STUDIO
YARD Architects is an award-winning creative design practice.
We are passionately client focused, specialising in design-led residential architecture from inspirational house extensions to highly successful multi-unit developments. We work closely with our clients to deliver exceptional contextually driven work, tailored to the needs and aspirations of the people who commission us.
As a RIBA chartered practice, we offer a tailored service through all work stages from briefing and concept design through to handing over the keys at completion. One of our directors leads every project in the office, working collaboratively with the client and project team to successfully deliver each scheme. Our ethos is to create intelligent and practical spaces with an emphasis on craftsmanship, quality of light and a sense of timelessness, and we aim to make the journey of creating a piece of architecture an enjoyable one.
Our design process starts by interrogating the brief and establishing from the outset exactly what it is our clients are looking for. We then work through an in-depth exploration of design possibilities, utilising model-making, drawings, and visualisations to develop the scope and design, before producing detailed technical packages and specifications for pricing and construction. We can oversee and manage our schemes on site to help the client successfully manage the quality, cost and timescale of their project through to completion.
YARD Architects have completed over 100 projects since forming in 2014, prior to which our directors developed extensive expertise in designing and delivering homes for families, individuals and developers. We are adept at managing relationships across the project team, and have developed a network of consultants and contractors who we work with regularly to assist in completing each project as smoothly as possible.
Operating across London and the south-east from our studio in Borough, we are an ambitious and driven team, striving to ensure that each project is as enjoyable and successful as the last. Since our formation we are fortunate to have been featured in numerous publications and won awards for our work, success which has been fostered by building trusting and collaborative relationships with our clients, who enable our projects to happen.
YARD(noun)
1. A pocket of land, or a site. A yard is often an overlooked or neglected urban area, a small piece of the city that we can rejuvenate.
2. A unit of measurement, often of space. Derived from human proportions.
3. In historic usage, yard comes from ’Geard’ meaning an ‘enclosure, enclosed place, building, home, region’.
DIRECTORS
Simon Graham
Director
BArch(Hons) DipArch RIBA
Simon founded YARD Architects with Jon in 2014, having gained extensive experience leading award winning residential developments at previous practices across London. After graduating from The University of Nottingham and Westminster, Simon became a Partner at a practice in Clerkenwell before working for Pitman Tozer and Orbit Architects, working on a diverse range of projects from large developments for Peabody, student housing and office schemes.
Simon led the teams on our House in Hackney and Banana Tree House projects, and is currently on site with our new-build Aldridge Lodge project in Westbourne Grove. He is also leading a new-build house and multi-unit development in Wimbledon.
Simon is a mid-century modern architecture buff, and is painstakingly renovating his classic 1960’s townhouse one detail at a time. Other passions include Nordic Noir and similarly gloomy/atmospheric travel destinations, from Iceland to The Isle of Skye.
Jonathan Duffett
Director
BArch(Hons) DipArch RIBA
Jon founded YARD Architects with Simon in 2014, after working together at a successful design-led residential practice in Clerkenwell. He graduated from the University of Nottingham and The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, before starting his career leading projects ranging from small scale private residential work through to new-build housing developments and larger multi-unit residential schemes.
He led the teams on our Settle House and Barnes Brick House projects; and is currently working on private house refurbishment and extension projects in Kentish Town, Maida Vale and Hackney; along with the fit-out of an innovative shell-only house as part of a development in Peckham. He continues to lead much of the practices small-scale residential work in South-West London.
Jon has a young family and is a fair-weather cyclist. His Andy Goldsworthy inspired tree sculpture from Art A-Level still takes pride of place in his garden, and when he retires, he dreams of making another one.
TEAM
Alex Weston
Architectural Assistant
BA (Hons), MArch
Alex joined YARD after graduating with distinction from the Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark. His thesis project, researching architectural methodology as a means to expose the value of a landscape, featured in Landskab, the leading Danish Landscape Architecture publication. Prior to his time in Scandinavia, he studied at the Arts University of Bournemouth, achieving a first class honours degree. He brought professional experience in the private residential sector with him to the studio, having worked on listed buildings and dwellings in conservation areas at previous practices.
Alex works with Jon and Simon on a range of projects at various stages. Current projects include a low energy new-build house on a dramatic site in Petersfield, and a project currently on site in Hackney; assisting with site inspection and contract administration of a ground floor extension and new build garden studio.
Outside of the office Alex is an avid climber, often found scaling the indoor bouldering walls of South West London.
Dana Aksematovska
Architectural Assistant
BA
Dana joined YARD after completing her architecture degree at the Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University in Poland. Her thesis project explored the nature reserve areas near her hometown in Ukraine, creating a new tourist centre within a geological park.
Before coming to the UK as part of the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme in 2022, Dana gained professional experience in interior design studios, working in both the private residential and public space sectors.
Dana is our visualisation specialist, responsible for much of the 3D modelling and visual work that we produce in the studio. She is currently assisting Jon and Simon across multiple projects in the initial design and planning stages, whilst updating and helping develop detailed design presentations as projects move towards site.
Outside the office, Dana enjoys discovering new places in London and traveling when given the opportunity with her university friends to explore all things architecture & design throughout Europe.
Maksymilian Molsa
Architectural Assistant
BA (Hons), MArch
Maks joined YARD as a Part II Architectural Assistant. He finished his masters at UCA (Canterbury School of Architecture) in 2023, with a first class honours. His masters thesis project won a (UCA) University Award for the best project within a thesis group, along with an AJ Award and RIBA Silver Medal Award nomination.
Before joining YARD Architects Maks worked for his father's construction business, which focused primarily on residential projects, gaining invaluable experience in the construction stages of architecture.
Maks is currently assisting Simon and Jon on the early stages of a refurbishment and extension of a Listed house in Islington, and is taking his first project onto site in West London, consisting of a rear extension and loft conversion.
Maks has a keen interest in making. During his spare time, he is working on his porch, a coffee table, and a family Lake Cabin in Poland.
YARD Architects Limited is a company registered in England and Wales No. 09452028
