0–4

your project,
your story,
we fill in
the [blank] _

an architecture studio in leeds, run by its two directors. we take projects from first sketch through planning and beyond, the [blank] is whatever you're dreaming up.

25

years collective experience

5

riba stages covered

2

directors who will know your project

start a project _see our work _
scroll in for a glimpse of our studio _

who we are _

friends since
university.
architecture is
our obsession.

we are _ is a small architecture studio in morley, leeds. andrew and jack set it up because they think designing and building something should be enjoyable, not just the finished thing, the whole process.

between us we've got 25 years of experience across every riba stage, feasibility sketches, planning submissions, 3d renders, building regs, keeping an eye on things on site. there's no account manager in between. you deal with us, start to finish.

Tas featured inThe Times & Yorkshire Life →

the founders _

Andrew Clapham, chartered architect and co-founder of we are _ architecture studio in Leeds

andrew _

co-founder · chartered architect · studio design lead

andrew is a chartered architect and leads design at the studio. he'll sketch anything given half a chance, but he knows his way around an architectural detail too.

Jack Davey, co-founder and technical lead at we are _ architecture studio in Leeds

jack _

co-founder · studio technical lead · designer

jack looks after the technical and planning side, drawings, regs, the detail that gets things built. at heart, though, he's a designer first.

people kept asking where to get the we are _ hoodie. so we made a few.take a look →

how we got here _

two mates, one long-running debate about buildings.

2012met at uni, and a shared stubbornness about design
2015graduated our masters
2016joined the same practice in leeds
2020made redundant, so we started we are _
2025featured in The Times for a roundhay extension
_basedmorley, leeds_on the coffeejack, resident barista, flat-white art in progress_studio dogarchie_going since2020
selected work _

a few of the projects
we've shaped _

extensions, new builds, renovations, all designed around the people living in them.

Architectural render of an approved pitched-roof rear extension in Roundhay, Leeds — clay hanging tiles, a glazed apex and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors onto a stone terrace, by we are _
the clay-tiled house · roundhayview case study →
Howdens Expo in Watford, the UK’s first standalone Expo facility — grey profile metal cladding over a brick plinth with a red-framed glazed entrance beacon, brand identity by we are _
howdens expo · watfordview case study →
Architectural render of a contemporary two-storey home in Horsforth, Leeds, crisp white render with a timber cladding panel between first-floor windows and large ground-floor sliding glass doors onto a stone patio, by we are _
contemporary two-storey · horsforthview case study →
Contemporary rear extension in Roundhay, Leeds, with dark textured render and apricot Tiles of Stow surround framing black bifold doors, by we are _
apricot-framed extension · roundhayview case study →
Garden pavilion extension in Roundhay, Leeds — white-brick single-storey wings framing a paved courtyard behind a sandstone Victorian villa, by we are _
as featured in The Timesthe architecture of luxury · roundhayview case study →
Grade II listed buildings on Kirkgate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, with Ripon Cathedral behind, a parade that includes a building sketched by J.M.W. Turner during his time in Ripon, and part of a heritage portfolio for which we are _ leads planning and conservation coordination
listed on kirkgate · riponview case study →
A completed Howdens interior fit-out reception, timber panelling, a slatted desk, a red bench and the red Howdens logo panel, designed and delivered by we are _
howdens interior fit-outview case study →
The Oak-Framed Farmhouse, north Lincolnshire, a rendered farmhouse with a zinc-clad dormer, slate roof and a double-gable oak-framed pavilion extension with floor-to-ceiling glazing, by we are _
the oak-framed farmhouse · lincolnshireview case study →

what we design for _

four sectors, one studio _

residential _

homes, extensions and renovations, designed around how you actually live.

explore →

conservation _

listed buildings and conservation areas. old buildings deserve patience.

explore →

commercial _

workplaces and mixed-use buildings that earn their keep.

explore →

retail _

shopfronts and interiors worth stopping for.

explore →
google review · 5 stars

"we used we are_ for an extension and garden building that we'd been planning and dreaming about for approx 8 years. from concept to creation, jack and andrew have been wonderful. they've pushed our creative boundaries and together we've created something 'out of the norm'.

verified google review · ★★★★★

in their words _

"andrew and jack are easy to deal with, friendly and supportive."

rob

"we are _ listened to what we wanted and despite dealing with a tricky layout for the upstairs bathroom they came up with a solution."

jennifer

"i can see there was a tremendous amount of work and thinking gone into this… it's just lovely. thank you so much for taking the time to take care of this with pride."

gurdeep

let's start something _

tell us what you're planning and one of us, andrew or jack, not a form robot, will get back to you within two working days.

start a project _calculate your fees _