Business Details
Your Trusted Contemporary Architects in Reading
At Tait Architects, we believe architecture is the art of connection, uniting people with place, materials with landscape, and a buildings form with the life it holds. Our practice, based in Reading, specialises in contemporary residential and commercial architecture, refurbishments, and extensions across Berkshire and Oxfordshire. We prioritise meaningful collaboration with clients, designers, builders, and communities, ensuring every project reflects both environmental context and human needs. Our approach begins with a free initial consultation to understand client aspirations, building history, and surroundings, forming the foundation for tailored design solutions. We offer full architectural services across all RIBA work stages, from concept design to on-site monitoring, with fees typically calculated as a percentage of construction costs.Our team combines expertise in new builds, renovations, and conservation, serving sectors including residential, education, hospitality, and leisure. With a focus on quality, attention to detail, and material craftsmanship, we aim to create spaces that enhance ways of living and working. Our portfolio includes award-winning projects such as contemporary extensions, smart homes, and sensitive interventions in listed buildings. We are committed to transparency, ensuring clients receive honest advice about project viability from the outset. Our client-centric philosophy positions us as trusted partners in realising architectural visions, whether for domestic renovations or large-scale commercial developments.
Services
Domestic Projects
Commercial Projects
Extensions
Refurbishments
New Builds
Conservation
Leisure Facilities
Educational Buildings
Highlights and features
- We offer a client-focused service with free initial consultations to understand your unique needs.
- Our team has extensive experience in both new builds and heritage-sensitive architectural projects.
- We provide transparent advice, including honest assessments of project viability.
- We specialise in creating spaces that connect deeply with their environment and users.
- Our services cover all RIBA work stages, from concept design to construction monitoring.
Services
Domestic Projects
We design contemporary extensions, renovations, and new-build homes tailored to family needs. Our services include single and two-storey extensions, house remodelling, and grand design projects. We work closely with homeowners to create functional spaces that maximise natural light and integrate with gardens, offering flexible fee structures based on construction costs.
Commercial Projects
Our commercial architecture covers offices, hotels, restaurants, and leisure facilities. We specialise in new builds and refurbishments, helping businesses rebrand properties for re-letting or creating energy-efficient award-winning buildings. Our process includes concept design, planning applications, and on-site monitoring to ensure projects meet commercial requirements and regulatory standards.
Extensions
We create contemporary extensions that enhance property functionality while respecting original architecture. Projects include glazed corner extensions for garden connectivity, full-width rear additions for terraced homes, and timber-glazed extensions blending modern and traditional styles. Each design undergoes rigorous planning and technical detailing to meet building regulations and client aspirations.
Refurbishments
Our refurbishment expertise spans heritage-sensitive upgrades and modern transformations. We revitalise dated properties through structural improvements, material upgrades, and spatial reconfigurations. Notable projects include converting 1970s bungalows into smart homes and restoring Arts and Crafts buildings with contemporary extensions, balancing historical integrity with modern living standards.
New Builds
We design innovative new buildings from concept to completion, including residential homes, teaching facilities, and leisure cabins. Our approach integrates site-specific design, sustainable materials like SIPs panels, and meticulous attention to detail. Recent projects feature woodland retreats with ensuite accommodations and educational buildings within historic estates, demonstrating our commitment to contextual and functional architecture.
People
Stephen Tait
Director
Stephen leads Tait Architects with a focus on design excellence and client collaboration. He ensures every project balances creative vision with practical execution, drawing on extensive experience in residential and commercial architecture to deliver bespoke solutions tailored to client needs and site contexts.
Oliver Murray
Architect
Oliver contributes technical expertise and creative problem-solving to diverse projects. His work spans new builds and heritage renovations, maintaining a commitment to material quality and spatial innovation while ensuring compliance with planning and building regulations across Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
Davina Buchanan
Architectural Designer
Davina specialises in transforming client visions into detailed architectural proposals. She plays a key role in developing design concepts and technical drawings, ensuring each project reflects both aesthetic aspirations and functional requirements through meticulous attention to detail and material selection.
Mira Lotz
Built Heritage Specialist
Mira brings expertise in historic building conservation to the team. She ensures sensitive interventions in listed properties maintain architectural integrity while incorporating modern design elements, bridging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary architectural solutions for heritage-sensitive projects.
Agne Dovgalyuk
Office Manager
Agne oversees operational efficiency and client communication at Tait Architects. She coordinates project workflows, manages administrative processes, and ensures seamless coordination between design teams and external stakeholders to support the practices commitment to client-focused service delivery.
Questions
What architectural services does Tait Architects offer?
We provide full architectural services across all RIBA stages, including concept design, planning applications, technical drawings, building regulations, contractor selection, and on-site monitoring for residential and commercial projects.
Which areas do Tait Architects serve?
We operate primarily in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, with notable projects in Wokingham, Reading, Henley-on-Thames, and Maidenhead, while also undertaking select projects in London.
What types of architectural projects do you specialise in?
We specialise in contemporary residential and commercial buildings, including new builds, extensions, refurbishments, conservation projects, and leisure facilities that blend modern design with environmental context.
How does the architectural process work with Tait Architects?
We begin with a free initial consultation to understand your needs, followed by concept design, planning approval, technical detailing, and construction monitoring to ensure your vision is realised to the highest standards.
Are fees based on a fixed price or percentage?
Our fees are typically calculated as a percentage of the overall construction cost, with flexible service packages (Standard, Premium, Full) allowing clients to choose the scope that best suits their project requirements.
