Business Details
24 Years
experience
Sustainable Architecture & Planning Experts in London
Graham Ford Architects is a London-based practice specialising in securing planning permissions for conservation zones and green belts through innovative design solutions. With expertise in commercial and residential architecture, we deliver cost-effective, sustainable leisure facilities and masterplans that create social value. Our team combines academic research with industry strategies to address environmental and educational challenges, offering strategic consultancy, project management, and interior design services. We have extensive experience renovating historic buildings, including The Roundhouse Theatre and Heals Estate offices, and prioritise climate resilience, modular systems, and whole-ecosystem integration.Our approach embeds risk mitigation from concept stage, ensuring control over planning, cost, and delivery while achieving EPC ratings of B or better. We collaborate with leading engineers to leverage British engineering excellence and align our work with UN Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 11 through architectural education initiatives.
Services
Commercial Architecture
Residential Architecture
Basement Design
Sustainable Design
Project Management
Details
- Year established: 2002
Highlights and features
- We embed climate and flood risk mitigation at concept stage
- We ensure engineering and contractor input during early project phases
- We integrate modular construction thinking from project inception
- We hold deep expertise in listed building consent processes
- We apply whole-system thinking across mobility, energy, and ecosystems
What people say
Exceptional project management
Expertise in listed buildings
Sustainable design solutions
Reliable and knowledgeable
Stress-free building process
Services
Commercial Architecture
We specialise in commercial architecture projects including sports facilities, hospitality sector developments, and adaptive building reuse. Our expertise extends to large-scale projects like the London 2012 Olympic Games' BMW Pavilion and Masdar Institute fit-outs. We focus on improving energy efficiency through retrofitting while maintaining structural integrity and compliance with planning regulations.
Residential Architecture
Our residential architecture services cover new builds, renovations, and conversions including listed buildings and basement developments. We've completed projects ranging from single-family homes to apartment complexes, prioritising natural light integration, space optimisation, and heritage preservation while achieving planning permissions in sensitive areas.
Basement Design
We have extensive experience designing and securing planning permissions for basements across London. Our approach focuses on natural light integration, ventilation strategies, and waterproofing solutions. We manage technical challenges including party wall agreements, drainage considerations, and structural stability while maximising property value through strategic design.
Sustainable Design
Our sustainable design practice incorporates net-zero carbon strategies, mass timber construction, and energy-efficient systems. We implement SPECS methodology for repeatable sustainability principles, focusing on orientation optimisation, thermal performance, and embodied carbon reduction while ensuring compliance with evolving environmental regulations.
Project Management
We provide comprehensive project management from feasibility studies through construction. Our services include risk mitigation, contractor coordination, and regulatory compliance. We've successfully managed complex projects like The Roundhouse Theatre renovation and large-scale residential developments, ensuring timely delivery within budget parameters.
People
Graham Ford
Director
Graham Ford founded the practice after completing a PhD in sustainable architecture. With experience from Wilkinson Eyre Architects and John McAslan & Partners, he specialises in listed building consent and sustainable masterplanning. He led projects including The Roundhouse Theatre renovation and London Olympic facilities.
Simona Roggero
Associate
Simona Roggero works on residential and commercial projects with a focus on technical design and planning applications. She collaborates on heritage projects and sustainable developments, bringing expertise in construction detailing and regulatory compliance to the practice.
Questions
What areas do Graham Ford Architects cover?
We primarily operate across London and the South East, with specific expertise in conservation areas and green belt zones.
Can you help with listed building consent?
Yes, we specialise in listed building consent having worked on projects including The Roundhouse Theatre and Heals Estate offices.
Do you handle both commercial and residential projects?
We offer services for both sectors, including sports facilities, educational institutions, and private residential developments.
How do you approach sustainability?
We integrate sustainability from concept stage using SPECS methodology, mass timber, and energy-efficient systems to achieve net-zero goals.
What project management services do you offer?
We provide full-cycle project management including feasibility studies, contractor coordination, and regulatory compliance oversight.
