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.
EP 023815 May 2025 · 58 min
Why Most Architects Shouldn’t Be Developers (But Some Should) ft. Ben Richards
YouTube · 57:37Audio only · Transistor00:00 · Welcome to the livestream special17 chapters ↓
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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.
Stephen Drew speaks with Ben Richards about moving from architecture into property development, building multiple businesses and what designers should understand before assuming development is the obvious next step.
The conversation covers:
Why most architects should be cautious about becoming developers
How Ben built businesses across architecture, property and surveying
What social housing, HMOs and permitted development can teach practices
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Transcript
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Opening of the conversation
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- · Stephen Drew
Stephen Drew
Hello everyone and welcome to this live stream special. That's right. You've got nothing to do. I know you're knocking down the pub. We're all wasting time until Christmas, except my team. If you're watching this live stream, I want you back at work. I'm only joking. On that note though, before we all get drunk, before you get tipsy down the pub, we have got an interesting live stream special here.
- · Stephen Drew
Stephen Drew
So if you are an architectural professional and you thought I can build a building. I should be doing it myself. I want to learn all about development.
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Practice
Aura Architecture & Interiors
5 projects on Architecture Social.
Open Aura Architecture & Interiors →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.
EP 0257 · 84 minHe Started His Own Architecture Practice at 29Alex Sutton
EP 0256 · 52 minWhy Architects Have Zero Power in the UK Right NowJay Morton
EP 0254 · 78 minRunning an Architecture Practice Isn't What You ThinkTim O'Callaghan
EP 0253 · 73 minHow to Future Proof Your Architecture CareerAmi Nigam
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