building renovation
• Architectural visualization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Full architectural services from concept to completion, with fees calculated based on level of service required and complexity, scale and duration of project. For one-off homes, full architectural service fee ranges 8-12% of build cost.
2. Design & Build Service: Architect-led Design & Build service for new build houses where they manage the full house build from design to construction and fit-out. Provides turnkey solution with single point of contact.
3. Additional Services: Site selection assistance, funding assistance, interior design, bespoke joinery design and manufacture, and computer-generated images provided as additional services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Staran Architects delivers full architectural services from concept to completion for residential and commercial clients across the UK. The practice is structured around three core offerings: Residential Architecture (bespoke new builds, extensions, listed building alterations, renovations), Commercial Architecture (hotels, distilleries, restaurants, retail, offices, mixed-use developments), and an integrated Architect-led Design & Build service for new build houses that combines design and construction under a single point of contact.

Product overview

Staran Architects is an award-winning Scottish architectural practice offering a comprehensive suite of services centered on full architectural services from concept to completion. The core offering comprises three main service lines: Residential Architecture (bespoke new builds, extensions, listed building work), Commercial Architecture (hotels, restaurants, retail, offices, distilleries, mixed-use developments), and an innovative Architect-led Design & Build Service that merges design and construction into a single entity for streamlined delivery. Additional services include interior design, bespoke joinery design, computer-generated imaging (CGI), site selection assistance, and funding advisory. The practice operates across notable projects including the Grand Designs-featured Gardener's Bothy, the Edinburgh Gin Distillery and Visitor Centre (Scottish Design Awards 2025 silver winner), and the Waverley Arches commercial conversion. Founded in 2012, the firm is based in Edinburgh and Kinross with a diverse portfolio spanning residential homes, commercial developments, and heritage conversions throughout the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Architectural Services Comprehensive architectural service from concept to completion, tailored to client requirements. Includes design documentation, planning applications, building warrants, contractor selection and management, and project oversight for residential and commercial projects.
• Architect-led Design & Build Service Integrated design and construction service for new build houses where the architect and contracting entities merge into a single unit, providing clients with one direct line of communication, earlier cost visibility, greater quality control, and more efficient project delivery as a turnkey solution.
• Residential Architecture Residential architectural services including bespoke new build homes, house extensions, listed building alterations, and renovations, ranging from rural new builds to urban conservation area work. Targets private residential clients.
• Commercial Architecture Commercial architectural services spanning hotels, restaurants, retail, offices, distilleries, and residential/mixed-use developments. Includes conversion of historic buildings and new build commercial projects for commercial clients and property developers.
• Interior Design Interior design services provided in coordination with architectural projects, including material and finish selection, space planning, and bespoke joinery design. Available to both residential and commercial clients.
• Bespoke Joinery Design and Manufacture Custom joinery design services including production of construction drawings for manufacturers, tailored to client specifications and project requirements, coordinated alongside architectural projects.
• Computer-Generated Images (CGI) 3D visualization service producing detailed renderings and computer-generated images to help clients understand and visualize proposed designs before construction, supported by in-house 3D artist capability.
• Site Selection Assistance Advisory service to assist clients with site selection for new build projects, helping evaluate potential plots and their characteristics before design work begins.

Quantifiable outcome

• Edinburgh Gin distillery and visitor centre - key tourist attraction with roof terrace and public staircase connecting Jeffrey Street with Cranston Street
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ian MacLeod DistillerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2021Staran Architects appointed to design Edinburgh Gin distillery and visitor centre at Waverley. Project involved incorporating existing listed arches with large new build element, roof terrace, and public staircase. Project completed December 2024.
• SharkeycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 July 2021Contractor appointed for Edinburgh Gin distillery project at Waverley. Work started on site autumn 2021.
• Trade Partners NetworkcoreOthersNetwork of trusted sub-consultants, sub-contractors, suppliers and specialist craftsmen for design and construction projects. Actively growing network for Design & Build projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Page\Park Architects: Glasgow-based practice with a strong heritage and conservation portfolio alongside new build and commercial work. Comparable to Staran in award recognition, Scottish regional focus, and dual residential/commercial service offering.
• Simpson & Brown: Edinburgh-based architects specialising in conservation, listed buildings, and historic environment projects, with broader commercial and residential work. Directly comparable heritage-led positioning to Staran.
• Anderson Bell + Christie: Edinburgh-based architectural practice with comparable scale and a portfolio spanning residential, conservation, commercial and mixed-use projects across Scotland. Closely comparable in market positioning and service mix to Staran.
• Elder & Cannon: Glasgow-based architectural practice with award-winning residential, commercial, and heritage work across Scotland. Similar in team scale, design-led positioning, and Scottish geographic focus to Staran.
• Collective Architecture: Glasgow-based architecture and urban design practice with award-winning residential, conservation, and commercial projects. Comparable scale and Scottish regional focus to Staran, with a similar collaborative design ethos.
• Sutherland Hussey Harris: Edinburgh architectural practice with deep experience in heritage and conservation projects, including listed building work and contemporary design. Highly comparable to Staran on niche specialism and client base.

Regional players

• Halliday Fraser Munro: Aberdeen-headquartered architectural practice operating across residential, commercial, and masterplanning sectors in Scotland. Comparable in service breadth but serves the north-east Scottish market rather than Edinburgh directly.

Broad incumbents

• NORR Architects: Large international architecture and engineering firm with significant UK presence including commercial, hospitality, and institutional projects (e.g. distillery work). Operates as a broader incumbent offering integrated design services across multiple sectors at greater scale than Staran.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/staran-architects-ltd/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagraminstagram.com/staran_architects
• Facebookfacebook.com/StaranArchitects

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 Staran Architects