XAB Architects

XAB Architects

XAB is a London based architectural practice. We specialise in Workplace Fit-Out, Prime Residential and Commercial Refurbishment projects. Our clients include International Banks, Professional Services firms, Public Sector Organisations, Hotels and Private Residential clients.

 

our approach is

different

We want to be easy to work with. We work hard at that.

We listen, we sketch, we discuss and we deliver innovative architectural designs that are buildable, maintainable and functional.

Design is a collaborative process. We work with leading building consultants and specialists to deliver exceptional designs. Our aim is to establish long term relationships with our clients, our fellow consultants and our construction partners.

We achieve that by understanding what they need from us.

 

we build on our

experience

The XAB partners have worked together since before 2000 on a range of projects across the UK and in Europe. Our projects range from the apparently simple to larger, complex and technically challenging schemes involving many disciplines and trades.

We believe that the technical and rigorous services coordination skills required to successfully deliver a trading-floor or data-centre project are equally applicable to highly serviced residences or hotels. Whether it is a simple fit-out, an agile-working implementation or a private residential project, attention to design detail is key.

We take the time to understand the culture, aspirations and vision of our clients. Our designs are always a response to these values and we ensure that the proposals are clearly communicated to the client and to the construction team.

 

our expertise

works

While most of our work is the result of direct commissions from end users, we also enjoy working with and learning from others. We often work as executive or technical architects, supporting interior designers, contractors and concept architects in the delivery of their projects.

We develop designs to construction information stage and adapt them to comply with UK building regulations, ensuring that the original concept is respected.

We design and deliver to programme and to budget. We achieve that by managing the design process to suit the selected procurement route and by regularly reviewing our output to ensure we meet the agreed milestones.

Practice

XAB is a London based architectural practice. XAB was formed in 2013 out of an earlier practice, Allen Bell, the partners having worked together there since 2000.

We specialise in Workplace Fit-Out, Prime Residential and Commercial Refurbishment projects. Our clients include International Banks, Professional Service firms, Public Sector Organisations, Hotels and Private Residential clients.

Our residential projects are usually for private clients or fully-fitted, one-off speculative developments. Our experience includes working in listed historical buildings and in modern developments including One Hyde Park and we are familiar with the often onerous approval processes involved in obtaining the authority’s or landlord’s permission to commence work.

We work with the very best interior designers and leading professional firms to deliver exceptional residences. Modern homes contain a great deal of technology and our technical knowledge, gained in part through delivering projects for the financial markets, gives us an edge in discretely integrating these services.

Recent workplace and fit-out experience includes projects for WorldPay, Investec Bank and Shire Pharmaceuticals. These projects are often very highly serviced environments and we are well versed in the technical issues involved in designing trading floors, data centres and equipment rooms.

We deliver modern Agile Working solutions for clients, including the NHS. Where some go with a gut feel, our designs are based on detailed occupation and utilisation studies which provide a high degree of confidence in the robustness of the proposals. Although over the next decade agile working is likely to become the default, in an existing business it is often a cultural hard-sell. We work with specialists to overcome resistance to change and to emphasise the positive and liberating aspects of the new environment.

We have worked within most procurement routes including Framework Agreements, Traditional Contracts, single or two stage Construction Management and Design & Build. We believe in supporting the team and adapt our offering to suit the project. What remains constant is our commitment to working through the detail and understanding the client and users’ needs.

Clients

Some of the clients, consultants & contractors we have worked with include:

  • Investec Bank
  • Knight Harwood
  • Nimax Theatres
  • Shire Pharmaceuticals
  • Homes England
  • Rio Tinto
  • Avison Young
  • EY
  • Martin Brudnizki Design Studio
  • Exclusive Residential
  • Tata Steel Europe
  • Capital & Counties (Capco)
  • WorldPay
  • UK Power Networks
  • Engie (formerly Cofely GDF Suez)
  • the NHS
  • English Heritage
  • Candy & Candy
  • Jackson Coles
  • ISS
  • C&W Partners
  • The Electoral Commission
  • Ideaworks
  • Lucking + Clark
  • The Crown Estate
  • Government of Gibraltar
  • Department for Transport
  • Warwick Investment Group
  • BT Pension Scheme
  • Turner & Townsend
  • The Athenaeum Hotel
  • Aecom
  • Heyne Tillett Steel
  • Penfida
  • HM Court Services
  • Gardiner & Theobald
  • MODSAP
  • London Fire Brigade
  • Investec Wealth & Investment
  • British Land
  • ISG
  • Parkeray
  • Kantar Media
  • Fendi Casa
  • Overbury
  • Clarke Saunders Acoustics

Richard Townsend

Richard’s background covers work in both the public and private sectors and includes new-build and refurbishment work for mostly... Read More

Richard’s background covers work in both the public and private sectors and includes new-build and refurbishment work for mostly commercial and residential clients.

Recent projects include, design and construction of a new fire station in West Norwood (the only one of ten new-build fire stations procured traditionally by LFB), developing an agile working proposal for a utility company, a penthouse refurbishment in One Hyde Park for a Hong Kong developer, helping Tata Group explore options for their London office and the rapid delivery of a show apartment and client facing suite, as part of a design & build team, within the redevelopment of Earls Court.

He brings to all of his projects a strong technical knowledge of construction practice and regulations and an ability to help clients foster and achieve their design ambition.

e: richard.townsend@xab.co.uk
t: +44 (0)20 3282 7585
m: +44 (0)7775 644978

Rick Bagnall

Rick’s understanding of the building process and strong communication skills allow him to clearly describe complex design proposals, both... Read More

Rick’s understanding of the building process and strong communication skills allow him to clearly describe complex design proposals, both to clients and contractors.

His meticulous attention to detail ensures that designs are thoroughly developed and analysed before being released for construction. He particularly enjoys the construction phase of a project and the process of working through designs with specialist consultants & trade contractors, learning from their expertise and skills.

Through the use of 3D CAD models he recently developed and broke down an exceptionally complex geometrical design for an auditorium ceiling into a set of profiles and instructions for creating and assembling the plaster moulds necessary to construct the proposal. His contractor client claims the project would have been impossible without his input.

e: rick.bagnall@xab.co.uk
t: +44 (0)20 3282 7585
m: +44 (0)7855 808399

Andrew Bell

Andrew founded XAB Architects in 2013 and has over 20 years’ experience in the design and delivery of high quality projects for... Read More

Andrew founded XAB Architects in 2013 and has over 20 years’ experience in the design and delivery of high quality projects for commercial, professional and residential clients.

Andrew takes a hands-on role on all his projects and has a particular interest in the design and co-ordination of the building’s technical services infrastructure. His experience includes the delivery of highly serviced trading floors, data-centres and call centres and of complex fitting out projects for financial institutions.

Recent projects include two penthouse projects for Candy & Candy both involving significant structural refurbishment and servicing, a penthouse flat conversion for a private client and a fit-out for a Private Bank which included the installation of a glass staircase in a new structural opening within an occupied building.
His international experience includes projects in Belgium, Germany and France

e: andrew.bell@xab.co.uk
t: +44 (0)20 3282 7585
m: +44 (0)7770 866077