Riach Architects

Riach Architects Oxford-based architects with a commitment to excellent communication and extraordinary design.

Founded thirty-five years ago, Riach Architects serves clients in Oxfordshire and further afield from its offices at 65 Banbury Road, Oxford. The experienced staff manage a wide range of projects, large and small.

North Oxford isn't defined by architecture that has stood still.Many of its most admired houses have evolved over decade...
19/06/2026

North Oxford isn't defined by architecture that has stood still.

Many of its most admired houses have evolved over decades, sometimes generations, with each alteration adding another layer to the story.

This house on Crick Road is a good example – unmistakably Victorian, yet shaped by careful interventions over time.

For decades, Riach Architects has helped homeowners across Oxford continue that process, adapting period houses for modern life while respecting the character that made them worth preserving in the first place.

When people think of North Oxford, they often picture large red-brick Victorian houses elegantly poised behind mature tr...
12/06/2026

When people think of North Oxford, they often picture large red-brick Victorian houses elegantly poised behind mature trees.

But Kirkley House is a development of three contemporary townhouses in the heart of Summertown, where clean modern forms are paired with a palette that also feels entirely at home in Oxford – Cotswold stone, buff brick, and charcoal grey leadwork.

Behind the façade, each four-bedroom townhouse has been designed around modern living, with roof terraces, courtyard gardens, integrated technology, and carefully specified interiors throughout.

It is different architectural language from the Victorian houses for which North Oxford is known, but one that sits very comfortably alongside them.

Finding the sweet spot between being deliberate but not showy is perhaps a particularly British preoccupation. It is cer...
05/06/2026

Finding the sweet spot between being deliberate but not showy is perhaps a particularly British preoccupation. It is certainly one embraced at Riach Architects.

Every line, junction, material, and proportion contributes to the impression a house makes long before the front door opens.

At this Oxford home, the porch is both refined and distinctive. The arched glazing, painted joinery, tiled threshold, and carefully modelled roof create an entrance that feels considered from every angle.

Architectural character rarely comes from one bold gesture. More often, it is the result of many small decisions being made well.

Last week marked the first of this year's work experience placements at Riach Architects.Over the course of the week, ou...
29/05/2026

Last week marked the first of this year's work experience placements at Riach Architects.

Over the course of the week, our student gained an insight into architectural practice through project visits, studio activities, and a walking tour of several past and ongoing Riach projects in North Oxford.

Alongside the site visits, she was tasked with designing a multifunctional breakout space for the office team. Through a series of client-style discussions, we provided an open and flexible brief, allowing plenty of room for creativity and exploration. This resulted in a series of thoughtful concept sketches, which were later developed into CAD drawings and a SketchUp model.

At the end of the week, she presented her work to members of the Riach Architects team in a university-style presentation.

It is always a pleasure to see the enthusiasm, curiosity, and talent of the next generation of architects, and we look forward to welcoming more students to the studio in the coming months.

A strong result at planning committee for this Grade II listed property in Park Town, Oxford.Riach Architects secured pe...
22/05/2026

A strong result at planning committee for this Grade II listed property in Park Town, Oxford.

Riach Architects secured permission for a comprehensive refurbishment and thermal upgrade, together with a new garden room extension, following close and collaborative work with the local planning and conservation teams.

Heritage projects succeed when there is trust between all parties – combining architectural ambition with a clear understanding of the building’s significance, location, practical constraints, and long-term future.

This scheme will protect and enhance an important historic home while making it far better suited to contemporary living.

Pictured is a visualisation of the completed project, and we can't wait to bring it to life.

When you think of an architect, you might immediately imagine a person sitting at their desk, sketching the exterior lin...
15/05/2026

When you think of an architect, you might immediately imagine a person sitting at their desk, sketching the exterior lines of a family home.

But of course, it’s an architect’s job to consider a building — whether it’s a family home or a corporate office — from all angles: inside, out, and everywhere in between.

We have to imagine the best, but also anticipate the worst — and work over and over on our designs to achieve the former and protect against the latter.

It’s a juggling act, and it doesn’t begin and end at the drawing board. Those balls have to be kept in the air right through to completion.

At Riach, we’re particularly focused on managing all the moving parts of a project — working hard to keep all those levers aligned from first sketch through to final build.

But the results?

Worth it.





08/05/2026

We’ve been watching the work currently underway at Blenheim Palace: repairing and future-proofing one of the UK’s most significant historic buildings.

Inevitably, a project like this makes us contemplate our own work - the challenges we face when it comes to preserving the character and integrity of historic fabric, while introducing the performance, services, and resilience expected today.

It is rarely straightforward.

Modern materials do not always behave in the same way as traditional ones. New systems need to be integrated without disrupting the architectural language. Interventions are often minimal or reversible, and always precisely considered.

The skill lies in understanding both sides – how a building was constructed, and how it needs to perform going forward.

We see the same principles across our own work, from listed houses to larger country properties:
– retaining and repairing original fabric wherever possible
– introducing upgrades so they feel part of the building, not imposed
– balancing conservation with long-term usability and comfort

It is a careful process of working with what is there – not against it.

As these works progress, it is a useful reminder that heritage projects are not about freezing buildings in time, but allowing them to evolve, sensitively and intelligently, so they can continue to be used and enjoyed.





Set within a historic Cotswold house, this glazed addition changes how the home is experienced.The original structure is...
01/05/2026

Set within a historic Cotswold house, this glazed addition changes how the home is experienced.

The original structure is defined by solidity – thick stone walls, small openings, a clear distinction between inside and out. Then, the intervention of this full-height glazed elevation opens the house directly onto the garden, allowing light and seasonal change to be part of day-to-day life, whatever the weather.

This is not a move that would have been possible when the house was first built. It relies on the performance of contemporary glazing, and on a willingness to place a modern element alongside a traditional one.

The result is deliberate contrast. Stone remains the anchor. Glass introduces openness, and the boundary between house and garden is no longer fixed.

The best homes feel personal from the moment you step through the door.Some clients want calm, order, and restraint. Oth...
24/04/2026

The best homes feel personal from the moment you step through the door.

Some clients want calm, order, and restraint. Others want drama, character, and a sense of surprise. Most want both.

Our job is to understand how you want to live, then shape the space around that – through proportion, flow, detail, and the many aesthetic and practical decisions needed to make the vision a reality.

This entrance hall does exactly that. Bold first impression, strong identity, and a clear sense that the house belongs to the people who live there.

Living in a space should feel effortless, and where you live should feel entirely like you. Great design makes both possible.

Set just outside Oxford, these two former agricultural buildings have been reworked to create a generous rural home.Insi...
17/04/2026

Set just outside Oxford, these two former agricultural buildings have been reworked to create a generous rural home.

Inside, the scale allows for a more open and adaptable way of living, with room to shape the layout around real life rather than forcing it into a standard plan.

Outside, there is distance. Open fields on all sides, with walks from the door, and a level of privacy that is increasingly rare.

This is what makes buildings like these so appealing. Not just their character, but the opportunity to create a home with proper volume, flexibility, and a closer relationship to the countryside.

Our role is to work with the scale and structure already there, and turn it into something comfortable, practical, and personal.

Address

65 Banbury Road
Oxford
OX26PE

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Riach Architects posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Riach Architects:

Shortcuts

Share