About Us
At Built Narrative, our projects are a testament to our clients' needs, budgets, and the unique challenges and opportunities of each site. We bring enthusiasm and creativity into every design, creating places people love.
We specialise in navigating complex planning applications; securing permissions that add value, where others may have faltered. Thoughtfully balancing competing requirements, we deliver beautiful, practical solutions for challenging sites. Our expertise in building planning narratives seeks to gain support from stakeholders and council officials alike.
Our collaborative approach fosters professional teams and strong client partnerships. We believe the best designs emerge from active listening, dialogue and iteration, rather than adhering to pre-defined architectural styles.
Our quality of service sets us apart. We're reachable, attentive, transparent, and focused on the best outcomes for our clients. We’re results-driven project champions; dedicated to leading projects forward to their successful completion.
In light of the construction industry's impact on our environment, we champion designs that minimise carbon emissions. Positioned advantageously in the construction process, we strive to make a significant impact on reducing the carbon footprint of our projects.
Ian David, our founder, brings extensive experience with Listed buildings, dedicated to protecting, restoring, and enhancing historic architecture. We take our responsibility to contribute carefully to these structures' rich narratives very seriously.
Ian David
Ian brings a depth of architectural experience to the practice. He has previously worked in a variety of architectural disciplines and delivered projects at different scales; from new-build and house renovations to large multi-unit buildings to larger urban-scale projects for hundreds of homes.
Over the past twenty years, Ian has worked for established London architectural practices and has delivered several significant and challenging projects including:
9 St Mary Abbot’s Place, a high-end apartment building in central London (RIBA stage 3). The full renovation and basement extension of a grade II Listed townhouse and mews in Kensington (RIBA stage 6). A multi-use development in Reading town centre providing over 100,000 sqft of housing and office space and the adaption of three Listed buildings (RIBA stage 3). A miniature railway cafe in Essex (RIBA stage 3). The above projects were delivered while working with Rodic Davidson Architects.
Ian delivered a substantial and complex refurbishment of a Grade II Listed townhouse on Russell Square to create a new home for the Wiener Library and a series of large house refurbishments and extensions (RIBA stage 6). The above projects were delivered while working with Barbara Weiss Architects.
Ian delivered a series of high-quality bespoke new-build homes and refurbishments (Various RIBA stages including stage 6) while working for Powell Tuck Associates.
More recently with Harris Irwin Architects, Ian has delivered a series of significant planning permissions including, several large care homes in Bath, Chelmsford, Hextable, Brentwood and, what is probably the country’s largest later-living community village in Kent for up to 500 homes.
ARB RIBA, Director
St. Mary Abotts Place, London with Rodic Davidson
The Weiner Library with Barbara Weiss Architects
60-bedroom care home in Chelmsford with Harris Irwin
Private house in Berkhamstead with Powell Tuck
Eaton Place refurbishment and extension with Rodic Davidson