Profile
Tobias Davidson founded his practice in 2014 after over 20 years working for leading architectural practices in London and Berlin. During this time he contributed to the design and construction of a wide variety of buildings including hotels, train stations, offices and housing, before turning his hand to private residential architecture.
Tobias moved to Oxford in 2018, and is well placed to carry out work both locally and in London, where he still carries out the majority of his projects.
Owing to its small scale, the practice is ideally set up to provide a highly personalised and focussed service for domestic clients but also welcomes larger commissions, particularly in transport and housing of which Tobias has extensive experience.
Tobias speaks fluent German and offers a service as an executive architect for German practices working in London or for British clients planning to build in Germany.
Services
We can help private clients with the following:
- talk through your requirements to establish a clear brief and budget
- prepare measured plans of your property
- develop a design which reflects your needs and aspirations
- provide 3d visualisations to help assess your options
- guide you through the planning process
- help you with party wall notices
- recommend other consultants and co-ordinate their input
- help you find suitable builders
- provide detail drawings and specifications for builders to price
- help you meet building regulations
- administer impartially a contract between you and a builder
- look after your interests during the building process
We can help commercial clients with the following:
- a feasibility study to help assess a site’s commercial value
- planning approval to raise the value of a site
- full architectural commissions
Ethos
Our priority is to help clients unearth the right design for them, one which not only represents the most sensible use of their resources but is attuned to their lifestyle and aspirations. We enjoy working with people who value quality, whatever their budget - the kind of quality we are interested in need not rely on the specification of expensive materials and fittings; rather, it is about putting things together with care.
Building projects should be exciting and rewarding for all concerned - but they also entail risks. We endeavour to make the process as clear as possible so that our clients can be confident that they are making the right choices in relation to time, cost and quality.
We believe that all designs should contribute responsibly to the public realm; architecture should be appropriate - modest when modesty is called for, bold when there is something to say. We look forward to working with clients who can get excited not just by what a project means to them but by the way it engages with the wider environment.
We come to projects with few preconceptions other than the belief that focussed collaboration can yield a solution which not only meets but exceeds our clients’ expectations.
Testimonials
‘Tobias was first recommended to us by our builder, an old friend of his. At first, we thought hiring him would simply facilitate the management of the building site, since a good relationship between the architect and the building team seemed essential for ensuring smooth progress of the works. We quickly developed an excellent working relationship with Tobias and were very impressed by his creative vision, attention to detail and dedication to the work at hand. He also fully understood that working for a married couple is a challenging task of managing sometimes matching but often diverging expectations and I must say that he handled that challenge particularly well. . . Thanks to our collaboration with Tobias, we managed to create a living environment that totally suits our needs and aesthetic sense and is just plainly enjoyable to be in. Using Tobias’ services has allowed us to think outside the box, reach an agreement about what we wanted and implement that vision to the finest detail. All of this was totally worth it!’
Sophie Trémolet, St George’s Avenue, N7
‘I bought a Victorian ground-floor conversion with lovely front rooms but a very unlovely utility add-on at the back. I really wanted to improve this space but didn’t know where to begin. Tobias did, however, and proffered several ingenious solutions, confirming my hunch that his approach would be highly engaged and imaginative. After settling on the right option for me, Tobias saw the project through according to his high standards and remained just as engaged and diligent throughout.
I am absolutely delighted with the result. Tobias’s eloquent use of the space, together with his masterful incorporation of incidental details (shadow gaps, strategically placed mirrors and the like), has made the kitchen feel twice the size and it is now the natural hub of the flat. Not only do I love being here, Tobias’s work has lifted my property to a new level of desirability, making the conversion a worthwhile and satisfactory investment in every respect.’
Susie May, Lady Somerset Road, NW5
‘Tobias designed a lovely loft conversion and roof terrace for me some years ago. The studio design perfectly matched my request for lots of light with a wonderful large bay window and skylight. Tobias incorporated a sliding door to the studio which looks great and was essential for saving space. He also included some much needed storage on the landing which has been hugely beneficial to me. There are many gorgeous details which my friends and clients comment on: the staircase to the studio has a bespoke handrail built into the wall and wall-lit display niches above which together make the staircase a standout feature in its own right.
The roof terrace, which Tobias achieved planning permission for against the odds, was a bonus and has given me many years of joy as it provides a beautiful and warm (in the summer months!) outside space
The bespoke nature of the work meant that it took longer than cheaper, more standard loft conversions but it was well worth the wait. I haven’t seen any other local loft conversions as unique and stunning as mine, and have no hesitation in recommending Tobias as an architect.
Catherine Orr Deas, Beaumont Road, W4
‘I approached Tobias as a first time developer with a run-down property in Paris that I was unclear how best to improve. Tobias helped me to appreciate the various design options available, their respective merits and costs and guided me at all stages of the building process. It was an easy-going, enjoyable collaboration and I found his contribution invaluable. I’m really thrilled with the end-result! Tobias is patient, down-to-earth, imaginative and thorough and I would highly recommend him.’
Charlie Armstrong, Rue Belliard, Paris
