The Practice
Belsize Architects has an international portfolio of critically-acclaimed and award-winning buildings in the residential, education, commercial and leisure sectors. We enjoy a reputation for intelligent, sensitive and elegant design, and are highly skilled in not only creating well-crafted and successful new developments but also bringing new and sustainable life to historic buildings.
The practice was founded in 1995 by Shahriar Nasser, who remains the principal owner and is responsible for all significant decisions. The practice has consciously remained small, with never more than ten staff, in order always to provide a bespoke service and original design, subject to the most stringent quality control.
What we do and how we do it
We provide full architectural services, interior design,
landscape, furniture and product design. The range of our work includes new
build and interventions to listed buildings, residential and commercial
interiors, offices and showrooms, educational and leisure facilities, and
private houses.
A highly trained and skilled team of professionals, drawn from
around the world, handles all projects. Our approach is driven by close
attention to context, function, environment and sustainability. Through
dialogue with our clients, statutory consultees, contractors and end users, we
ensure that our designs address the possibilities and constraints of every
brief with a holistic response. We embrace technological innovations for the
opportunities they offer to strengthen our design intentions. We take
particular care in the selection of materials and their application. Careful
consideration is given to a material’s visual impact and practical suitability,
alongside its environmental impact.
Sustainability and historic buildings
We respond positively to the climate emergency, designing resilient, low-carbon architecture, attentive to the climate and circumstances of the individual project. We use certified Passivhaus designers and ensure all staff have training in the fundamental principles. Belsize Architects are signatories of Architects’ Declare and are committed to the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge.
We have a great deal of experience in working on historic buildings, and notably Crown Estate properties in Regents Park where the practice has worked on over forty houses. As well as conservation skills we are very familiar with the requirements of negotiating with Historic England as well as the Crown Estate itself.
Our clients
Although the bulk of our portfolio is in the UK, where, in addition to individual private clients, our institutional clients have included the London School of Economics, University College Oxford and the Church Commissioners, as well as a range of private developers. We have worked internationally, including in France, Switzerland and Turkey. In Saudi Arabia we have a number of projects in Dhahran, including a shopping centre, a mixed-use office/retail development and luxury housing complex, and we have been a winner in a government competition.
Our Philosophy
As a practice, Belsize Architects believes that thoughtful and careful design contributes to a more cohesive society, and that it is our duty as architects to promote harmony and wellbeing through our work.
Shahriar Nasser
Founder Director
David Green
Director
Awards and commendations
The head of the practice has been both chair and jury member for the RIBA Awards and RICS Awards. He has also served on numerous civic Design Review Panels. We have been extensively published and are ourselves the winners of numerous awards (see a summary list below).
Awards and commendations
RIBA Award, University College Boathouse
Oxford Preservation Trust Award, University College Boathouse
Civic Trust Award, University College Boathouse
New London Awards, The Brassworks, commended
AJ Retrofit Awards, The Brassworks, finalist
RIBA Award, The Brassworks, shortlisted
RICS Award, The Brassworks, shortlisted
AJ Small Projects, The Locker Room, finalist
Lighting Awards, Pond Street, finalist
Sunday Times British Homes Awards, The Brassworks, shortlisted
Daily Telegraph Award, Park Village West
Camden Design Awards, Pond Street, shortlisted
NLA, Don’t Move Improve, Pond Street, shortlisted
CIBSE Building Performance Awards, The Brassworks, shortlisted
Daily Telegraph Awards, South Hill Park, highly commended
FX Awards, The Brassworks, shortlisted
Blue Ribbon Awards, Interior Design of the Year Award
Blue Ribbon Awards, Housing Development of the Year, The Brassworks, highly commended
Coverings Installation & Design International Stone design category, Hyde Park Gardens, Winner
RICS Awards, Nutley Terrace, shortlisted
Housing Design Awards, Six Pavilions, shortlisted
Stone Federation Natural Stone Awards, Nutley Terrace, commended
RICS Awards, Kent Terrace, shortlisted in Residential category
RICS Awards, Kent Terrace, shortlisted in Building Conservation category
AJ Retrofit Awards, Kent Terrace, shortlisted in Listed Buildings under £5m
Blue Print, Hampstead Lane, shortlisted in Best Non-public Project
Building Excellence Awards, Hampstead Lane, Winner Best Individual New Home
NLA Don’t Move Improve Awards, Ferncroft Avenue
Housing Design Awards, Wilmer Place, Winner
NLA Awards, Wilmer Place, Winner Housing Design
Publications
Publication coverage includes New York Times; Financial Times; The Sunday Times, The Independent; Evening Standard; Architects Journal; RIBA Journal; Grand Designs; House and Garden; IDFX; Dezeen; Archello; Building Design; Home and Gardens; Architecture Today; Ideal Home; Architecture and Detail; Living Etc; Beautiful Homes; Elle Decoration; Konsept Projeler; Fabric; Homebuilding and Renovation; Inhabit and Archipendium.
Belsize Architects’ work has been included in the Terence Conran Eco House book, Inside Outside, Case a Londra and Boathouses.