James Wells Architects is a dedicated team of architects working with James Wells, located in West Sussex. We design for new build homes, extensions, barn conversions, and orchestrate plans for historically important listed buildings to work in the 21st Century. Our sister practice, James Wells Commercial, handles design for commercial projects including hotels, bars, restaurants, and offices.
Our Mission
Our mission is to bring together the very best of contemporary British product design and traditional craftsmanship. We create outstanding 21st Century homes to suit modern living requirements and meet the highest expectations of our clients. We achieve award-winning residential design, which creates a harmonious relationship of line, mass, space, and texture.
Our Services
We offer a range of services, including:
- New build houses
- Refurbishments and remodelling schemes for historic listed buildings
- Barn conversions
- Design and planning for extensions
- Interior design
- Town planning and listed building consent applications
- Conservation of buildings
- Sustainable design and construction
Our Approach
We put sustainability at the heart of our design approach. We aim to design buildings that respect the environment while working superbly well for our clients. We integrate new architectural technologies, materials, and features into the fabric of significant historic buildings. Our team is committed to considering the detailed requirements of all our clients, seeking to design buildings that complement and enhance their locations, paying particular attention to the immediate environment, landscape, and history of the locality.
Our Expertise
Our team has considerable experience in town planning, listed building consent applications, and conservation of buildings, as well as interior design. We are experienced in creating beautiful new homes, extending and remodelling existing properties, and converting rural buildings for domestic use.
Our Process
We follow the Plan of Work as defined by the Royal Institute of British Architects. This plan of work is tried, tested, and trusted, and guides clients and all building professionals through the process of creating a new building from deciding to appoint an architect to living in your new home.
Mixed Reviews for JWA Architecture
Design and Planning
The reviews highlight the differing experiences of clients with JWA Architecture. On the one hand, some clients have been thrilled with the design and planning services provided by James Wells and his team. For instance, A. Baker and Sean Williams praised the firm's creative and skilled approach to designing and managing their projects. They found James Wells to be helpful in guiding them through the planning permission process, finding suitable builders, and balancing their desires with budget constraints.
Budget Concerns
On the other hand, Adam Black's review highlights a concerning experience with JWA Architecture. He claims that the firm failed to respect their budget and instead designed a project that was 60% higher than agreed upon. The project was subsequently reduced in scale and cost, but the client felt that JWA prioritized their own design ambitions over the client's affordability.
Client Relationship
The reviews suggest that James Wells is able to build a strong relationship with his clients, understanding their needs and desires. However, the negative review raises concerns about the firm's commitment to respecting client budgets and priorities.
