OUR PHILOSOPHY

A Vision for Design, A Partnership with You

At Reltic, we believe that great architecture is born from a true partnership between architect and client. As a leading London Architectural Firm, we specialise in creating exemplary homes, viewing each project as a unique opportunity to design something original, beautiful, and enduring. Our approach is deeply personal; we work closely with you to develop a bespoke scheme that is a true reflection of your personality, lifestyle, and design aspirations, all while respecting the agreed budget. Our passionate design team is committed to uncovering the full potential of your brief and your property, transforming your home with innovative, carefully crafted solutions.

Our expertise as Residential Architects London covers a wide spectrum of projects, from complex subterranean developments to intricate extensions of listed buildings. We understand that a home is the most significant investment most people will ever make, which is why our Bespoke Architectural Services are founded on principles of clarity, collaboration, and meticulous attention to detail. We are dedicated to creating spaces that are not just aesthetically stunning but also functional, sustainable, and a joy to live in for many years to come.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES

Expert Guidance Through Design & Approvals

Our service translates your vision into a detailed and fully compliant plan, handling all aspects of design and navigating the complexities of council approvals.

01

PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT

We explore the fastest route to build, using your rights to streamline the approval process.
02

BUILDING REGULATIONS

We engineer the technical details to guarantee your home is safe, efficient, and built to last.
03

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

We navigate the complexities of council approvals, ensuring your vision becomes an approved reality.
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Residential Architectural Design Services
DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Our Design Philosophy in Detail

Our work is guided by a core set of design principles that ensure every project we undertake is thoughtful, innovative, and perfectly tailored to our clients.

A Focus on Light and Space

  • We believe light is one of the most powerful tools in architecture. Our designs prioritise the maximisation of natural light, using clever glazing strategies, light wells, and open-plan layouts to create bright, airy interiors that promote a sense of wellbeing. We sculpt space to create flow and a seamless connection between inside and out, enhancing how you experience your home throughout the day and the changing seasons.

Sustainable & Future-Proof Design

  • As part of our commitment to responsible architecture, we integrate principles of Sustainable Home Design into our projects. This goes beyond simply meeting regulations; it's about creating energy-efficient homes that are cheaper to run and have a lower environmental impact. We advise on high-performance insulation, efficient heating systems, and the use of sustainable or recycled materials where appropriate, ensuring your home is built for the future.

Bespoke and Client-Centric

  • There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution in great architecture. Every one of our projects is entirely bespoke. Our service begins with listening. We dedicate time to understanding your family's needs, your daily routines, and your personal style. This client-centric approach ensures the final design is not an imposition of our style, but a reflection of yours, elevated by our expertise. This is the core of our Bespoke Architectural Services.
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THE DESIGN & BUILD ADVANTAGE

Designing with Buildability at Our Core

Our integrated Design and Build London model ensures every architectural plan is not only inspirational but also practical, robust, and financially viable from the outset.

At Reltic, our architectural and construction teams work hand-in-hand from day one. This gives us a crucial advantage that sets us apart from a traditional London Architectural Firm: every design concept is assessed in real-time for its “buildability” and cost-effectiveness, informed by live data from our active construction projects. While many can design a dream on paper, we engineer dreams that can be built beautifully, efficiently, and on budget. This synergy eliminates the common disconnect between the architect’s vision and the builder’s reality, preventing costly redesigns and delays.

Our methodology involves making all critical design, specification, and finishing decisions with you before construction begins. This detailed pre-construction planning phase means that when we provide a build cost, it is accurate and comprehensive. It de-risks the entire project, allowing us to work with a minimal contingency and giving you financial certainty. This integrated approach is the most effective way to deliver high-quality Contemporary Home Design in a complex market like London.

OUR EXPERTISE

Specialist Expertise for Every London Home

Our architectural expertise covers the full spectrum of residential projects, with dedicated experience in the unique challenges and opportunities of London properties.

House Extension Architects

As specialist House Extension Architects, we design additions that seamlessly blend with the character of your home while introducing modern functionality and light. We are adept at creating elegant glass box extensions, sympathetic brick additions, and truly innovative solutions for listed buildings and all conservation areas.

The Velux (Rooflight) Conversion
Loft Design Specialists

Our Loft Design Specialists see the hidden potential in every attic space. We design intelligent conversions that maximise every centimetre, focusing on clever storage for eaves, optimal staircase placement for a natural flow, and creative glazing solutions to transform a dusty, unused loft into a stunning and light-filled new living area that feels truly integrated.

The Hip-to-Gable Conversion
Basement Design London

Subterranean architecture is a highly specialised field. Our expertise in Basement Design London covers all aspects from initial structural engineering and complex waterproofing design to creating innovative light wells and courtyards. This ensures your new lower ground floor is as bright, warm, and welcoming as the rest of your home.

The Mansard Loft Conversion
High-End Refurbishment

We specialise in the full-scale, High-End Refurbishment of properties. This service focuses on transforming the existing fabric of your home by reconfiguring layouts to enhance flow. We meticulously restore key period features while integrating state-of-the-art systems to deliver a finish that redefines luxury within the home’s original footprint.

YOUR PROJECT JOURNEY

Our Collaborative Design Process

We follow a clear, RIBA-based staged process that ensures transparency, collaboration, and client control at every milestone of the project’s journey.

Stage 1

Briefing & Site Survey

Our journey begins by listening. This foundational stage is dedicated to understanding your vision, practical requirements, budget, and priorities. A well-defined brief is the cornerstone of a successful project. Following an initial site visit, our team conducts a full, precise measured survey of the property using advanced tools. We then prepare a detailed proposal outlining our design fees and an initial high-level cost estimate for the project, ensuring absolute clarity from the outset.

  • Deliverable: RIBA Stage 0 & 1
  • Timeline: Approx. 2 Weeks
Stage 2

Concept Design & Visualisation

This is an exciting and highly collaborative stage where we translate the brief into an optimal design solution. We explore various layouts and architectural approaches to find the one that best suits your needs. We provide a full architectural CAD drawing service, supplemented with 3D visuals ranging from simple massing models to photorealistic CGIs. This helps you fully immerse yourself in and understand the scale, flow, and feel of the proposed scheme before committing further.

  • Deliverable: RIBA Stage 2
  • Timeline: Approx. 4–6 Weeks
Stage 3

Planning & Design Development

With the core concept approved, our RIBA Architects London develop the design with greater detail and prepare all necessary Architectural Drawings for Planning. We then submit the relevant planning applications on your behalf, whether for Permitted Development or Full Planning Permission. We manage the entire process with the local authority, leveraging our extensive experience with complex London planning policies to achieve a successful outcome. During this stage, we also assemble and coordinate the team of required consultants (such as structural engineers) to ensure a cohesive and efficient design development process.

  • Deliverable: RIBA Stage 3
  • Timeline: Approx. 10 Weeks
Stage 4

Technical Design & Tender Pack

This vital pre-construction phase is where the approved design is translated into a detailed set of technical instructions for the construction team. We produce a comprehensive package of drawings and specifications that cover every aspect of the build, from foundation details to window specifications. This “construction pack” ensures every detail is resolved before work begins, which is crucial for accurate pricing and a smooth build. Once complete, we issue this pack for a finalised and fixed-price tender.

  • Deliverable: RIBA Stage 4
  • Timeline: Approx. 6–8 Weeks
SERVICES & FEES

A Transparent Approach to Fees

We believe in clear, competitive pricing with no hidden costs. Our staged fee structure is designed to give you complete financial clarity and control throughout the design process.

Our architectural design fees are structured into set stages aligned with the RIBA plan of work, each with clear deliverables and a fixed fee. This means you know the full extent of our design fees from the very beginning but commit only on a stage-by-stage basis, giving you a safe and manageable way to proceed. This transparent model stands in contrast to the ambiguous percentage-based fees charged by many firms.

When you engage Reltic for our full Design and Build London service, all subsequent construction-phase project management is included within the build price, making our integrated route a highly cost-effective and streamlined alternative to a traditional architect-contractor model. Our goal is to provide exceptional value and a Luxury House Design UK service that is accessible and clear.

See your home in 3D before we build

Before any design or construction work begins, we start with a detailed digital survey of your property. Using advanced scanning tools, we capture accurate measurements and convert them into a precise 3D model – known as Scan to BIM.

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This process allows you to

Explore Our Virtual Tours

Our 3D scanning technology doesn’t just support design and construction – it also creates stunning virtual tours. Whether you’re planning, promoting or presenting a space, we deliver high-resolution digital walkthroughs straight from the same scan used for your BIM model.

Reltic -Explore Our Virtual Tours
RESTAURANTS
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HOTELS

Your Questions Answered

Find clear answers to common questions about our process, fees, and our client-focused approach to architectural design.

We don't adhere to a single, fixed house style. Instead, our philosophy is that the architecture should be a direct reflection of you. Our Bespoke Architectural Services focus on creating timeless, functional, and light-filled spaces that respond to your lifestyle and the character of your property. Whether it's ultra-modern or a sensitive contemporary addition to a period home, our style is defined by quality, clarity, and intelligent design.

No, and this is a major benefit for you. Our fees are fixed on a per-stage basis, aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work. You know the full cost of our design service from day one, and it does not change if the build cost increases. This transparent approach avoids the conflict of interest inherent in percentage-based fees and gives you complete clarity.

This is a significant budget that allows for a fantastic transformation of your home. Typically, this range covers a high-quality House Extension (e.g., a single-storey rear or side-return), a complex Loft Conversion (e.g., a dormer or hip-to-gable with a luxury en-suite), or a full Basement Renovation of an existing cellar. The final scope depends on the size, complexity, and level of interior finish, and our initial design phase will give you a precise understanding of what is possible.

We believe the most successful projects are designed holistically, where architecture and interiors are considered as one. The benefit of our approach is a completely cohesive home. We ensure that the architectural flow is complemented by the interior layout, that lighting design enhances the space, and that material choices create a harmonious palette. This integrated thinking prevents a disjointed feel and results in a more resolved and beautiful home.

This is the core strength of our Design and Build London model. The great benefit for you is that our architects' creativity is always grounded in real-world buildability and cost-effectiveness. Our in-house construction team provides constant feedback during the design process, ensuring every detail is not only beautiful and innovative but also structurally sound and financially viable. This eliminates the risk of designing something that is later found to be impractical or over budget.

These are two separate legal requirements. Planning Permission, managed through our Architectural Drawings for Planning, relates to the appearance of the building, its size, and its impact on the local area and neighbours. Building Regulations, on the other hand, relate to the technical construction of the building, ensuring it is safe, structurally sound, and energy efficient. We manage both approval processes on your behalf.

The pre-construction design phase, from the initial brief to having a full technical package ready for construction, typically takes between 5 to 7 months. This includes the statutory 8-10 week period that the local council requires for a planning decision. We provide a detailed programme at the start of the project so you have a clear timeline.

LET’S DISCUSS NEXT PROJECTS

The journey to a beautifully designed home begins here. Please use the form below to share some initial thoughts about your project. Details about your property, your lifestyle, and your architectural aspirations will help us prepare for our first conversation.

The more detail you can provide, the more productive our initial, no-obligation conversation will be. A member of our RIBA-accredited architectural team will be in touch within one working day to schedule your complimentary design consultation.

    Reltic is a design and build studio creating smart, beautifully crafted homes.

    Contact Info

    020 3576 2851

    office@reltic.co

    Office Address

    4th Floor, Silverstream House, 45 Fitzroy St, London W1T 6EB

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