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Riach Architects

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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.

09/10/2026

You can probably already imagine yourself in this bath, looking out at the trees, with time to yourself.

Good design is as much about how a room feels as how it looks. Light, views, proportions, and materials all shape that experience, and deserve as much thought as the practical requirements.

But it’s not for us to tell you how a space should feel. You tell us what brings you joy, ease, calm, and a sense of satisfaction. Our job is to translate that into your home.

02/10/2026

A new home can have soft edges.

Not everything needs to be straightened, sharpened, or made pristine.

Pictured is the time-worn stone and irregular roofline of a rural barn conversion, which involved both renovating the old and creating entirely new structures to extend and link the scheme into one unified dwelling.

The character and features that come with age sit comfortably alongside the interventions needed to make the buildings work as a contemporary home.

25/09/2026

When we renovate a property, the task isn’t simply to bring what was back to life. It’s to guide the building into its next chapter – one that serves, and delights, the people who now call it home.

We’ve worked on multiple houses in the North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area, sometimes on the same street. Yet each has its own style, energy, and history because each has been shaped around the people who live there.

For this family, that meant extending and replanning a substantial Victorian house, with architecture and interiors developed together from the outset. This kitchen is part of the new rear extension, where generous glazing brings light into the family spaces and opens them to the garden.

If you have a home ready to be made more yours, let’s talk.

18/09/2026

There is a great deal about this landing that is technically unnecessary.

It would do its job without the detailing, the beautiful finishes, or quite so much natural light.

And yet, these are the things that turn an everyday journey between floors into an experience. In our rushed, distracted, and optimised lives, a space that has been thought through so completely feels almost defiant. It asks us to slow down and notice.

This landing forms part of the refurbishment and extension of a Victorian house in North Oxford. Original features were restored, the later extension was reworked, and the staircase was opened up to create a double-height atrium at the centre of the house.

11/09/2026

There's more air than object in this room. More 'nothing' than anything…

The sofa doesn't call for attention, the walls are simple, and the windows are doing the heavy lifting — full-height glazing on two sides pulls the garden in until it's hard to say where the room ends and the trees begin.

That's the trick with light and space: it's about knowing how to frame rather than fill.

A good architect knows what to add to a space. An excellent architect knows what to remove.

04/09/2026

A lit fire draws the eye as we peek into this Victorian home, renovated and reimagined for modern family life.

A handsome staircase, parquet floor, and heavily draped curtain – all the ingredients for a cosy autumn.

If you’re starting to imagine yourself in a new home – or, indeed, an old home made new – then let’s talk.

We’re happy to explore the possibilities at any stage: from the very beginnings of an idea to a project already under way and in need of some thoughtful re-steering.

28/08/2026

Modernising a cottage takes a detailed understanding of the original building – how it was constructed, where the structure can be altered, and how it has weathered, moved, and been adapted over time.

It also means understanding what you want from your new home: perhaps a layout better suited to family life, space for entertaining, or quiet places to work, focus, and rest. We listen carefully, without making assumptions, so the design reflects how you want to live.

The right team matters, too. We work with a long-established network of local craftspeople and specialist trades who understand vernacular construction, know how to repair original features, and can source materials appropriate to the building.

Together, we bring in more daylight, improve energy efficiency, and create spaces that work for modern life – without losing the character that made the cottage worth preserving.

21/08/2026

Context is everything.

At Grantham House, colour was introduced to the sides of the bay windows as a subtle reference to the brightly painted homes found on nearby roads such as Observatory Street – connecting a distinctly contemporary scheme to its setting.

The project involved the complete refurbishment and extension of a 1960s sheltered housing scheme to create 27 apartments and two family houses.

The building was reorganised internally to provide apartments in a wider range of sizes, while an insulated render system dramatically improved its energy efficiency and gave the dated exterior a clean, low-maintenance finish.

20/08/2026

Riach Architects is looking for an enthusiastic Architectural Technician to join our expanding, award-winning RIBA Chartered Practice in Oxford.

This is an exciting opportunity to support the design and delivery of a diverse range of residential and commercial projects, working closely with our architects and consultants from concept through to construction.

Key responsibilities:

• Preparing technical drawing packages and detailed construction information across all project stages
• Producing accurate, coordinated technical drawings using AutoCAD and ArchiCAD
• Coordinating with architects, consultants, and contractors to resolve technical issues
• Ensuring designs comply with UK Building Regulations and relevant technical standards
• Attending project meetings and site visits to support project delivery and coordination
• Assisting in the technical development of residential and commercial projects

We’re looking for someone with:

• Proven expertise in AutoCAD and ArchiCAD
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong knowledge of technical construction methods and UK Building Regulations
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• A high level of accuracy and exceptional attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with confidence when liaising with colleagues, consultants, and clients
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team

For the right candidate, we offer the opportunity to work on an exciting range of high-end residential properties, listed buildings, and developments, alongside opportunities for personal development, a competitive salary, and a positive working environment.

This is a permanent, full-time position, An immediate start is preferred, although not essential.

To apply:
Please send your covering letter, CV, and a short portfolio (maximum 20 pages) to Tenecia Pearce, Office Manager, at [email protected] using 'Architectural Technician' as the subject line.

No agencies please.

14/08/2026

Natural stone, slate roofs, traditional detailing, mature trees, and generous plots connect the six family homes at Westfield House to the character of their village setting.

We took on this project after planning permission had already been granted for another scheme, but the approved mix did not reflect local demand or make the best use of the site.

We extended and converted the existing building into two substantial houses and reorganised the layout to accommodate a fourth new home.

The revised scheme increased the overall floor area, creating better homes and considerably greater value for our client.

Most importantly, the finished development looks completely at home in Aston.

Address

65 Banbury Road
Oxford
OX26PE

Opening Hours

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

Website

http://www.riacharchitects.com/

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