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What is 1 Architects?
1 Architects is an architecture practice that has shifted its focus away from private commissions and now works entirely on property development ventures. According to its own site, it is no longer taking on private architectural commissions and is instead interested in hearing from developers or investors, including those open to joint ventures.
That distinction matters if you are deciding whether to contact them. A homeowner looking for a bespoke house extension or renovation is not the audience they now serve. A developer, investor or landowner exploring a joint venture is. The practical next step is to approach them with a development proposition rather than a private brief: site location, scale, planning context and the commercial structure you have in mind.
For broader context on how architecture practices present themselves and their project types, see Royal Institute of British Architects and RIBA.
Is 1 Architects still accepting private architectural commissions?
No. According to the notice on 1 Architects, the practice has stopped taking on private architectural commissions and now focuses entirely on property development ventures. The same notice says it remains open to hearing from developers and investors, including those interested in joint ventures.
What this means in practice
- If you are a homeowner or private client looking for an architect, this firm is not a viable route — you would need to look elsewhere rather than wait for availability.
- If you are a developer or investor, the stated interest is in development and joint-venture conversations, not in being hired for a private residential commission.
- If you have an existing relationship with the practice, the notice says contact details are unchanged, so prior contacts remain the right channel.
Next step: decide which category you fall into. Private clients should shortlist other practices now; developers and investors can make contact using the existing details and lead with the specific site, funding position and proposed structure of the venture.
How can developers or investors contact 1 Architects about joint ventures?
Use the contact details already published on 1 Architects — the practice states they are unchanged. Their site says they now focus entirely on property development and joint ventures, and that they want to hear from developers or investors, so that is the right channel rather than a private commission enquiry.
A practical first approach:
- Open the site's contact page or footer and use the phone number or email listed there.
- Write a short subject line such as "Joint venture enquiry — [site or asset]" so it routes correctly.
- In two or three sentences, state the asset or site, your role (developer, investor, landowner), the stage you are at, and what you are proposing.
- Attach or link only what is needed for a first read: location, size, planning status, and your intended structure.
If you are unsure whether your proposal fits, test it against their stated focus: development ventures and joint ventures, not private architectural commissions. A landowner seeking a one-off house design is likely in the wrong queue; a developer or investor proposing a shared development project is in the right one.
What types of property development ventures does 1 Architects focus on?
The site does not name specific property development types. Its own wording says the practice is "entirely focused on property development ventures" and is "always interested to hear from developers or investors, including those who wish to undertake joint ventures." No further categories, sectors or project scales are listed on the page.
What this means in practice
- Developers and investors are the audiences the firm now invites to make contact.
- Joint ventures are the one form of collaboration explicitly mentioned.
- Private architectural commissions are closed: the practice states it is no longer taking them on.
How to use this
If you are a developer or investor, treat the site as an invitation to open a conversation rather than a services list. Lead with the site or asset, the stage you are at, the capital structure you have in mind, and whether you are proposing a joint venture or a straightforward appointment. Ask directly which development types the practice is currently pursuing and how it prefers to structure joint ventures.
If you are a private homeowner, this practice is not the right route; look for architects still accepting residential commissions. For background on how joint ventures between landowners and developers are usually structured, GOV.UK publishes guidance on land and property partnerships, and RIBA explains how architectural practices are appointed.
What should existing clients of 1 Architects do if they have ongoing project inquiries?
Existing clients with ongoing project inquiries should contact 1 Architects directly, since the practice states its contact details are unchanged. Be prepared for a different kind of reply than in the past: the firm says it is now entirely focused on property development ventures and is no longer taking on private architectural commissions. That means an existing residential or private commission is unlikely to be resumed or extended, even if you have a long-standing relationship with the practice.
What to expect and how to prepare
- Ask for a clear status answer. If you have drawings, planning submissions or site work already underway, request written confirmation of whether the practice will complete any remaining obligations or hand over its files.
- Request your project records. Drawings, planning correspondence and consultant details are useful to any architect who takes over. Ask what format they can be provided in and whether any fees remain outstanding.
- Line up a replacement practice early. Private commissions are typically taken on by smaller local practices or sole practitioners. Look for one with recent experience in your building type and planning authority area.
- Consider the developer route only if it fits. 1 Architects says it remains interested in hearing from developers and investors, including joint ventures. If your project is large enough to interest a development partner, that may be a route worth exploring, but it is a different commercial arrangement from a client commission.
A practical next step
Write a short email that states your project address, the current stage, and exactly what you need confirmed. Ask for a response by a specific date so you can plan. If the practice cannot continue, treat the handover as a mini-project in itself: gather your documents, agree any outstanding fees, and interview two or three replacement architects before appointing one.
For context on how practices present their services and current focus, it can help to compare a few official sites before making calls, such as RIBA for finding chartered practices and Royal Academy of Arts for wider architectural context. The key decision criterion is simple: choose a practice that confirms in writing it can take on your project at its current stage, rather than one that only expresses general interest.
Does 1 Architects collaborate with developers on joint venture projects?
Yes. 1 Architects states on its site that it is "always interested to hear from developers or investors, including those who wish to undertake joint ventures." The same page notes the practice has stopped taking private architectural commissions and is now focused entirely on property development ventures, so developer-side collaboration is the work it currently wants.
What that means in practice
The relevant audience is developers, investors and joint-venture partners rather than homeowners or private clients seeking a bespoke house design. If you are a developer with a site, a capital partner looking for a delivery team, or an investor exploring a shared-risk structure, the practice is signalling that this is the conversation it will take.
The trade-off is focus: a firm that has moved fully into development ventures may bring commercial and delivery judgement to a project, but it is not positioned as a conventional design consultancy you can hire for a one-off commission. Joint ventures also tend to be structured around shared returns and long-term involvement, not fixed design fees, so the fit depends on whether you want a partner with skin in the game or simply an architect on a fee.
Next step
Before reaching out, decide which side of that line you sit on. If you have a site plus capital and want a development partner, lead with the location, scale and your proposed structure. If you only need drawings and planning support, this is likely the wrong practice, and a studio still taking private commissions would serve you better. Contact details on the site are unchanged, so the existing channels remain the way in.
For general context on how architect-developer ventures are usually framed, see RIBA and RIBA.
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