Ben Smith Architecture

Areas of expertise: Residential and leisure, including a pre-designed range

Ben Smith Architecture was founded by Ben Smith in 2013 and has completed over one hundred projects in the residential and leisure sectors. They provide a full range of services and in most cases are the single-point of contact for clients from start to finish. Their focus is on bespoke house commissions, but now offer adaptable pre-designs.

Pre-design helps increase certainty in terms of design, quality, and costs, whilst making services more accessible and scalable. The focus is on creating flexible designs that allow significant customisation whilst retaining their essence and refined detailing.

Ben Smith Architecture offers an alternative way of procuring houses without the time and uncertainty or fees of a bespoke process. The designs become site-specific and contextual with preconceived adaptations to suit a range of climate conditions and client requirements.

2025BSA Mipim Croatia Housejpg — £250k self-build with pool on the Dalmatian coast. The design centres around views, integrates local materials, and utilises sustainable features including rainwater harvesting, solar panels, triple glazing, and air-source

Phone 020 3735 5205

Address 1 Lyric Square, London W6 0NB

Website bensmitharchitecture.com

Instagram @bensmitharch

LinkedIn Ben Smith Architecture

2025BSA Mipim London House 1jpg — Comprehensive refurbishment and extension of a London villa. A new stone colonnade connects and unifies the two ‘wings’ of the house, referencing the rhythm of the historic fenestration

The studio began with the transformation of a neglected 1960s mews house. This project set the tone for the practice, emphasising a reductionist approach to materials and program, tactile finishes, and precise, robust detailing. By often working with existing materials, BSA not only addresses cost and sustainability but also adds depth and character to its designs, particularly in historic settings.

The practice has evolved from extensions and refurbishments in London to new builds in rural and urban contexts and projects across continental Europe. Its portfolio includes private homes, institutional buildings, and hospitality projects, such as a listed multi-unit scheme, offices, and leisure spaces. Despite this breadth, the core focus remains on single-house design—drawing on expertise in repurposing historic architecture to create refined, uncompromising residences in both urban and natural landscape settings.

BSA excels at navigating complex regulatory processes, often serving as a planning consultant from the earliest stages of a project. In the UK, the team leads efforts to secure approvals, including for new-build homes in central London and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), achieving notable successes at appeal. Abroad, in Spain, Switzerland, and Croatia, BSA collaborates with local teams to deliver projects while maintaining a leadership role.

What sets BSA apart is its commitment to owning the entire process. As a multidisciplinary practice, it seamlessly integrates technical, regulatory, and cost-management expertise, making it an effective lead consultant. In some cases, BSA is engaged as a client advisor to manage other architects or provide direction and structure for complex projects.

The studio also offers a collection of adaptable, pre-designed homes as an alternative to bespoke projects. This approach streamlines the design and approval process, combining the efficiency of standardisation with the flexibility of customisation to make high-quality design more accessible.