"Good design is making something intelligible and memorable. Great design is making something memorable and meaningful”

Dieter Rams

As specialists in residential architecture, we focus on creating housing that really works. That means designing with care, getting every detail right and balancing creativity with absolute precision. The result? Designs that are trusted by developers, respected by authorities and are helping create the best communities.

It's all about focus

Our reputation as a design hub for residential architecture proves everything we believe: Build a team of specialists who care about every detail, handle complexities with precision, and put service above all else – and together you create exceptional schemes that work for developers, authorities and communities alike.

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Focus in numbers

90%

of our designs get built

design experts in our team

40+

projects managed at any one time

years of creating amazing places

Our team

Combining talent and vision

We’re a hardworking, established team of specialists with energy, vision and a shared belief in excellent design. This is a space where mentoring happens naturally, and where meaningful work inspires and guides a new generation of ambitious designers.

Oliver Coles

Director

With industry experience dating back to 1994, Oliver has been a dedicated Focus team member since 2001, now serving as Director. His depth of experience in architectural design, urban design and placemaking enables him to guide and mentor design colleagues, while his role within the senior management team sees him driving new business and maintaining our reputation for excellent service.

Drawing on close working relationships with local authorities forged over two decades, Oliver skilfully navigates planning permissions – including outline, full, reserved matters, listed building and conservation – and manages stakeholder consultations. He is also an assessor for Building for a Healthy Life and Secured by Design, initiatives for creating better living environments.

In his spare time, Oliver enjoys football, golf, NFL, films, gym, travelling, and spending time with his family and two dogs.

Jon brings considerable industry expertise as Managing Director and founding member of Focus. He leads our architectural design, urban design and placemaking schemes, while overseeing comprehensive project delivery. As head of the senior management team, Jon champions excellence in client service and strategic business direction.

Jon handles planning consents across diverse applications, from outline schemes to conservation projects. His strong stakeholder engagement skills ensure projects progress smoothly, while his leadership of design review panels demonstrates the team’s commitment to producing designs of the highest quality.

Away from the office, Jon enjoys golf, clay pigeon shooting, target shooting, outdoor karting, outdoor cooking, and drawing and sketching.

With 30 years of industry experience, Darren has been a valued and long-serving Focus team member since January 2004 and as an Associate Director since 2012. His expertise spans architectural design, urban design and placemaking, plus project management, mentorship, new business development and an overall passion for service and building relationships.

Darren brings deep planning knowledge to the role, successfully navigating permissions and building strong client relationships. He has a knack for stakeholder consultation and design review presentations, and has served as an Expert Witness for public inquiries.

Outside work, Darren enjoys music, drumming, films, clay shooting, retro gaming, cooking and tinkering with motor vehicles.

"We’re always looking for the right people: Visionaries and doers, collaborators and relationship-builders. If you can balance commercial acumen with tenacious problem-solving and an unwavering commitment to service, we’d love to hear from you."

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Our approach

Service is something we take seriously. It shapes our client relationships, helps us unlock challenges, and underpins our success in managing multiple projects to a very high standard. Combined with a deep understanding of how residential schemes come together, it’s what drives the high-quality designs we’re known for.