Native Architects

What Native Architects does

Native Architects is a privately held, RIBA Chartered and ARB registered architectural practice headquartered in York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom, founded in 1996 by Sally Kirk Walker. The firm operates as Native Chartered Architects Ltd with a team of approximately 10, comprising two directors, architects, architectural assistants, an architectural technologist, an architectural apprentice, and a practice manager. Over its 29-year history the practice has completed more than 40 projects across residential, commercial, heritage, leisure, and community sectors, principally serving clients across Yorkshire and the surrounding regions.

The practice's underlying technology is a sustainable, fabric-first architectural methodology that prioritises low-embodied-carbon, natural, and breathable materials including hempcrete, lime, timber, and straw bale, combined with bioclimatic design principles (passive solar, natural ventilation, thermal mass) to minimise or eliminate mechanical heating systems. Service delivery is organised across seven integrated modules: Surveys (including measured, photographic, topographical, and 3D scanning), Briefing & Development, Sustainable Design, Planning, Conservation, Technical Design, and Construction & Project Management. Heritage and conservation work is a defining competency, with the founding director on the RIBA Register of Conservation Accredited Architects and the practice undertaking Grade I listed-building work such as the Whitby Abbey Visitor Centre roof replacement and PV installation.

The business model is bespoke professional services revenue, with project-by-project quotes scoped to complexity, duration, and RIBA-supervised architectural oversight. Go-to-market is primarily direct client engagement from the York office, supplemented by organic content (website portfolio, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), industry awards, community engagement (Yorkshire Sustainability Festival Hempcrete Workshop, Countryside Days), and a strong professional-network referral channel through RIBA, conservation bodies, and rural estate landowners. The firm has raised no external funding, remains founder-led, and has grown organically without acquisitions or ownership changes.

Name

Native Architects

Legal name

Native Chartered Architects Ltd

Website

https://nativearchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Native Architects is a York-based, RIBA Chartered architectural practice of 10 specialists delivering sustainable, fabric-first design and heritage conservation services using natural materials such as hempcrete, lime, and timber for residential, commercial, leisure, and community clients across Yorkshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Full architectural services from initial surveys and briefing through to planning, technical design, conservation, sustainable design, and construction project management for residential, commercial, heritage, and community projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Native Architects is a chartered architectural practice delivering full architectural services from initial surveys and briefing through planning, sustainable design, conservation, technical design, and construction project management. The practice specialises in low environmental impact buildings using natural materials (hempcrete, lime, timber, straw bale) with a fabric-first approach to thermal performance, serving residential, commercial, heritage, and community clients across Yorkshire.

Product overview

Native Architects is a multi-award-winning RIBA-chartered architectural practice offering comprehensive architectural services. The practice specializes in sustainable design, conservation, and retrofit projects across residential, commercial, leisure, and community sectors. Services are delivered through seven interconnected service modules: Surveys (site and building assessment), Briefing & Development (project inception and requirements definition), Sustainable Design (low-impact building design with natural materials), Planning (consent acquisition and policy compliance), Conservation (heritage building work), Technical Design (detailed specifications and contractor procurement), and Construction & Project Management (site delivery and quality control). The practice emphasizes natural, renewable, and sustainable materials including hempcrete, straw bale, timber, and lime, with a fabric-first approach to environmental performance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surveys Measured building surveys, commissioning of specialist surveys (landscape, tree, ecology, archaeology), photographic surveys, topographical surveys, and 3D scanning of buildings and sites, for clients preparing projects across residential, commercial, heritage, and community sectors.
• Briefing and Development Translation of client ideas into project specifications, including schedule of accommodation, accessibility requirements, opportunities and constraints analysis, budget identification, and financial viability assessment, for clients at project inception stage.
• Sustainable Design Low environmental impact building design using modern and traditional methods, avoiding petrochemical-based products, incorporating natural and breathable materials, and employing a fabric-first approach to sustainable construction, for residential, commercial, and heritage clients.
• Planning Concept design development into detailed drawings with context, preparation of supporting statements, planning policy compliance, application submission, and liaison with planning and conservation officers, for clients requiring local authority approvals.
• Conservation Historic and traditional building conservation services including heritage statement preparation, historical research, building recording, liaison with English Heritage and Historic England, and repair specification for historic fabric, for owners of listed and historic buildings.
• Technical Design Detailed building design and technical specifications including contractor consultation, structural engineer liaison, heating and lighting specialist coordination, contract preparation, tender documents, and Building Control compliance, for clients preparing construction procurement.
• Construction and Project Management Full project delivery from conception to completion including cost control, change control, timescale management, quality control, site inspections, defect resolution, progress meetings, payment certification, and health and safety compliance, for clients during the build phase.

Quantifiable outcome

• Buildings designed with minimal environmental impact using low embodied carbon materials
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• UK HempcretecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Specialist contractor partnership for hempcrete and natural building material construction. UK Hempcrete works regularly with Native Architects on residential and commercial projects, providing expertise in hemp-lime construction techniques. Collaborated on multiple projects including Low Carbon House in Beverley and South Milford refurbishment.
• English HeritagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage body managing Grade I listed Whitby Abbey. Native completed new roof and PV installation at Whitby Abbey Visitor Centre, working within strict heritage guidelines to replace damaged zinc roof and add sustainable energy generation.
• RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional body representing architects. All Native architectural work carried out under supervision of RIBA Chartered member. Practice operates as RIBA Chartered Practice meeting strict criteria for insurance, health and safety and quality management.
• Architects Registration Board (ARB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatutory regulator of architects in the UK. All UK work overseen by architects registered with ARB, ensuring professional standards and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Whitby DistillerynotableOthersClient for Whitby Gin distillery development at Whitby Abbey grounds. Whitby Distillery founded in 2017 by Jessica Slater and Luke Pentith, growing from home brew to 300+ UK outlets.
• Straw WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation providing straw bale building expertise and training. Ran construction courses at The Lime House self-build project, providing clients confidence to tackle house construction.
• Natural EnglandnotableOthersGovernment body providing grants for environmental stewardship. Funded restoration of Myton Stud Farm through Higher Level Countryside Stewardship Scheme, recognising buildings as nationally important heritage assets.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Waugh Thistleton Architects: London-based practice widely recognized as a UK leader in sustainable architecture and mass timber construction. Direct comparable as a similarly-mission-driven practice built around low embodied carbon and natural-material expertise, though operating at larger scale than Native.
• Mikhail Riches: RIBA Stirling Prize-winning sustainable residential practice specializing in Passivhaus and low-carbon design. Comparable to Native in sustainability-first ethos and residential focus, with overlapping expertise in fabric-first and natural material specification.
• Adam Architecture: UK practice specializing in classical, traditional and period-appropriate architecture for heritage properties. Comparable to Native for heritage-sensitive residential work, though with a more traditional/classical rather than sustainability-led orientation.
• Feilden Fowles: London-based RIBA chartered practice with strong sustainability focus, comparable in size and ethos to Native Architects. Both practices emphasize low-carbon design, natural materials, and have won major UK design awards; operate as similarly-sized specialist sustainable firms rather than broad incumbents.
• Cullinan Studio: UK practice with long-standing reputation for sustainable, low-energy architecture across housing, education and heritage. Comparable to Native in bioclimatic design philosophy and commitment to fabric-first, low-carbon construction across rural and community contexts.
• Haworth Tompkins: RIBA chartered practice known for sustainable and conservation-led architecture across heritage, cultural and residential sectors. Comparable to Native for combining sustainability expertise with heritage/conservation project delivery, though at larger scale.
• Invisible Studio: Small UK practice focused on sustainable, contextual architecture with strong rural and heritage portfolio. Comparable to Native in scale, regenerative design ethos, and emphasis on natural/low-carbon materials across residential and adaptive reuse projects.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: Global architectural firm with sustainability division and heritage projects. Overlaps with Native on sustainability-led design philosophy and high-profile heritage commissions, but operates globally at vastly larger scale with broader service portfolio.
• Purcell: UK's largest heritage architecture practice, working extensively with English Heritage, Historic England and National Trust. Comparable to Native for heritage/conservation expertise and listed-building work, but operates at much greater scale and breadth.
• Allies and Morrison: Major UK architectural practice with broad portfolio including heritage, conservation and contemporary sustainable work. Overlaps with Native on heritage/conservation and some residential work but operates across many sectors at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nativecharteredarchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nativearchitects
• Instagraminstagram.com/nativecharteredarchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Native Architects