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Ström Architects is a contemporary international architecture practice. We specialise in unique modern homes, and high-end developer lead schemes.

The practice was founded in 2010, and since then has grown in size and in reputation: we have been recognised through various awards - both nationally and internationally.

We have a lot of passion for what we do. We offer a personal service to our clients, and have rigorous systems for the delivery of projects. We take pride in the positive, lasting relationships that we create.

At Ström Architects we operate an efficient team of staff. We offer a range of skills and experience in different areas, and we work to ensure the most appropriate mix of resourcing is assigned to each project.

We strive to achieve both efficiency and consistency in how we staff projects - this gives our clients confidence in a stable team structure, and fosters a successful professional partnership.

Our non-hierarchical open-plan studio and the white painted brick interior has a relaxed Scandinavian vibe about it. We take pride in our office and how it creates a comfortable work environment.

Once a month we all sit down to eat lunch together, and enjoy a more informal lunchtime chat. We also regularly host “Fika” - building on the Swedish tradition of making time to share a cup of coffee and a bite to eat with colleagues. At these Fika sessions we have a brief presentation by one of our team or external guests – very much like a ‘show and tell’ – about something that inspires us. This approach is not only healthy for office morale, but to our design skills. By sharing ideas and our interests, we ensure that we remain educated, engaged and invigorated – and we believe that this is reflected in our work.

We love where we work with both the New Forest and the Solent on our doorstep. The connection to nature is important in our work, and we practice what we preach.

 

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Director


Managing Director


Associate Director


Associate Director


Associate


Senior Architect


Senior Architect


Project Architect


Architectural Assistant


Architectural Assistant

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Magnus Ström BA(Hons) DipArch ARB RIBA SAR/ MSA

Director

Magnus has an avid interest in houses and homes, as well as interior and furniture design. This developed as a child growing up in Sweden being surrounded by - and brought up in - Modernist houses. He was fascinated by their beauty, and how design was part of daily life. When asked as a child what he wanted to be when he grew up, the answer was easy, and always – an architect.

Magnus founded Ström Architects in 2010 and is responsible for developing the vision of the practice and leading the design of projects. He works with a talented team of architects to deliver buildings that improve the life of people, inspire and offer delight. Throughout the project process he is directly involved and is passionate about the detail, ensuring that we deliver buildings where the architectural vision has been carried through to completion.

Magnus enjoys working with clients to create their dreams throughout the UK, but also internationally with houses in Sweden, Spain and the USA. His designs have been recognised by winning both UK and international architecture awards.

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Nicky Jones

Managing Director

A keen interest in architecture and property development drew Nicky to work at Ström Architects; where she could bring her organisational skills to the office. Having lived in much older properties, Nicky is even being teased into ‘the light’ and coming around to the advantages of the bright interiors of Ström design. With three children, 2 dogs and a love of watersports and the forest, the Scandinavian philosophy of clean living seems more and more appealing.

For every creative office there needs to be a ‘Nicky’ who organises the wheels so they run smoothly and keep them doing so! Nicky's time is dedicated to ensuring the business and studio thrives allowing Magnus and the team to focus on design and delivery.

 

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Emma Ward-Lambert BSc MArch, ARB

Associate Director

Emma was born and raised in Hong Kong, where all too often buildings would strive for simply an impressive façade – achieving a superficial impact without considering their inhabitants. Pushing against this, Emma’s interest in architecture lies in how clients use space, how the built environment can impact their behaviour or mood, and to what extent the homes we design reflect their everyday life.

Coming from a long line of engineers, but with a love of nature and sustainability, Emma is trapped between pragmatism and idealism. Thankfully this combines well within the practice: she relishes her role as champion of all things ‘green’ (including her vegan cakes which the rest of the Ström team are happy to devour), whilst also being a keen nit-picker when beautiful ideas aren’t buildable or are impractical to live with.

When she’s not busy at work, Emma can be found cooking up a storm in the kitchen, lifting weights at the gym, or dragging her dog and family out for walks around Lymington.

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Hugh Richardson BA (Hons) DipArch ARB

Associate Director

Hugh’s route into Architecture was through art college where a foundation course in fine art, sculpture, and graphic design triggered an interest in Architecture as both a profession and an art form.  

Having studied Architecture at Portsmouth, where he met Magnus, Hugh moved to London to begin his career at Wilkinson Eyre Architects. This was an exciting time which saw the office win two Stirling Prize Awards. 

During this time Hugh gained invaluable experience working on the redevelopment of the Museum of London and City and Islington College. Applying this experience to a masters in professional practice Hugh qualified as an architect in 2003.

Feeling a pull towards the coast Hugh accepted a job at John Pardey Architects (JPA) where he worked with Magnus on private houses and educational projects. While at JPA Hugh valued his role in the Building Schools for the Future programme where he worked with the late Sir Colin Stansfield Smith and HKR Architects in the redevelopment of the Eveline Lowe Primary School in Bermondsey. 

Hugh’s work in education continued during his time at Design Engine Architects where he worked as project architect for the new Les Beaucamps High School in Guernsey.

In 2018 Hugh joined Ström Architects where he oversees production information across the whole office, bringing his experience of delivering high quality complex architecture to the practice of crafting bespoke homes.

James Chapman

James Chapman BA (Hons) PG Dip Arch ARB

Associate

James came to study architecture through his love of hand-drawing and sketching. He has always been a dreamer and enjoys nothing better than imagining the perfect home, using drawings to explore all possible solutions.

During his formal education, the process of design fuelled his passion for art and contemporary culture which has informed his interest in design. James’s appreciation for domestic architecture was encouraged by a particularly enthusiastic professor who had an interest in Modern Scandinavian houses. The Villa Mairea by Alvar Aalto was an early inspiration for James, with its use of natural materials and the continuity between inside and outside spaces. This seed has grown, and whilst James has worked for numerous design-led studios on projects of various sizes, joining Ström Architects has allowed him to pursue his enthusiasm for bespoke houses – creating crafted spaces utilising beautiful natural materials.

As a project architect, James enjoys working alongside Magnus and the team to bring designs from the drawing board to their reality on site. He delights in the process of architecture, and the creative, collaborative relationships with clients and building specialists.

Adam Lansdown Bridge

Adam Lansdown-Bridge BA (Hons) PG Dip Arch

Senior Architect

Catching the architectural bug at an early age with his bus-pass toting grandmother, Adam travelled across all the cathedrals of southern England, drawn to the drama and delight architecture can imbue.

From the initial sketching at project inception, crystallising people’s dreams and ambitions into a tangible scheme, to tackling the reality and unexpected challenges of realisation through construction, Adam relishes problem solving and the continual learning process of practising architecture.

An avid lover of exploring new places, good food and a punishing workout he’s oft found maxing out his National Trust and Historic England passes (and their tearooms).

Adam joined Ström Architects as a Senior Architect in 2020 having worked in London and Hampshire on award winning educational and residential projects.

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Clodagh Somers BSc MArch PG Dip Arch ARB

Senior Architect

As you can guess from the extra letters in her name, Clodagh is Irish. She comes from a family of engineers but wanted to follow a more creative and artistic endeavour which lead her to studying Architecture at University College Dublin. She grew up and studied Architecture in Dublin, Ireland and worked in multiple practices in Dublin before moving to London. By this point she had decided that the scale of residential design was where she enjoys working.

During her time in London she worked on a variety of private homes across the city and the South West and qualified as an Architect in 2018. She loves working with home owners to design their dream homes, exceeding their expectations whilst also challenging clients’ assumptions of how they want to live.

In 2022 Clodagh moved south to join Ström as a Senior Architect to continue working on bespoke one off homes, and gain further experience with international work, whilst also gaining greater access to the outdoors of the New Forest and English Channel.

When not in the office she can be found on the water, with a wealth of experience sailing in the Irish Sea, Mediterranean and Caribbean, she’s very much at home on anything that floats.

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Mark Turner BA (Hons) PG Dip Arch

Project Architect

Mark’s enthusiasm for architecture started at a young age with a constant desire to build, using anything and everything to construct complex models and a constant wish list for the latest Lego. This has evolved through his studies and career in architecture to focus on residential projects, with a desire to create amazing spaces that utilise natural materials and light. 

His university work was shortlisted for a President’s Silver Medal award, the highest accolade for UK students of architecture, and focused on the gentrification of a failing northern town using a kit of reusable parts to create personalised architectural solutions. 

Professionally, Mark has worked on many large scale, award-winning residential projects around the UK. Mark joined Ström in 2021 to pursue more tailored housing projects with a greater emphasis on materials and refined spaces with beautiful end results for the owners.

During his spare time, Mark can be found outside swimming, running, or cycling, no matter the weather. With a few marathons under his belt, he is still hopeful for entry into the London Marathon. Fingers crossed! 

John Pardey Architects in Association with Strom Architects

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Helena Crespo MA Arch Madrid

Architectural Assistant

Born and raised in Spain, and with Taiwanese roots, Helena has travelled the world since her childhood. Seeing how different cultures build such different houses depending on the context they live in, has given her a broad view of possibilities in architecture. Throughout the years, she has developed a special interest for both Japanese and Nordic architecture. Their simplicity and use of natural materials are two main pillars in her inspiration for architectural design.

After graduating from the School of Architecture of Madrid, she worked for an architectural practice based near the Madrid mountains. She was involved in different stages of architectural projects and visualization, as well as interior design for high end residential projects. Her interest for designing bespoke houses that meet specific needs of the people that will inhabit them is what brought her to Ström in 2022.

Helena is also our in-house photographer. She has an international architectural photography portfolio. Before joining us, she got to shoot for clients in Spain and in Iceland, where she has lived for several months, further developing her love for modern Nordic architecture.

In her free time, as a natural adventurer, Helena loves being outdoors with her camera, exploring the natural environment wherever she goes. Observing the world through her camera has an important influence on how she approaches architecture.

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Lauren Swift BA Hons Arch

Architectural Assistant

Lauren decided on pursuing a career in architecture whilst working in her Foundation year at Arts University Bournemouth. She always loved building with Lego and drawing as a child, so she thought ‘why not make a career out of it!’

As an undergrad student Lauren focussed on sustainability and environmentally conscious design which is a mindset she continues to work with. She is most interested in how our buildings can respond to the climate emergency - now more than ever. 

Having completed her Architecture undergrad and first year in practice, she is now continuing her studies to becoming fully qualified as an apprentice in practice with Oxford Brookes  – and making great waves as the first Ström Apprentice!

1. We get to know our clients

Each of our clients have their own dreams and drivers behind their project. To develop the brief, we don’t just have to listen to our clients, we have to understand them. This understanding forms the foundations for a successful project.

2. We tell our clients’ story through design

Our understanding allows us to be in tune with our clients’ dreams. Design is the narrative that tells their story, and reflects their personality.

3. We take away worry and risk

Embarking on a bespoke one-off house invariably has elements of worry and risk. Through experience we know the typical risks, and identify project specific ones early on in our involvement.

We have an excellent planning record and we work collaboratively with the local Planning Authority, encouraging them to take ownership of the project with a design that becomes a local exemplar.

We produce extremely thorough Technical Design documents; this process ensures that all decisions are made up front, rather than forcing hasty decisions on site. Through careful planning we guide you through the project to ensure that the decision-making process doesn’t become overwhelming. We remain closely involved during the construction stage, with inspections to ensure the quality is in line with the Contract Documents and the best outcome is achieved.

We will always be straight with you regarding cost. We have a good understanding of the costs involved in building a bespoke house, and we work with an experienced cost consultant with whom we have done numerous projects. We keep an eye on cost throughout the whole process. Detailed cost information at an early stage ensures that you - as well as the project team - understand the cost constraints to ensure the viability of the project. We believe that it is irresponsible to promise you the world, with a budget and design that are out of sync.

4. We offer intangible qualities in our buildings such as reprieve in a stressful world

We bring value to you that goes beyond simply owning a high quality contemporary house. We create places where memories are made, that nurture relationships and that bring joy. Our designs connect with nature and offer intangible qualities – such as reprieve from a busy world, or a feeling of being ‘home’.

5. We love what we do, we’re good at it, and we deliver it

As architecture goes, the one-off house is the most rewarding building we can work on. We love the direct relationship between our clients and the houses we design. What we love even more, is how we are able to transform the way clients live, and the difference we can make to the quality of their lives.

The relationship between architect and client is extremely important, and we place great significance on rapport and engaging on a personal level.

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Whilst we would love to be able to work project of all sizes and budgets, our size and operating costs unfortunately dictate that we cannot realistically undertake projects with a construction cost under £500,000. It is important that we are open and honest with clients from the outset, and we hope that you understand our constraints.

It is hard to give generic advice on what a new build one-off contemporary house will cost to build as there are many variables affecting this. We would typically advise that one of our house designs starts at around £3,500/ m2, but can quickly go north, depending on the site, location, design, specification, and what one actually includes in this cost. We would also advise that you may want to consider an allowance for fit-out (built-in furniture, curtains and blinds, loose furniture etc.) and landscaping.

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Our fees vary depending on the size of project, complexity, and our offered scope of work. Typical fees range from 8-15% of build cost.

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  • We get to know our clients to understand and develop briefs
  • We tell our clients’ stories through design
  • We take away worry and risk
  • We offer intangible qualities in our architecture such as reprieve in a stressful world
  • We love what we do, we’re good at it, and we deliver it

We work in the UK and internationally. We love to work in all different environments, and do not see location as a restriction on where we work.

It depends! We have delivered projects from first client contact to handover in less than two years, which is quick for a highly bespoke one-off house. We can normally deliver a design up to and including planning consent in 6-9 months. To complete Technical Design and tender the building/ choose contractors typically takes 6 months. The construction period is around 20-24 months. We produce a programme at the start of the project and continually update this throughout the process.

We provide full architectural services from inception to completion. Our services are offered at three different levels; Good, Better and Best. All levels provide the same design quality and scope of work up to an including Planning Consent. For Technical Design our service structure offers flexibility for our clients. ‘Good’ offers Full Technical Design, Procurement and on-site services ‘Better’ is the same as above, but we do detailed drawings and specification of kitchen and bathrooms etc. ‘Best’ offer all of the above, plus interior design, bespoke joinery design, selection of furniture, a physical model as well as photo-realistic computer generated images.

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Most clients come to us when they already have a site. The majority of our projects are on sites where we are demolishing an existing house. In many ways, this makes life easier, as the principle of development is already established. There are also websites such as www.plotfinder.net , and there are land agents and individuals who specialise in sourcing land and property suitable for development.
It may sound obvious, but choose an architect whose work you admire. Don’t just assume that a local architect will do a better job because they have local contacts. Secondly, go and visit your architects’ office and meet with them to discuss your project and your aspirations, and listen to how they propose to guide you through the process and deliver your home from start to finish. Finally, choose an architect/ team that you like and have good rapport with! You will work closely with your architect over a long period of time and it is important that you share the same aspirations for the project and get on as human beings!

Sustainability

We don’t claim to be ‘eco-architects’, as we don’t believe that such a thing should exist. All designers have a responsibility to consider the environmental impact that their designs have – whether that be during construction, during the building’s lifetime or at the end of its lifespan. Sustainability is inherently part of our design process. We integrate it without fuss – rather than allow it to be a primary driver of the design.

We start with passive ways in which our designs can be more environmentally conscious, before looking to renewables. These technologies have their place, but it is essential to get the basics right first.

We use an energy hierarchy as an effective way of reducing building carbon emissions:

  • Be mean: reduce the demand for materials, energy, water and other resources
  • Be lean: ensure that materials and systems are used responsibly and efficiently
  • Be green: supply any remaining energy requirements from renewable sources

These considerations are second-nature to us, allowing the first principles of sustainability to be immediately integrated into the basic design. We can then look at introducing technologies to boost a building’s credentials.

The desire for a certain level of sustainability can be assessed early-on during the briefing stage, so that the client’s aims can be integrated in the most appropriate way.

To assist us, we often work with Sustainability Consultants to evaluate options and help develop proposals to suit each project.