studioHA

About

Founded by Rachel Hurley, studioHA transforms heritage buildings and contemporary spaces into homes of exceptional calibre. The London-based practice operates at the intersection of architectural rigour and commercial acumen—a perspective honed through Rachel's unique experience leading residential developments from site acquisition to final delivery.

This dual lens, as both architect and developer, informs every project. studioHA doesn't just design beautiful spaces; we engineer elegant solutions that anticipate complexities before they arise. Our clients—leaders in finance, medicine, and executive roles—demand homes that perform as flawlessly as they present, requiring a design partner capable of orchestrating complex briefs with precision and discretion.

The practice specialises in unlocking challenging sites: Grade II listed townhouses, awkward Victorian conversions, constrained urban plots. Where others see obstacles, studioHA identifies opportunity. Through meticulous planning and innovative structural solutions, we create generous, light-filled volumes that feel both timeless and thoroughly contemporary. Every project integrates sustainable technologies discreetly—from advanced insulation systems to energy-efficient mechanical solutions that preserve period character while achieving modern performance standards.

Our aesthetic philosophy centres on restraint and refinement. Natural, high quality materials are deployed with architectural intention. Spaces unfold with calculated rhythm, each room proportioned to create calm abundance. Bespoke joinery eliminates clutter while maximising functionality.

Every studioHA interior reflects how discerning clients actually live: focused work areas, generous entertaining spaces, private retreats for restoration. We design homes that elevate daily rituals, creating environments as conducive to productivity as they are to genuine relaxation.

The result is architecture that transcends trends: homes of lasting value that grow more compelling with time.

What is your design ethos? What values are important to you in your work?

"My ethos is simple: create spaces so well-resolved that clients forget they hired an architect. The best compliment I receive isn't 'beautiful design'—it's ‘this just feels right.’ That happens when you understand how someone actually moves through their day, not how they think they should.

I'm obsessed with the gap between aspiration and reality. Clients say they want minimalism, then show me their book collection. They want ‘low maintenance’ but also 'characterful materials.' My job is to solve these contradictions, not judge them. I design for real humans with real stuff and real habits—the ones who work late, entertain impulsively, and need somewhere to dump their keys that isn't the kitchen counter.

Honesty is everything. Honest about budgets (that bathroom will cost more than your car), honest about timelines (good work takes time), and honest about what makes sense for your lifestyle versus what looks good on Instagram. I'd rather lose a project than watch someone live uncomfortably in their own home.

Quality over quantity, always. I'd rather design five exceptional projects than fifty mediocre ones. Every detail matters because bad details are like typos—once you notice them, you can't unsee them. And frankly? I believe everyone deserves to live somewhere that makes them feel successful."

In your opinion, what makes a design timeless?

"The best timeless design doesn't ever follow trends—it creates them - then watches everyone else scramble to catch up. Think about the buildings we still covet: Georgian terraces that make every new-build development look like architectural junk food, or Dieter Rams' designs that Apple is still photocopying decades later.

Timeless design happens when someone has the audacity to say ‘this is just how it should be’ and then proves it so convincingly that it becomes ingrained. It's definitely about understanding the fundamentals—proportion, light, materials that age beautifully rather than just age—and having the discipline to edit out everything that screams ‘designed in X year.’

The irony is that truly timeless work often feels radical when it first appears. Everyone thought Eileen Gray was mad putting tubular steel furniture in E-1027, but now it looks more modern than most contemporary interiors.

My rule: if it photographs well in black and white, it'll probably survive the next design cycle. Colour trends come and go, but good bones are forever. Plus, there's something madly subversive about creating spaces so well-resolved that they make your neighbours' recent renovations look instantly dated. Detail is everything - exacting precision and intention will always last."

Why do your clients come to you? What do they value about your work?

"They come to me because I speak human, not architect.

Most architects either bore clients to death with technical jargon or patronize them with dumbed-down explanations. I translate complex spatial problems into clear visual stories—my clients actually understand what they're getting before they buy it. Revolutionary concept apparently, but one that's really essential to me.

But honestly, they stay because I solve problems instead of creating them. When the structural engineer says ‘impossible,’ I find ways to make it work. When planning gets complicated, I navigate the bureaucracy so they don't have to learn the difference between a lawful development certificate and a certificate of lawfulness (yes, they're different things, and yes, it's as ridiculous as it sounds).

My clients are running companies, saving lives, managing billions—they don't have time for architects who create drama or disappear when things get tricky. They need someone who listens properly the first time, spots the problems they haven't thought of yet, and delivers what they actually want rather than what looks good in my portfolio.

The real value? I give them permission to live well without apology. No minimalist guilt trips or lectures about ‘honest materials.’ If you want your kitchen island to be exactly 37mm higher than standard because that's what works for your morning routine, we make it happen. Great design should feel inevitable, not like homework.

They get homes that work as hard as they do—just more elegantly."

How do you stay inspired and keep evolving your ideas?

"The best ideas come from watching how people actually behave when they think no one's looking. I notice that successful people always have a ‘dropping zone’ near their front door, even in the most minimal homes. They batch their morning routines. They work better with their backs to walls. These aren't design trends—they're human patterns that transcend style.

I'm also shameless about stealing from other disciplines. Hospitality design teaches you about first impressions and wayfinding. Theatre design shows you how to control emotional journeys through space. Even retail—why do people linger in some shops and flee others? It's all spatial psychology dressed up differently.

Travel helps, but not in the obvious 'I saw this amazing palazzo in Venice' way. I'm more interested in how a Tokyo apartment achieves luxury in 400 square feet, or why Scandinavian houses feel so calm."