RIBA Chartered Architects

Sharpe Architecture is a RIBA Chartered practice in Tunbridge Wells, working on private houses across Kent, London and the South East.

Led by Frances and Simon Sharpe, the studio designs extensions, renovations, whole-house retrofits and new homes. We have a particular interest in existing buildings, sensitive settings and carefully detailed contemporary architecture.

Our work is shaped by light, proportion, material character and the quiet details that make a house feel settled, generous and personal. We look for the qualities already present, then consider how the house can be improved without losing what makes it distinctive.

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Work.

The practice works across a number of project types, each requiring a careful balance of design, context and delivery.

Extensions and alterations
New space added with care — improving light, flow and connection to make the whole home work more cohesively.

Whole-house refurbishments & Retrofit
Older or altered houses reconsidered as a whole, from layout and materials to comfort, performance and detail.

New houses and replacement dwellings
Carefully developed homes for sensitive plots, rural settings, Green Belt sites and established residential areas.

Listed and sensitive buildings
Measured, thoughtful changes to buildings and places where character, proportion and setting matter.

Community
We also undertake small scale community projects.

View of a modern house with large glass sliding doors showing two women inside in a kitchen or dining area, with green trees and a fence outside.

Ferndale House

A contemporary ground-floor extension and remodel in Tunbridge Wells, transforming a dated 1980s house into a bright, connected family home.

Southborough Cottage

A thoughtful extension that transforms a dark, narrow kitchen into a generous family hub.

Five Oaks House

A new build replacement dwelling in greenbelt and AONB with a 70% enlargement over the existing house.

Open-concept kitchen with teal cabinetry and a white marble island, three women and a man chatting, overlooking a backyard through sliding glass doors.
Homes
Horam Hub
Community
Outdoor scene at the London Wildlife Trust with people dining and socializing at tables on a patio, a woman with a stroller and a child, and a building with brick walls and arched windows.
Heritage & Listed

  • “We can’t speak highly enough of Sharpe Architecture. They have been the dictionary definition of professional, responsive and their input has been enormously valuable from first concept proposal to completion.”

    Ray and Laura - Ferndale House

  • “Sharpe Architecture were fantastic throughout. From inception to delivery, Frances and Simon helped us to realise what we set out to with the project, and they were always on hand to offer their advice and support.”

    Will and Jess - Stack House

  • “Very happy with the work of Sharpe Architecture. Frances saw our project through from concept to completion, built a good working relationship with the builder but also pushed back when construction was not as planned or expected. Overall 10/10.”

    Ispran - Wedge House

Design, Detail & Delivery.

A good house depends on more than a strong idea.

It depends on judgement, timing and the careful development of detail: how the plan is organised, how the light moves through the day, how materials meet, how the building performs, how the budget is held, and how the work is ultimately made.

We work from concept design and planning through to technical design, tender, pre-construction and construction support. At each stage, the project becomes more precise.

Clear information helps contractors price properly, helps clients make informed decisions, and gives the finished house a better chance of holding onto the quality of the original idea.

See Our Process

Studio

Sharpe Architecture is a small, director-led studio based in Tunbridge Wells.

Frances and Simon bring experience from respected London and South East practices, including work on award-winning residential, cultural and community projects. That background gives the studio a strong foundation in design quality, technical coordination and the careful delivery of buildings from early ideas to completion.

Clients work directly with us throughout the process. The studio is deliberately small, allowing each project to be shaped with close attention, senior judgement and a clear sense of responsibility for the finished house.

Meet the team