Local firm wins top award for innovative community-focused architecture

Colony Architects has won the Architectural Practice of the Year award at the Thames Valley Property Awards, celebrating its integration of technical skill with community-driven design across heritage, residential, and regeneration projects. The firm’s work spans listed building restorations, modernized protected housing, and adaptive reuse—such as transforming a vacant youth center in Reading into residential units while preserving a 40-meter mural on-site. Over the past three years, they have also completed 12 affordable housing developments, including one built to Passivhaus standards for minimal energy consumption.

The practice now employs 15 staff and operates in four key areas: heritage conservation, residential design, developer-led projects, and commercial work. They follow the RIBA design stages while maintaining direct involvement in construction, enabling more precise decision-making on complex sites. This hands-on approach, combined with specialized expertise, allows them to handle challenges in restoration and regeneration.

The judges praised the firm’s collaborative process, which includes partnerships with conservation officers, local councils, and community groups. Beyond client work, they contribute to education through public talks, work experience placements, and pro bono support for grassroots organizations. This dual commitment to practice and outreach reinforces their reputation for accessible, socially conscious architecture.