People · Podcast guest
Ben Richards
Why Most Architects Shouldn’t Be Developers (But Some Should) ft. Ben Richards
Ben Richards, founder of Aura Architecture & Interiors and XP Property, on going from architect to developer. Hear his Architecture Social episode.
- Current role
- Director
- Practice
- Aura Architecture & Interiors
- Location
- London, UK
Conversation
The thinking behind the work.
Episode 0238 · Architecture Social
Why Most Architects Shouldn’t Be Developers (But Some Should) ft. Ben Richards
Ben Richards gave up the drawing board for the developer’s desk and now he’s got four businesses, millions in property deals, and a lot of stories from the front lines. In this episode, we dig into the nitty-gritty of going from architect to real estate entrepreneur - what actually happens when you swap the studio for the site, the hard truths about making money in property, and how Ben’s managed to build (and survive) a business empire. It’s not all doom and gloom though - we get into opportuni
Explore episode moments
Use the timestamps below to find each moment in the full episode.
Selected work
Selected work.
Thame, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom · 2025
St Andrew's Court, Thame
An office-to-flat conversion in Thame adds four mews houses while retaining commercial space.
Explore the project ↗Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom · 2025
The Old Maltings, Abingdon
A former malthouse and office in Abingdon becomes 21 flats with two mews houses while retaining historic character.
Explore the project ↗Bromley, London, United Kingdom · 2025
Norman Park, Bromley
A Bromley whole-house refurbishment combines a rear extension, loft conversion and a more connected family layout.
Explore the project ↗Other public work
Marlow, Buckinghamshire ↗
A Grade II listed Marlow building and former dance-studio or office space become eight flats.
Whitehorse Stables, Croydon ↗
A Croydon infill scheme combines a Class PA garage conversion with new build, delivering 21 homes and low-energy measures.
About
The story so far.
The person behind the work.
Ben Richards is the founder of Aura Architecture & Interiors, XP Property and XP Surveys. He holds a master's degree in architectural engineering and spent around seven years in the architectural industry, including work at the Berkeley Group on central London schemes, before completing his first property development and moving full time into his own ventures.
Today he splits his time across an architecture and interiors practice, a property development and investment business, a measured building and topographical survey business, and a social housing portfolio. He co-hosts The Property Expert Show podcast and featured on the Architecture Social podcast discussing the move from architecture into development.
The practice
Aura Architecture & Interiors
Aura Architecture & Interiors is a London practice founded by Ben Richards, designing residential and conversion projects across London.
Architecture practice · Greater London
Expertise
What I bring.
- Current role
- Director
- Practice
- Aura Architecture & Interiors
- Location
- London, UK
- On the podcast
- 1 episode · 2025
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