People · Podcast guest
Ben Richards
Director · Aura Architecture & Interiors
Founder of Aura Architecture & Interiors, XP Property and XP Surveys. Architectural engineer turned property developer and entrepreneur.
- Current role
- Director
- Practice
- Aura Architecture & Interiors
- Location
- London, UK
- On the podcast
- 1 episode · 2025
The story so far
The path behind Ben's 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.
Episode 0238 · Architecture Social · 57:37
Why Most Architects Shouldn’t Be Developers (But Some Should) ft. Ben Richards
Some architects look at development and see freedom, profit and control. The reality is harder: risk, finance, planning, hiring, cash flow and commercial decisions that do not wait for perfect design.
Inside the conversation
6 moments to start with- 01
00:00 · Welcome to the livestream special
- 02
01:25 · Meet Ben Richards
- 03
03:20 · Building a business and managing growth
- 04
04:47 · Delegation and team building
- 05
06:52 · Recruitment and HR challenges
- 06
09:11 · The realities of property development
Profile in brief
The work and context behind Ben's conversation.
- Current role
- Director
- Practice
- Aura Architecture & Interiors
- Location
- London, UK
Continue exploring
Meet the practice behind the work.
Aura Architecture & Interiors is a London practice founded by Ben Richards, designing residential and conversion projects across London.
- Greater London
- Residential
- Mixed-Use
Podcast · moments that play
Start where the idea starts.
- 01:25Ben Richards · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Meet Ben Richards
- 03:20Ben Richards · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Building a business and managing growth
- 04:47Ben Richards · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Delegation and team building
- 06:52Ben Richards · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Recruitment and HR challenges
- 09:11Ben Richards · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
The realities of property development
- 12:06Ben Richards · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Opportunities and challenges in social housing
Selected work from Aura Architecture & Interiors
Three projects, one connected practice.
A closer look at the practice’s work
St Andrew's Court, Thame
An office-to-flat conversion in Thame adds four mews houses while retaining commercial space.
View project →The Old Maltings, Abingdon
A former malthouse and office in Abingdon becomes 21 flats with two mews houses while retaining historic character.
View project →Norman Park, Bromley
A Bromley whole-house refurbishment combines a rear extension, loft conversion and a more connected family layout.
View project →