Practice

PRACTICE

THOMAS FAIRE ARCHITECTS

Andy, Jane, Olivia, Robin, and Tom are the team behind Thomas Fare Architects. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to thoughtful, high-quality design. They care deeply about understanding their clients and delivering work that reflects their needs. With many years of practice across a wide range of project types, they combine strong technical knowledge with a collaborative, relationship-focused approach.

Thomas Faire Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice & ARB registered. Operating from a studio in Burnham Market on the rugged North Norfolk coast, with an office in London, we have been shaping Norfolk’s most coveted homes since 1985.

OUR APPROACH

We value the opportunities presented by the rich forms of settlement on the North Norfolk coast. For us the material palette, textures, and patina of place are not just references—they are starting points. They offer a depth that informs and anchors the design process. We don’t follow creeds like “form follows function,” nor do we prescribe to any single design ideology. The belief is that there is good design and bad design—not a prevailing style to adhere to.

The process begins with space and volume. Responding to the site, the brief, and the broader context. From this, space emerges —and with it, the form and the plan. The space is enclosed and protective by nature. This enclosure is then eroded, bringing in light through a careful understanding of orientation—morning light, evening light—and how it moves across the day.

Looking beyond the envelope, internal spaces are connected with their potential beyond the threshold. This might take the form of courtyards, terraces, jetties, or broader aspects of the landscape. The aim is to bring the inhabitant into contact with the very elements architecture often shelters us from—reinforcing a sense of connection to the natural world. In all projects, materiality is elevated—never an afterthought. Materials shape how light interacts with space, how surfaces are experienced, and how a building sits in its setting. Along the coast, there is an unrivalled opportunity for richness—flint, timber, stone—each benefiting from the unique patina left by saltwater-infused wind and time.