About BenRidley
Ben founded Architecture for London in 2009 and has since designed a number of widely published and award-winning projects.
Ben is an architect with significant technical expertise in the design of low energy buildings. He was a member of the jury for the RIBA / Grand Designs House of the Year Award 2022, and was a member of the peer review panel for the 2024 'Don't Move, Improve!' awards.
At Architecture for London, Ben leads on design, sustainability, practice management and strategic direction. The practice designs residential projects with natural, breathable materials that achieve the highest sustainability and comfort standards, including Passivhaus and EnerPhit.
Ben has specialist experience working with heritage buildings in London, including sensitive refurbishments and extensions of listed buildings and historic homes.
Ben's own house is a low-energy refurbishment of an Edwardian property in Muswell Hill. The project aimed to be an exemplar for the sustainable refurbishment of a typical terraced house in London, with a constrained budget. Both embodied energy and energy in-use were considered in depth.
Featured articles and news
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.
The 2025 draft NPPF in brief with indicative responses
Local verses National and suitable verses sustainable: Consultation open for just over one week.
Increased vigilance on VAT Domestic Reverse Charge
HMRC bearing down with increasing force on construction consultant says.
Call for greater recognition of professional standards
Chartered bodies representing more than 1.5 million individuals have written to the UK Government.