Nik Vyas
Partner · Architect · MArch RIBA ARBNik founded Paradigm and leads its design work. He is a chartered architect with a focus on sustainable architecture.
Practice
A design-led practice in St Albans.
Paradigm was founded by chartered architect Nik Vyas and grew out of Yellow Studio. We are a RIBA Chartered Practice; both partners are registered with the Architects Registration Board, and our structural engineers work alongside them as part of the team. Most of our work is houses and housing, with commercial and industrial buildings alongside. We act as Principal Designer on every project we lead, and on selected homes we are also the main contractor.
What we do
One team, four responsibilities.
Architecture
Design-led houses, housing and selected commercial buildings, from first sketch through planning to technical design and interiors.
Structural engineering
Our structural engineers are part of the team. Structure is designed with the architecture, not after it, and arrives in the same set of drawings under the same appointment.
Principal Designer
We hold the Principal Designer role under CDM 2015 and the Building Regulations on every project we lead, so the design is coordinated for safety and compliance by the people who drew it.
Main contractor
On selected residential projects Paradigm is appointed as main contractor and builds what it has designed, under one agreement.
Approach
Design comes first, and it is never rushed.
Place first
Orientation, daylight, neighbours and the character of the street come before form. Each design starts from what its site asks for.
Drawn until it is right
Design refinement is part of the service. We do not charge for additional rounds of design development.
Built to use less
Sustainable practice runs through the work, from timber SIP construction to rainwater and greywater reuse.
One team, sketch to site
Architecture, structural engineering, planning, technical drawings and interiors are handled within one team. Your structure is designed by engineers who sit alongside the architect who drew the scheme, so it is worked out with the design rather than bolted on after it. One appointment, one set of drawings, one point of contact.
How a project runs
From first sketch to the finished building.
- 01 Sketch design Layout options for your house or site, tested before you commit to a direction.
- 02 Planning Design and planning permission, including conservation-area and Green Belt sites, and change of use.
- 03 Technical design Technical development, structural design and Building Regulations drawings, produced together by our architects and structural engineers. As Principal Designer we coordinate the design for compliance and for safety on site.
- 04 Interiors Interior design and specification, with 3D visuals and a virtual walk-through before anything is built.
- 05 Tender and site Two routes to a finished building. We tender the work to builders and administer the contract on your behalf; or, on selected residential projects, Paradigm is appointed as main contractor and the team that designed the house builds it.
Working with us
Every project starts with a conversation.
Private clients
New houses, whole-house remodels and extensions with ambition.
- Free 30-minute call with one of our architects
- Home visit, £200 + VAT, deducted from your fee if you go ahead
Developers and landowners
Sketch layouts, appraisals and planning for residential schemes.
- Free one-hour meeting, online or in person
- Site survey with a development appraisal report, from £1,200 + VAT depending on the size of the site, deducted from your fee if you go ahead
Businesses
Production and warehouse buildings, change of use, and commercial interiors.
- Free introductory meeting, online or on site
What clients say
Rated 4.9 on Google by the people we have worked with.
“What impressed us the most was their efficiency and attention to detail — our planning application was accepted by the council on the very first submission, which speaks volumes about their expertise and the quality of their work. Communication was clear, the process was smooth, and we always felt confident that we were in capable hands.”
“We had an excellent experience working with the team on the plans and 3D visuals for our kitchen extension, including managing the planning permission application, which was successfully approved. The team was professional, proactive and knowledgeable throughout the whole process. Good value for money.”
“We knew it could be challenging to secure approval, especially with Article 4 in place in our area, but the team were reassuring, knowledgeable, and guided us confidently every step of the way. A special thank you to Kusum and Amabelle for their clear, prompt communication.”
“Working with Paradigm Architects on the planning for our home was a stress-free experience from start to end. The team, especially Amabelle, were professional, knowledgeable, and responded quickly to any queries we had. If you are looking for reliable, skilled architects who deliver excellent results then Paradigm should be top of your list.”
People
Run by two architects.
Amabelle Aranas
Partner · Architect · ARBAmabelle leads new projects alongside Nik and builds the relationship with each client from the first conversation.
Studio
Based at the BRE Innovation Park.
Address
Building 86, Integer House
BRE Innovation Park, Bucknalls Lane
Bricket Wood, Watford WD25 9XX
Get in touch
Visiting
Meetings are by appointment. The park sits between Bricket Wood and Garston, a short drive from St Albans and junction 6 of the M1, with parking on site.